Blood Moon: A Rowan Gant Investigation by M. R. Sellars Page B

didn’t belong to his
mother or someone else on his side either?”
    “No,” she replied, shaking her head again.
“It’s definitely an antique, but he bought it while he was away on
business in New Orleans.”
    The reference to the Crescent City alone was
enough to make me catch my breath. Less than three months ago I had
been there in search of Annalise, and more importantly, Miranda. It
was starting to look like my suspicion may be closer to the mark
than I originally imagined.
    “If you don’t mind my asking,” I began, “if
this was a birthday gift…”
    She interrupted and finished the question
“…why did I give it away?”
    I shrugged. “Well…yes.”
    “Unpleasant memories,” she replied, a
coldness in her tone. “You see, I later found out my sister was
with him on that trip. I think you know the rest of that
story.”
    “Which would be your reason for not thinking
about the necklace,” I stated the obvious as my brain did the
math.
    “Yes.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I’d be dredging
that up again.”
    She gave me a thin smile. “It isn’t your
fault, Rowan. It had been dredged up anyway. Don’t worry about it.”
She bobbed her head toward the necklace. “In retrospect I really
should have taken it to a jeweler or pawnbroker years ago, then I
would actually have been rid of it. But I didn’t and that is my
fault. Felicity found it in my jewelry case when she was borrowing
something.” She shrugged then added, “She was just so taken with it
that I gave it to her. I regret the decision every time I see her
wearing it.”
    I nodded. “I can understand that.”
    “My turn for a question then. Why do you have
a sudden interest in this particular necklace?”
    I glanced at the bottle as I turned it in my
hands, then stuffed it back into my pocket and cleared my throat.
“It’s hard to explain, Maggie. And I don’t mean to sound secretive.
Really. Let’s just say I’m trying to get something straight in my
head is all, and the necklace is a part of it.”
    “I see,” she replied. “And this something
would in some way make Felicity worry?”
    “Yes, I’m certain it would.”
    “But she isn’t already concerned that you are
carrying the necklace around in a bottle of salt?”
    I sighed. “Like I said, it’s hard to
explain.”
    She let out a flat chuckle. “Actually, I
understand… Your motivation at least… I know it hurt Felicity to
find out what her father had done. If she knew the story behind
that necklace…”
    “I won’t tell her,” I said as her voice
trailed off. “I promise.”
    “I won’t press you about your reasons then,”
she said. “I may not believe the same things you and my daughter
apparently do, Rowan, but I know that you love her just as she
loves you. And I believe that you are convinced that you are doing
what is best for her.”
    “Thanks, Maggie,” I said with a smile. “I
appreciate that. And, you’re right. On all counts.” I paused for a
second then continued. “So, I only have a couple more questions, I
promise. Since the necklace was an antique, do you know if Shamus
received any sort of paperwork with it? Something that might have
given a history or identified the original owner?”
    “None that I am aware,” she replied, shaking
her head. “If he did I never saw it.”
    I frowned. I hadn’t expected a yes, but there
was always that little glimmer of hope. Until now, that is. “Okay,
last question. I know this is a long shot, but since the pendant is
a half coin, do you remember if he mentioned the jeweler happening
to have a mate to it?”
    She nodded. “Actually, yes. There was
definitely a mate. Shamus bought both of them. He gave the one in
your pocket to me, and we gave the other to my sister. He thought
it a fitting birthday gift since we were twins. It was after that
when their story began to unravel, and I found out the truth.”
    My heart skipped and I swallowed hard. “Do
you by any chance know what