Page 48 of Dirty Cowboy

I pause mid-sip of my coffee. “They wereneighbors?”

Misty nods. “Joanne, Ethan, and John went to school together.”

I flip open the folder, skimming through brittle newspaper clippings and yellowed documents.

“They must have known each other pretty well, then,” I say, glancing at her sideways.

Her lips press into a thin line.

“It’s a sad story,” she murmurs. “Back when they were young, Joanne and John were dating—though, if you ask me, that’shisstory. He got her pregnant. Then, at one Harvest Fest, there was a fire. John disappeared, and Joanne started seeing Ethan.”

My grip on the folder tightens. “And then?”

Misty sighs. “Joanne moved in with Ethan. They got married.”

I lean in. “And the baby?”

“The baby girl was born before Eric. Ethan promised to raise her as his own, but when Joanne gave birth, the baby was stolen from the hospital.”

My breath catches.

“Their baby wasstolen?”

Misty nods solemnly.

“In the official report, the hospital said the baby was stillborn.” She taps the folder. “But it was a lie. Check the third clipping.”

I flip through until I find an article from the time of the disappearance. A nurse’s name stands out in bold print.

“The nursesaidthe baby was alive.”

“Exactly.”

“Was there an investigation?”

Misty’s mouth twists bitterly. “If there was, there’s no paper trail. I checked.”

I shake my head, flipping faster through the documents. This town operates in whispers and shadows, hiding its secrets beneath polite smiles and fresh-baked bread.

“Is that why there’s so little evidence in Lords Valley?” I ask. “Because it all disappears?”

Misty shrugs, taking a sip of her coffee.

Then I see the picture of the Huntz house burning to the ground. I read the column below.

“It was arson?” I ask.

“Keep reading.”

My stomach turns as I skim further.

Mr. and Mrs. Huntz died in the fire.

I slap my hand over my mouth, my eyes snapping up to Misty’s.

“You think John set the fire?”

“It’s possible. I heard him blame Eric and Annabelle for the fire, but who know?”

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