“Abigail and I were hiding in the bed of DJ’s truck, under a blanket,” Amos explained. “That’s how we got out. DJ got out of the truck and went into the house. After he came out, he drove away in another car. That’s when I figured it was safe enough to poke my head out. I got a quick glimpse of the house, but I was really checking for DJ. He was gone, so I took the truck and drove away as fast as I could go. I didn’t know he was going to kill anyone,” he added, looking at Gideon. “I promise you that.”

“I believe you,” Gideon said. He turned to Molina. “You think that DJ Belmont killed Ginger from the general store?”

“It makes sense,” Molina said. “DJ Belmont was a wild card we weren’t expecting.”

“That’s for sure,” Gideon muttered, then returned his attention to Amos. “You heard DJ mention Mercy’s name when you were still in Eden?”

Amos nodded, his expression still a bit stunned. “I followed him because he’d just rejected my request to accompany him into town. I was trying to find a way to smuggle Abigail out, but I couldn’t do that unless I could go with her. He didn’t outright reject me, but I knew that’s what he meant. I’d been wondering who was in on the lies and I figured DJ had to be, too. But I still couldn’t believe my ears when he said Mercy’s name. Neither could DJ, I think. When the person on the other end of the call mentioned her, DJ went pale as a ghost. He was really scared. All this time I thought she was dead. I think DJ did too, based on his surprise. He didn’t bring back a body for you, Mercy. He told us that he had to bury you in the forest so that he could look for your mother. He was afraid the animals would attack him if he carried your remains.”

“So at least they didn’t kill anyone to pass off as me,” Mercy said quietly. “They did that for Gideon and Eileen. Maybe others.”

“A few others,” Amos said sadly. “I see that now. I’ve been wondering if anything I’ve been told for thirty years was truth. But all I knew when I heard DJ say your name was that I had to get out. To warn you. And to save Abigail.”

“How did you end up in the back of DJ’s truck?” Rafe asked.

“I faked being sick to give an excuse not to leave my hut for the next day, so no one would look for us. Then I cut down a tree to block the road and waited with Abigail. I’d heard DJ say he’d be ‘there’ tonight, so I knew that was my chance. When he stopped to move the tree, Abigail and I hid in the truck bed. We stopped at a house. I didn’t get out of the truck bed until I heard DJ driving away in another car. So I jumped out and took the truck.” He glanced at Gideon. “If I’d known that he’d stopped to kidnap and kill that poor young woman, I would have found a way to tell someone.”