Page 37 of Bourbon Bliss
“There’s no one here to listen in on our conversation,” I said. “I think you can speak free—”
“I know, Juney.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the door. “But this is a big deal. Word’s gonna get out soon, but… I can’t believe I’m about to say this aloud.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “Callie Kendall’s been found.”
I blinked at her, unsure of what to say. “Is that a joke or sarcasm of some kind? Because you know I don’t get sarcasm.”
“No, it’s not sarcasm. Just come to my house, all right? I’ll explain it to everyone all at once.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that—had she really said Callie Kendall had been found?—so I didn’t try. I simply went to my car and followed Cassidy to her house.
She and Bowie shared what had once been a duplex. They’d embarked on a remodeling project to join their two halves into one. The new design was spacious and open, now that most of the central wall was gone. It was decidedly less dusty than the last time I’d visited, but there were still power tools and stacks of building supplies and lumber.
Cassidy’s cat, Eddie, bounded down the stairs, passing my sister on her way up to change her clothes. My nose tickled at the very sight of him. I was allergic to pet dander, particularly of the feline variety. Usually I came prepared with tissues, but this had been a surprise detour. I sniffed, hoping her two cats would keep their distance.
A hum of anticipation thrummed through me as I waited for everyone to arrive, processing what Cassidy had said. I’d once estimated the chance of the Callie Kendall case being solved at less than four percent, with a rate of decrease of point oh six percent per year.
In other words, I was surprised by this news.
Bowie came down dressed in a waffle-knit shirt and jeans. Cassidy was just behind him in a loose-fitting blue sweater and leggings. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail as she walked.
“Hey, Juney,” Bowie said.
Cassidy’s other cat, George-Cat—I called him George-Cat now to differentiate between human George and feline George—twined around my legs and rubbed his face against my shoe.
“I don’t understand why your cats find me so interesting,” I said. “It’s as if they have an instinctual drive to bother the people least likely to give them attention.”
“They’re just bein’ friendly,” Cassidy said. “Come here, George. Leave June alone, you’ll make her sneeze.”
I took a seat on the couch in their newly expanded living room. Although the chaos of the remodeling project was still in evidence, their house was quite livable. Cozy, even.
It didn’t take long for the rest of the Bodines and their significant others—for those who had them—to arrive. Scarlett and Devlin. Jameson and Leah Mae. Jonah was there, dressed like he’d just left the gym. Gibson arrived last, smelling of wood and stain. He must have been working when Cassidy called.
“Thanks for coming, y’all,” Cassidy said. She stood in front of the group gathered around her—some seated on the couch or chairs, others on the floor. Gibson stood next to me, leaning against the wall. “There’s really no way to take the shock out of what I’m about to say, so I’m just going to go ahead and say it. Callie Kendall was found this morning.”
There was a shocked silence, lasting the space of a heartbeat, before the room erupted with noise, everyone asking questions at once.
“Are you serious?”
“Where?”
“Who found her?”
“What happened?”
Bowie held his hands up for quiet. “Come on, now. Quiet down and let her talk.”
“It’s fine, we reacted the same way at the station when we got the news,” Cassidy said. “Here’s what I know. She was picked up early this morning on a highway outside a little town called Hollis Corner, about five hours from here. Didn’t have anything with her, just the clothes on her back. The trucker took her to the nearest hospital. They contacted local police and her parents.”
“Oh my god,” Scarlett said through her hands covering her mouth.
Cassidy took a deep breath. I could tell by the way she stood that she was tired. “Once the hospital staff gave the all-clear, the local cops interviewed her. Took a long statement. After that they called us.”
“Are they sure it’s her?” Devlin asked.
“Judge Kendall came out himself and gave a positive ID,” Cassidy said.
“What happened to her?” Scarlett asked. “This is killing me. Why did she disappear?”
“According to the report she gave the Hollis Corner police, she’d met a guy online. He was older, in his twenties, so she didn’t tell anyone. He convinced her to run away with him.”
