Chapter 2 - THE NAME VOSSDamon stood.
The man beside the sedan pretended to check his phone.
Damon knew the difference between coincidence and surveillance.
He had made enough bad decisions in his younger years to recognize when someone was waiting instead of simply standing.
Ruby stepped backward.
“You know my mom?”
Damon kept one eye on the stranger.
“I knew someone named Elena.”
“Knew?”
“A long time ago.”
Ruby’s face changed immediately.
Suspicion replaced surprise.
Her mother had taught her rules.
Never get into a stranger’s car.
Never tell anyone where they slept.
And if someone recognized the necklace, leave.
Ruby turned.
“Ruby.”
She froze.
Damon froze too.
He had never asked her name.
She slowly faced him.
“How do you know my name?”
“I didn’t.”
“You just said it.”
Damon rubbed a hand over his jaw.
Years ago, Elena had once told him that if she ever had a daughter, she wanted to call her Ruby.
Her own mother had worn a ruby ring.
It had been one of those meaningless conversations two young people had when they believed they had unlimited time.
Apparently it had not been meaningless to Elena.
“I guessed.”
Ruby did not believe him.
“What’s your name?”
“Damon.”
“Damon what?”
He hesitated.
“Voss.”
Ruby’s expression emptied.
She had seen that name.
On an old piece of paper her mother kept hidden inside the lining of a blue travel bag.
Ruby stepped back again.
Before she could run, the diner door opened.
Harold stood there.
“Voss.”
Damon turned.
Harold nodded almost invisibly toward the gray sedan.
“Bring her inside.”
Damon’s eyebrows rose.
“You just threw her out.”
“I changed my mind.”
Ruby shook her head.
“I’m not going back.”
Harold lowered his voice.
“The man across the street came in here Friday.”
Ruby looked toward the sedan.
“What did he want?”
Harold swallowed.
“He asked if I’d seen a woman named Elena Fenwick traveling with a little girl.”
Ruby went white.
Damon’s posture changed instantly.
“What did you tell him?”
“Nothing.”
The stranger opened the sedan door.
He climbed inside.
The vehicle pulled away.
Damon memorized the license plate.
Then he looked at Ruby.
“We’re going somewhere public. Inside. Lots of windows. You stay near the door.”
Ruby stared at him.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“You don’t have to. Walk in by yourself. I’ll follow.”
Something about that mattered.
Ruby went first.
This time Harold did not send her away.
He placed grilled cheese, chicken soup, and a glass of milk in front of her.
Ruby looked at him.
“I still don’t have money.”
“I didn’t ask.”
She began eating slowly.
Then faster.
Damon stood at the far end of the counter making a phone call.
His aunt Tessa had spent nearly twenty years as a school counselor and knew people in child services who could help without frightening Ruby.
Damon wanted the girl somewhere safe.
But he also wanted answers.
Badly.
Harold approached him.
“You recognize the necklace?”
“Yes.”
Harold looked toward Ruby.
“So did I.”
Damon’s head snapped around.
“How?”
Harold said nothing.
“Harold.”
The older man’s eyes settled on Ruby.
“I saw Elena wearing it.”
“When?”
“About nine years ago.”
Damon’s pulse quickened.
“Nine?”
Harold nodded.
“She came into this diner one night. Pregnant.”
Damon stopped breathing.
Harold continued.
“She was terrified.”
“Terrified of what?”
Harold’s jaw tightened.
“Not what.”
“Who.”
Before Damon could ask another question, Ruby appeared beside them.
She had heard enough.
“My mom was pregnant when you saw her?”
Both men turned.
Ruby’s eyes moved between them.
Then she looked directly at Damon.
“And why do you look like that?”
Damon had no answer.
Ruby reached under her sweater and pulled out the pendant.
“You said you knew this necklace.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Damon stared at the tiny swallow.
May you like
Then finally told her the first truth.
“Because I gave it to your mother.”
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