Deceptive Truth: Cowboy Justice Association (Serials and Stalkers Book 4) by Olivia Jaymes (reading women .txt) 📕

"You bring that handsome young man with you next time," Anita said. "He seemed like a keeper."

"He is," Jenna assured her mother. "And I will bring him, I promise. But today is nice, just the three of us."

Michelle exited the kitchen carrying a large tray with three iced tea glasses and a plate of cookies. "It's hot out today, so this tea should really hit the spot."

She set the tray out on the coffee table and picked up two glasses, handing one to Anita and then Jenna before picking up the third for herself. "I think we should toast to Lori and finding out the truth. What do you say?"

It also appeared that Michelle had already had the talk with Anita. Jenna was slightly annoyed at her sister as this hadn't been the plan at all last night when they'd spoken. It was, however, just like Michelle to do. Since she was the older twin, she always thought she was in charge.

I should be happy. Now I don't have to do it.

They clinked glasses and Jenna sipped at the cool liquid. It was an unusually hot day out there and it felt wonderful sliding down her parched throat.

"So they've arrested that young man?" Anita asked. "He's in jail?"

"No, he's not in jail," Jenna explained. "He's in a psychiatric hospital under observation. They need to see how mentally ill he is. They're hoping they can talk to him and get him to admit what he did."

Anita shook her head, sadness in her eyes. "We may never know where our Lori is."

"We'll find her," Jenna said. She and Knox had had this very same conversation last night and he'd convinced her to have faith. "It just may take some time, that's all. I'm not giving up."

Michelle pursed her lips. "You can't trust anything that man says."

They chatted for a little while, bringing up old memories of Lori and the fun things they'd done and the places they'd gone. They were all a little teary-eyed as they reminisced about the good times as a family. Jenna was particularly affected as she thought about what her life would be like if she'd never met Lori. It would all be so different and sad. She was lucky she'd had her sister for as long as she did.

Jenna kissed and hugged Anita goodbye and promised to keep in touch better than she had in the past. As she and Michelle were walking to their cars, her phone buzzed and she saw that a message had come in from Knox. She read through it twice to make sure she understood.

"Michelle, did Tom ever mention meeting Brett Hedgcock? They both might be in the same history club."

Michelle shook her head and shrugged. "No, of course not. Why would you think that they knew each other?"

Jenna held up her phone. "Because according to Knox, Brett's only hobby was an online history club. They're both World War II buffs."

"So? I still don't know why you think that they would know one another."

"You don't think that's strange?" Jenna asked. "It's a bizarre coincidence. They both love World War II."

"I think Tom would have mentioned it. It's weird but life is full of weird things. I wouldn't give it any more thought. There must be tens of thousands of people in history clubs, especially online."

There probably were that many or more but she hadn't met anyone - that she knew of - and now she knew two people who loved to study World War II. Knox had said in his message that he didn't like coincidences. He was going to find out the names of the people in the history club, just to be sure.

"If Tom knew Hedgcock," Michelle went on. "Why would he not just say so? If he knew him he would have told us."

"That's true. It's just so...strange."

Michelle sighed. "Everything about this is strange, Jenna. All of this. The whole situation. At this point, I'm not sure anything could surprise me."

"You're right," Jenna replied with a groan. "It's all beginning to get to me. And to Knox too."

They both stopped next to Michelle's vehicle. "What is he going to do? Aren't you guys leaving in the morning?"

"He's going to try and get a list of the members of the online club."

"Can he do that?"

"I don't know. He's going to try."

Tapping her chin, Michelle smiled. "Why don't we both just go and ask Tom? He's at home right now. I know because I got a text from him earlier. We can ask him and get the answer instead of standing here wondering about it."

It would be more efficient just to ask Tom about the history club. For all she knew, there were thousands of people in the club and they might not even be there under their real names. They might have social media personas to hide their real identities for privacy reasons.

"Fine, I'll follow you there."

Rolling her eyes, Michelle popped the trunk open on her car. "I can drive but it's fine if you want to drive yourself. But you need to get a package that came to the house for you. It's in the trunk."

"What is it?"

"I have no idea but it's heavy as hell. Did you order an anvil?"

"Not that I remember, but late-night television, a credit card, and an inability to sleep..."

"I'll get it while I remember and we can put it in your car."

Michelle walked to the back of her vehicle and rummaged in the trunk. "Can you give me a hand? This really is heavy."

Shit, what did I order?

"Of course, I have no idea