CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sam could hear Josh, Georgie and Kat murmuring above in the mezzanine. She half-wished she was with them, not taking notes for Jules.
‘Have the kids done something like this before?’
Ness answered, ‘Never.’
Duane touched her arm. ‘What about just after Rick left?’
She swatted away his hand. ‘That was before Cooper came and nothing like this…’
Jules edged forward on her chair. ‘Let me work out what’s relevant. Any little thing could help us.’ She emphasised, ‘Or hinder us, if you omit it.’
Ness’s hands shook as she spoke. ‘Before Coops was born, Rick—their biological father—cleared out. Hanny was heartbroken. She cried for days. Yelled at me, blamed me. Then one afternoon, she packed a little suitcase and ran away.’ The mother’s face softened. ‘She didn’t get far. Do
