But the fear she felt was real as she saw Dulcie’s rental car parked at the back of the cemetery. Was she waiting in her car? Or had she already found Angel Beaumont’s grave?

Jolene wished she hadn’t agreed to meet here. Normally she found cemeteries interesting. She liked the headstones, the history, the feeling of peace.

But today she felt jumpy.

Dulcie looked up as she approached. Something in her face made Jolene’s heart lodge in her throat. Dulcie had discovered something. What?

All her fears came in a rush, filling her with terror. Perspiration beaded on her upper lip. She wiped at it and forced herself to walk over to where Dulcie waited.

She sucked in an arid breath, tears suddenly burning her eyes as Dulcie stepped to her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Jolene demanded, her voice a hoarse whisper. “What’s happened?”

Dulcie shook her head and Jolene saw her hurriedly brush at her own tears. “I need to ask you something. How did you get the teaching position here?”

Suddenly she felt dizzy, a little confused. She shook her head as if to clear it. “Someone called down to the university looking for a teacher. Why?”

“You didn’t apply for it before that?”

“No, I—”

“Are you adopted?”

Jolene took a step back, her heart a thunder in her chest. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“You were adopted?”

“My mother was a teenager. She couldn’t keep me.” The words tumbled out. “Why are you asking me this?”

“Because I’ve been trying to understand why someone is sending you the murder story,” Dulcie said.

“I know it doesn’t make any sense.”

“It didn’t—until I realized that the person writing it has just been waiting for me to inherit Laura Beaumont’s property and return to Montana and find Angel Beaumont.”

Jolene stared at her, eyes widening. “You’re Angel Beaumont?”

“No,” Dulcie said, shaking her head as she reached to take Jolene’s hand. “You are.”

The words barely registered as Dulcie led her to the tiny headstone next to Laura Beaumont’s. An angel had been carved into the granite with the child’s name cut in the wings: Angel Beaumont.

But it was the smaller letters carved in the bottom that squeezed Jolene’s heart like a fist: June 5, 1980–May 11, 1985.

June 5, 1980. Jolene’s birthday.

Chapter 11

Jolene felt numb. This was so surreal. She shook her head. “No, you’re wrong.” She felt faint, the heat so intense, she thought she might have to sit down.

Dulcie pulled her over into the shade of a large tree. “I’m sorry you had to learn it this way. I’m sorry we both did. But Laura Beaumont had two daughters,” she said, taking both her hands in hers. “Do you hear me? Two daughters. Dulcie Ann born in 1981 and Angel Lee born in 1980. We’re sisters.”