Rebecca’s Wolves(93)

Miles leaned back again, deflated. “Sorry, Grandma. You’re right.”

Mimi also relaxed.

Melinda picked up the conversation. “Tell us what you know about Mom. What happened when she disappeared?”

Rebecca held her breath, soaking in all this information, grateful Griffen sat to her side, holding her hand tight. He was as absorbed as she was.

Mimi took a breath. “Joyce was such a good and doting mom to you two. Even though you were conceived from a rape, she never once felt anything but love for you. You two were three when all this went down. You and your mother lived with me. Joyce came home one day, and I knew immediately she was pregnant.”

“What?” Miles nearly shouted the word.

The older shaman lifted a hand. “Let me speak, son.” She shot him a glare that insinuated she’d raised him better than to interrupt her. “She never said a word. I’m not sure she knew. But I realized about a week before she disappeared.”

“Grandma,” Melinda said in a whisper, “do you know what happened to Mom?”

Mimi shook her head. “Of course not, child.” She grabbed her granddaughter’s hand on the table and held it tight. “But I did know she had mated.”

Miles gasped. “Seriously? With whom?”

“That I don’t know. She never said a word. She acted very nervous and stressed that last week. I scented the mating on her immediately. She would have known I knew, so I kept my mouth shut, assuming she would tell me the obvious when she was ready.

“I figured she had her reasons for keeping the details of her mating to herself. She didn’t come to the house much that week. Naturally. When she did, it was to fly through and squeeze you both tight and kiss you soundly.” She gave both Miles and Melinda a look of supreme sorrow.

And then she continued. “She loved you both so much. You were her world. If you know nothing else, know that.”

“And now she’s dead, and we may never know what happened to her,” Miles groaned.

Silence filled the room.

Rebecca could feel the crackling of nerves as Melinda cleared her throat. “She’s not dead.”

Miles flinched and sat up straighter. “Come again?”

Mimi shook her head. “I agree.”

“Why have neither of you ever mentioned this?” Miles asked.

Melinda shrugged. “We don’t know it for sure. It’s a feeling. A hunch.”

Mimi agreed. “I think I would know in my heart if my baby were no longer walking this earth.” She set her tiny, dark, wrinkled palm across her chest. “My mate went to the other side many years ago, even before you two were born. You know that. But I tell you I can feel that loss every day stabbing me in the chest. It’s potent.

“I do not get that vibe from Joyce. She’s my child. I gave birth to her. She walks this earth still.”

“Then where is she?” Miles asked the unnecessary question.

“I wish I knew, son. We may never know.”

“Fuck.” Miles slapped the table and then ran his hands through his hair. “This is insanity. Do you suppose Randal had something to do with her disappearance? He spoke as though he’d personally killed her.”

Melinda spoke next. “Every able-bodied member of the tribe is out looking for him.”

“Does anyone know anything about his son? Is he still around?” Miles asked.

Melinda shook her head. “He hasn’t be around for years. He was a drunk. Always has been as far back as anyone can remember.”

“Shit.” Miles twisted his face in confusion. “That narrows it down to about a thousand suspects.” He rolled his eyes. “Randal said he did everything in his power to chase off Rebecca. He told me so. I think we have to assume he trashed her place and mine and took pictures of us and sent those e-mails to her work. Hell, maybe he even blew up that transformer when he left her place.”

Griffen spoke next. “Well, at least that explains the parts of the equation that didn’t seem plausible involvement from spirits.”

“Are you saying there was never any spirit trying to get our attention?” Rebecca winced at the idea.

Melinda shook her head. “Not at all. I think both things were coincidentally happening in tandem. I think it’s safe to say the spirits worked hard to align your mating and keep you safe from the earthquake.”

Rebecca nodded. That seemed reasonable.

Miles had his eyes narrowed, thinking. “I’m not buying it.”

“Not buying what?” Griffen asked.

“Randal, traipsing all over the place to start fires and send e-mails. The guy lives in the middle of nowhere. I can’t imagine he’s ever seen a computer, let alone sent an e-mail, and how do you suppose he found out we were mated so fast? Somebody took those pictures of us on the front porch the morning after we claimed Rebecca. Few people would have known we were mated at the time, and fuck—” Miles paused, jerking his gaze up, “—there were two reservation cops canvasing the property.”