“Mo? You’d better come over here.”

She turned to find Brick next to a large pine tree on the mountainside’s edge. As she approached, she saw the crude heart carved into the pine’s bark.

There were two sets of initials at the center: her sister Tricia’s, a plus sign and JP. Tricia’s secret lover had used her maiden name initial. Wishful thinking on his part? Or is that the last name she’d given him?

“Know anyone with those initials?” Brick asked.

Mo shook her head. “I have no idea who JP is.”

A gunshot echoed through the trees, splintering the bark on the tree next to her. Several nearby birds took flight, wings flapping wildly as Brick lunged for Mo, taking them both to the ground.

The second shot ricocheted off the tree where they had been standing, sending bark flying. And then there was nothing but the sound of the breeze in the pines and the seemingly hushed roar of the creek. Not even the birds sang...