“Where should we look for a clue associated with pancakes?”

“My dad’s kitchen.”

“We can test both the bike and pancake clues at your dad’s house, so I vote we try that first.”

“I second that.”

“Can we go Saturday?”

“I have plans Saturday.”

His jaw set. “Sunday?”

“I’m headed to church Sunday morning. But after that, yes.”

Finley’s Saturday plans amounted to one very important event. A visit to the Carla Vance Memorial Auction.

A short road trip through the Blue Ridge Mountains brought her to the town of Toccoa. Carla, her father’s deceased girlfriend, had grown up in the historic town of about eight thousand, where her three brothers still lived.

Every year, Carla’s brothers and mother honored her with a fundraiser at their church. They kicked things off with a potluck lunch, followed by bingo for the adults and kid games for the littles. Then they held silent and live auctions. They finished with a concert by local musicians. All the money raised went to support the church’s food pantry and soup kitchen.

Finley, who’d timed her arrival for the start of the auction, slipped in the back of the fellowship hall and took an empty seat at one of the round tables. She’d stay for a handful of minutes, then leave before anyone recognized her.

Carla’s ninety-year-old mother had grown wobblier since last year but made her way to the podium on stage unassisted. Behind her hung an enormous sign emblazoned with In Loving Memory of Carla next to a picture of Carla’s smiling face. Mrs. Vance thanked everyone for coming and led a prayer.

Finley bent her head as guilt, sorrow, and sympathy jumbled inside. Her father had accidentally killed Carla, and there was no way anyone could ever make that right, because the only way to do that was to bring Carla back to life. Finley’s annual pilgrimage to this fundraiser didn’t assuage the responsibility she carried on her father’s behalf. But it did enable her to do the few paltry things she felt honor-bound to do. Pay her respects. Remember Carla. And support Carla’s family’s excellent cause.

All four of the Vance children had been close in age. Ken was older than Carla. Dennis and Jeff were younger. It was Ken who took the mic next, to share memories of his sister’s life.