After a moment, Tina pulled her aside, saying she had a suggestion. “I have a friend named Meg,” she began. “She’s in her sixties and recovering from cancer surgery and now she’s undergoing chemo, which means regular trips out of town. She needs help looking after her two cats. Her kids do what they can but they’re not local and they’re usually the ones who take her to the cancer center for treatments. I sometimes go over to her place, but I think it would be perfect for you. Giving Meg that kind of support, helping animals and people, would be perfect for you,” she repeated.

Carly enthusiastically agreed; so did Shallie. They’d have to arrange rides, but they’d sort that out.

Between Tina’s suggestion and Ted’s offer, Carly felt she had more proof than ever that her life was meant to be about animals and music and helping people in the community. Maybe she could even find ways to combine them!

THE NEXT EVENING, when Shallie and Cord drove to Eli’s for their second meeting with Eddie, she wondered what his place would be like. The house turned out to be small and spotless, the furniture basic, carpets a plain gray. It certainly wasn’t the stereotypical cluttered mess she’d half expected.

They sat down in surprisingly comfortable chairs around a polished dining room table that actually had a cloth on it and a plant.

Eli served them each a beer, no snacks.

Eddie then handed around folders, one labeled “Julie,” the other “Christine.” “All right,” he said, “we’ll start with the easy one. Julie.”

Shallie heard Cord’s sudden and no doubt unintended gasp. Easy?

“It wasn’t hard for Melanie to get the information on Julie, primarily because of the military background. So, Julie Hollister married Christopher Daniels four years after Toby Hollister’s death. Chris is a marine and they’re living in San Diego. They have an eighteen-year-old daughter, Kathleen Daniels.”

Shallie heard another gasp, one he tried to disguise with a cough. He had a half sister. About the same age as his possible daughter. “Do you think Julie would want to hear from me?” he asked a minute later. Shallie figured he’d had to wait until he could control his voice.

“I’m guessing she would, but I can look into it if you like.”

Cord nodded. “Please.”

Eddie went on. “Now, Shallie, Melanie’s learned a few things about Christine, and we’re continuing the investigation.”

“Thank you.” Shallie’s voice was as tense as her posture.