Page 59 of The Deputy's Secret Double

“Before you say it, I know,” she said. “Connor Clark. He’s going to be a problem.”

Price shook his head. He tapped the other name.

“No, Anthony Boyd is going to be the problem. He needs to be the last person we look at, and really hope we don’t have to. Connor Clark? He’s actually doable.”

“You know both?”

He shrugged.

“Connor is a high school teacher, or has been, for a few years now. He spoke at Winnie’s freshmen orientation before she started school. And Ionlyremember who he is so clearly because every single mom in there was drooling. He’s a looker.”

In the most casual way possible, Price brought his gaze up to hers. Then it roamed across her before he nodded.

“I guess you’d have that in common if he really is your brother.”

Price’s attention went right back to the paper.

JJ was glad for the break because every inch of her face felt like it was on fire.

“I don’t know where he lives, but I do know it’s somewhere near the school,” he continued. “As for any family, adoptive or otherwise, I haven’t heard anything. How did you end up flagging him?”

JJ cleared her throat as discretely as possible before she answered.

“Uh, there’s an online fostering and adoption Facebook group for the state. He commented on a post where someone was asking advice on when they should tell their child that they had been adopted as a baby.”

“What did he say?”

“‘Being adopted isn’t something that is embarrassing or should be kept hidden. Normalizing it as part of the child’s story will only help them realize that it is normal.’ Something to that effect at least. He also liked several comments that suggested they tell their child when they’re old enough to understand and to mention it often.”

“Which might not be enough to put him on your list but I’m assuming he’s also the same age?”

JJ nodded.

“He also lived here when he was a kid before leaving for college.”

“And how did you get Boyd on here?” Price asked. He didn’t sound as enthused anymore.

“Anthony Boyd was adopted by his stepmother when he was a baby. I couldn’t find any pictures of his biological mother on any searches I ran. I didn’t want to rule him out as a possibility until I could find out if his father had any pictures of his mother around or talk to him about her. The problem is with that—”

“That Anthony Boyd’s father passed when he was a teen, his stepmom remarried and moved, and currently he lives and works on my least favorite place in Seven Roads. The Becker Farm, run by the meanest and nosiest old man I ever met.”

JJ felt her eyebrow go up.

“Price Collins has someone he doesn’t like that much?” she had to ask.

Price grumbled.

“More like Becker doesn’t like me. You get caughtoncefooling around in his barn in high school and he holds a grudge like a hamster holds food in his cheeks.” He sobered. “Have you asked Corrie about these guys? She’s a gossip magnet. Even if she doesn’t know the backstory herself, she could probably get it for you.”

JJ had already considered that avenue, but the fact of the matter was, she’d already used it three times.

“I learned a lot from her about the first three names on the list. I don’t want to push my luck. Or hers.” Now that Lawson was around, she didn’t need him hearing about a woman asking after two names he might or might not have already.

Price seemed to pick up on that thought.

“So what’s the plan, then?” he asked after a moment. “What do you want to do?”

She believed that Price had accepted her story, but JJ was on edge about her next steps.