Page 39 of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Belinda stood, looking rueful. “I’m sorry she’s so rude. She’s…she’s just not been herself since…everything.”

I placed my hand on Belinda’s arm and squeezed. “I understand. She’s been through multiple traumas, and we fully intend to make this as painless as possible.”

“I knew that the moment I met you,” Belinda said with watery eyes. “You have a kind face.” She started for the door, then turned around. “She wanted to come here. She was the one to suggest it. I readily agreed because I thought it was a good idea. At least she could get answers tosomethingin her life. But now…” She sniffed and wiped a tear trailing down her cheek. “Now I’m not so sure.”

“You two don’t have to be here,” I said softly. “You can go home and I’ll call you with any information I come up with. Then even if anyone catches wind of what we’re up to, she won’t be here to deal with the fallout.”

“I’ve already suggested that very thing,” Belinda said. “But she won’t leave.”

I nodded. “This was her mother’s life. She wants to know, but part of her is scared to find out. It’s a strange limbo that I’m quite familiar with. And at the risk of getting too personal, I have my own mother issues. Trust me, I get it.”

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “How did you know Magnolia and her mother had a rocky relationship?”

I gave her a sad smile. “Because I had one of my own. I recognize it all too well.”

Belinda nodded. “Now I’m particularly glad we decided to pick you.”

Then she turned and walked out the door.

“I’m surprised you told her that about Aunt Bea,” Dixie said softly.

“Yeah, me too.” Maybe it was time to get some answers of my own.

Chapter Fifteen

Summer

The air was cool when I got out of my car and walked toward the house that had seen better days. I grabbed a jacket out of the backseat and put it on, studying the house.

“What do you know about the property?” I asked Dixie in a low voice, even though Belinda and Magnolia were still sitting in their car.

“Not much. There were a lot of party spots at abandoned places, but no one I know came out here.”

“Do you know anything about the Brewers?”

“Not a thing. It sounds like Magnolia’s grandparents died long before I was old enough to know anything about them.”

I nodded, having expected as much.

“Do you expect to find anything inside?” Dixie asked.

“No, but I feel like we’d be remiss not to at least give it a look. I can’t help thinking Luke would have found something if it was here.” I’d called him on the way over and asked him about the house tour, and he’d urged me to be careful with Magnolia.

“She’s not in good shape, Summer,” he’d said. “I’m worried about her.”

“Me too,” I said softly. “I’ll be careful.”

I wasn’t sure what to make of her and Belinda staying in the car, but I didn’t plan to ask them. “Let’s go inside.”

Dixie and I looked around the living room, then searched the kitchen, checking drawers and cabinets. Dixie found a three-decades-old, faded calendar on top of the fridge with the name of a church printed at the bottom.

“Sweet Briar Methodist,” Dixie said. “Say, isn’t that where Luke’s parents attended?”

“Yeah,” I said with a grimace. His father had not so discreetly been trying to get Luke and me to attend a church service with him. Luke’s parents had both been lifelong members, and there was a possibility they would have known Magnolia’s mother and/or grandparents even though they were younger. But his mother had died several years ago, and his father could sometimes be clueless. I doubted that he would be a good resource.

We headed to the girls’ bedroom, searching the dresser and closet. One half of the dresser was still full of clothes, and the other half was mostly empty.

“They didn’t get rid of any of their daughter’s things,” Dixie said. “It looks like their clothes are all here. Maybe the size will help us figure out how old she was when she died.”

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