“That might be kind of difficult, given that only a male skeleton was found. We’re awaiting official verification on who the individual was,” CJ said.

“Where exactly was it found?”

“In the woods. But the area is a crime scene for now. So no access to civilians. You wouldn’t happen to have ever hunted prey using a deadfall trap, would you have? Or your brothers?” CJ asked.

Stanton smiled a little at him. “Like now I’m a suspect? Or my brothers are? Anything to ensure the MacTires keep our rightful property? It won’t work.”

“The hotel has been sitting vacant for years. Why come now and try to lay claim to it? Because it’s newly renovated? Because you couldn’t have managed it on your own? Or because now it has some value?” CJ asked.

“Hell, we could have fixed the place up on our own and cut the cost of renovation in half. First, we didn’t know our aunt and uncle had owned it. And once we learned they had and then disappeared, we were so busy with our successful TV show that we didn’t have time to prove we owned it.”

“And before, it wasn’t worth a whole lot and now it is? Besides, it wouldn’t have been free and clear for you to just take over anyway,” CJ said, bringing both issues up again.

She suspected the same. Maybe they realized that it could be a profitable venture after all, even if they had to pay for the hotel like she and her sisters had.

Stanton shook his head. “Fine. I’ll talk with the sheriff.” He and his brothers stalked out of the hotel.

“He’s got to realize he’s not getting anywhere with Darien running the pack and the town,” Trevor said, “unless it benefits the rest of us.”

“They must not be with a pack. Stanton is used to throwing his weight around with his proverbial TV stardom,” Laurel said. “Prima donna.”

“I had an idea worth exploring if you want to talk about it. But I wanted to see if Jacob made any progress on the furniture.” CJ appeared hopeful that she’d give him a break.

She noticed that Ellie had ended her phone conversation and was waiting expectantly to see how this played out between Laurel and CJ.

“Anything I should know about?” Trevor asked.

“Not really. I just had some notion where we could look next,” CJ said. “Hey, by the way, have you experienced anything ghostly in the attic room?”

Trevor straightened and said, “No, nothing. Why?”

CJ nodded, but he was smiling just a little bit. Laurel took CJ’s hand and pulled him in the direction of the sunroom and the back door. He immediately tightened his hold on her hand, and she appreciated that he wanted to make amends, despite how she had reacted earlier.

“I’m sorry about last night.” CJ looked down at her with such compassion, she knew he was being honest about this.

“You did what you thought best. I’m sorry the skeleton was there, but I’m glad it wasn’t my aunt. What did you have in mind?”

He smiled down at her as they walked outside into the brisk, cold breeze.

“About the investigation,” she reminded him.

His smile broadened.

She chuckled, freed her hand, and wrapped her arm around his waist to get closer. “I think my sisters were mostly irritated with me for being upset with you.”

“Did I mention how much I love your sisters?” CJ wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “All of the boxes containing my dad’s personal effects are stored in Eric’s basement. I’ll call him, and you and I can go through what we can, if you want. None of us ever looked through the stuff. Just boxed it up and stored it down there. I doubt we’ll find anything of importance, but it’s worth taking a look.”

With tears in her eyes, Laurel pulled him to a stop. “This has to be really difficult for you. But yes, even if we can’t find anything among his things, that will be one place we can cross off our list.”

He lifted her face. “I want you to know I only thought of checking through my dad’s things this morning when I was making breakfast. Then other business sidetracked us this morning.”

“I understand completely.” But Laurel knew going through his dad’s stuff had to bother the brothers. They’d just boxed everything up instead of sorting through and getting rid of some of it, while keeping treasured mementos at their homes. CJ’s words spoke volumes. The brothers hadn’t been able to deal with their father’s belongings or his betrayal.

“Thank you. You can’t know how much that means to me.”

“We might not find anything. I don’t want to get your hopes up.”

That wasn’t what made the gesture so incredibly important to her. “Thank you.”

They walked into the house, and Jacob shook his head. “I’ve checked both pieces of furniture thoroughly. I couldn’t find any hidden compartments. They don’t have any.”

Disappointed, Laurel thanked him.

“Did you want Jacob and me to move the furniture someplace else?” CJ asked, since the chest and highboy were just sitting in the middle of their living room and in the way.

“The guest room, if you don’t mind.” Laurel hugged Meghan, who gave her a warm embrace back.

“We’ll learn the truth,” Meghan assured her.

“We’re going to Eric’s house to look through some boxes of stuff,” Laurel said.

“Boxes?”

“Sheridan’s personal effects.”

Her expression sympathetic, Meghan glanced at CJ. “Okay. What did you want me to do in the meantime?”

“Look through all those photos again and see if you recognize our aunt in any of them. But show CJ and Jacob where to put the furniture first. I need to pack a couple of bags.”

Meghan smiled brightly. “You’re staying with CJ tonight?”

“That’s usually the way it goes.”

Meghan was still smiling when she went with the men to show them where to take the furniture.

Laurel saw CJ’s pleased expression before she ran up the stairs and entered her bedroom. She had nearly finished packing the second bag when she heard footfalls on the stairs and looked up to see CJ entering her room.

“Can I help you with packing?” The tension in his body gone, he looked relieved that she was packing some of her things so she could stay with him. She had to admit that moving out felt weird when her sisters were staying behind.

“No thanks. I’ve got it. Did you get ahold of Eric?”

“Yeah. He’s going to meet us there and help us sort through the stuff.”

“It’s not going to be too upsetting for you both, is it?”

“No. It’s way past time to do this. Brett and Sarandon will be by a little later. We’re going to discard what no one wants, and if anyone wants any of it, we’ll sort it out.”

“All right.” She finished packing and CJ took the bags.

“Meghan sure seemed glad to see that you are moving out.”

Laurel smiled. “Only because I’m not fighting with you and I’m not going to uproot them again. But I have to say that each of my sisters has always been delighted about moving. Until we settled here. It just feels like home. Like we belong. I don’t know how it could when our aunt went missing from here.”

“It’s the pack.”

“Yes. And the town. But especially you.”

CJ put her bags down and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry for not telling you about the skeleton last night. I love you, Laurel. I don’t want anything to come between us.”

She hugged him tight. “I just want to learn the truth and put this behind us. Especially if someone in the pack murdered her, and he or she is still here.”

CJ kissed her mouth. “Agreed.”

“After we look through the boxes, would you mind if we visited the pit where you fell?”

“We can do that. We haven’t eaten yet. Did you want to do that first?”

“Okay, we can drop my bags at your place…”

“Our place.”

She smiled a little. “Haven’t gotten used to that idea yet. Or I could make something here.”

“My place.”

She suspected he wanted a little privacy.

“What are you thinking concerning the pit?” He carried her bags downstairs, and she followed him.