Page 48 of The Girl in the River

Mia had lied about who she was. Had she lied about Pixie’s father?

SIXTY

Mr. Moon cleared his throat. “Where is this child now?”

“In a temporary foster home,” Ellie replied.

“Where?” he demanded.

“I’m sorry but I can’t divulge that information during an ongoing investigation.”

“If she’s Kevin’s child, he has a right to know,” Mr. Moon said.

“We don’t know that she is his,” Derrick said. “Jesse could have met someone after she disappeared and he might be the father.”

“Or she had an affair and got pregnant. That’s why she left Kevin,” Mr. Moon said with a look of disgust.

“We will find out the truth,” Ellie said. “And I’ll keep you and your son abreast of everything we learn.”

Derrick stood and Ellie rose, laying a card on the side table. “Thank you for your time. If you think of anything else, please give us a call.”

Ellie’s head was reeling as she and Derrick walked to her Jeep.

“Do you think Mia lied about Pixie’s father?” Derrick asked.

“I don’t know. She lied about so many things that I suppose we can’t rule out the possibility.”

Ellie liked Mia, had trusted her, had never doubted a word she’d said. She’d seemed like one of the most humble, sincere people she’d ever met. Could she have got her so wrong?

“We should request a DNA test,” Derrick said. “Judging from Mr. Moon’s reaction, he and his son will want one.”

“If Jesse was carrying Kevin’s baby,” Ellie said, “she must have had a good reason for leaving.”

“And a reason for keeping Pixie away from her father,” Derrick added.

“It’s plausible that Jesse faked her disappearance because the baby was Kevin’s and she didn’t want him to know.”

“Which means she was afraid of him,” Derrick said. “Although from what we’ve heard the family welcomed her and Kevin doted on her.”

“Maybe too much…” Ellie said, searching. “Let’s dig deeper and see if the Moons are the upstanding citizens they appear to be.”

SIXTY-ONE

SOMEWHERE ON THE AT

Ronnie hung up the phone, fury boiling through her like a summer storm raging through the forest. Her stupid boys were going to be sorry. They didn’t have the sense the good Lord gave a gnat.

She picked up a hammer, then stormed outside to the dock where the sorry ass dimwits were yacking. River water sloshed onto the bank and waves rippled as a fishing boat churned through the water across the way.

“Did you see that pair of tits?” Using his hands, her youngest Lloyd squeezed as if he was fondling them. “They be the size of cantaloupes.”

“That bitch can twirl them tassels,” Chester said with a belly laugh.

A stream of black juice shot across the water as Lloyd spit a black stream of chewing tobacco. “I bet she squeals like a heifer when you ride her.”

Chester reached for his jar of apple pie. “Just like that bitch did when you whacked her upside the head.”

“You dip shits,” Ronnie spat. “I told you to do the job and get out without making a stink.”

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