Page 136 of Hometown Girl

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Birdie’s words hung in the air.

Beth paced the kitchen floor, feeling like they had to piece together puzzles from two separate boxes. She recounted her conversations with Davis to Bishop, who scribbled notes in a little black notebook he pulled from his back pocket.

Molly showed up at the door, confusion all over her pale face. “Bishop said you were all out here. Why didn’t you call me sooner? Was there a break in the case?”

Beth ignored her. Not the time to be dramatic.

“Why are we just standing around?” Drew paced the same six feet of the white linoleum, his brow knit.

“I want to have all the facts so we don’t barge in half-cocked,” Bishop said. “Molly, I need you to tell me everything that happened the day Davis Biddle’s assistant gave you that business card.”

Molly went over it again.

“He obviously wants this property for something,” Beth said. “He’s gone to a lot of trouble to make that clear.” He’d made offers before and after the storm. Good offers that any sane person would take. He wasn’t backing down.

Molly shrugged. “Is it possible he doesn’t know about Monty? Maybe his son never told him what he’d done? Maybe he wants the land because it’s valuable—and so are the orchards.”

“I don’t think that’s it,” Beth said. “I mean, we all see the value in this old farm, but I can’t help but wonder if his motives have nothing to do with money at all.”

Birdie let out a soft sigh.

“What is it?” Beth asked.

“I don’t know why I didn’t put it together sooner, but Monty stopped working here after that weekend. I’ve only ever seen him a handful of times since, but as far as I know, he still lives with Davis.”

Concerned looks crisscrossed the room. Had something happened to Monty that day too? Maybe Davis wanted the farm because he—not his son—was the real criminal. Maybe there was still evidence on the property, or he was one of those creepy serial killers who kept trophies of his victims.

Was Fairwind his trophy?

“He’s a special kid, Monty,” Birdie said quietly. “He was always very sweet, but he was behind the rest of the kids. Got picked on a lot. Davis hired tutors for him so he wouldn’t have to deal with all the bullies.”

“And you’re sure he still lives at home?” Bishop asked. “He’d be in his late thirties by now.”

“I’m not sure of anything.” Birdie’s bracelets jangled as she stood. “And there’s no sense speculating. We should just go over there and ask.”

Bishop shook his head. “Wearen’t going anywhere. Monty needs to be questioned, I agree, but that doesn’t involve any of you.”

“Yes, it does.” Drew glowered in the corner. “You’re not going without me.”

After some hesitation, Bishop agreed, out of common sense or fear, Beth didn’t know. But she wasn’t about to let them go without her either.

“What if I go?” Beth asked, ignoring Molly’s slack-jawed expression.

“We can’t roll up there with an entourage, Beth,” Bishop said.

“But he thinks we’re selling him the farm.” She paced. “Maybe I can find out more. Do a little digging about why he’s really interested in this old place.”

“All due respect, Beth, I’m not sure he’d open up to you. And I’m not sure we need his life story.” Bishop snapped his notebook shut and put it back in his pocket.

Beth chewed the inside of her lip. “I understand.” She didn’t really. She wanted to know the man’s endgame. What did he think? That he could bring down Fairwind one barn at a time? That he could destroy what they’d restored and just walk away?

“I think Beth should come,” Drew said. “It might be easier to get him talking if we go in to discuss business. We’ve already been there once. It can’t hurt.”

Bishop didn’t look impressed. “I’m not interested in his shady business deals, you guys. If he or his son had something to do with Jess Pendergast’s disappearance, that’s all I care about.”

Molly put a hand on Bishop’s shoulder. “He’s been out to steal Fairwind from us since the beginning, and from what we’ve heard, he doesn’t like to take ‘no’ for an answer.” She met Beth’s eyes. “We almost forfeited our farm to that man.”

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