The Lost Bones (Widow's Island #8)(24)

“Nah. Healthy as a horse,” said the thin woman. The other nodded in agreement.

Cate thought they both looked run down and exhausted but didn’t argue. “What about the other women who didn’t come. What do they need?”

The thin woman shrugged and didn’t meet Cate’s eyes. “What else do you got?” she asked.

Cate gave her some of the topical antibiotic cream. “I’ve got prenatal vitamins,” Cate said. “Children’s vitamins too.”

“No kids on the island,” said yoga pants.

“That’s good,” said Cate. “Anyone pregnant?”

The women exchanged a glance and didn’t answer.

I’ll take that as a yes.

“She doing okay with the pregnancy?” Cate asked, even though the women hadn’t confirmed. “I’m sure she’d benefit from some vitamins at the very least. I brought antacids too. According to my friends who’ve been pregnant, these are like gold.”

More furtive looks passed between the women.

“Is she all right?” Cate asked, inserting concern into her voice.

“She’s fine, but her husband’s an ass. He’s not going to let her have any of that stuff,” the first woman finally said, gesturing at the bottles of vitamins.

Cate deliberately looked at all the men in the clearing. “He here?” she asked softly, hoping she sounded like someone the women could confide in.

“Nah. He’s fishing today.”

“Then now is a good time to see if she can use some of these things.” Cate dug into her bag and pulled out a handful of Snickers bars. “Shhh,” she said with a wink as the women’s eyes bulged at the sight of the chocolate. “Don’t let the guys see.”

The bars vanished into their pockets.

Chocolate to grease the wheel.

“Can you show me where to find her?”

The women looked at each other and nodded. They headed toward a well-worn path that led into the woods. Cate caught Henry’s eye and held up the prenatal vitamins, tipping her head in the direction the women had left. He nodded, but concern flashed in his eyes. She gave him a thumbs-up, noting that two other men had joined the group and were also accepting supplies from Henry. She turned and caught up to the other women.

The walk took ten minutes. Cate had glimpses of a few other tents but didn’t see more people. She learned the thin woman was Michelle and the other was Selina. Michelle had been on the island for almost six months and Selina a month. Both lived with their husbands. Cate inferred that Selina’s husband had brought them there to avoid law enforcement, but Michelle and her husband simply didn’t want to answer to anyone.

“Too many stupid laws,” Michelle said. “Why do politicians get to tell us what to do? That’s not the American way.”

Cate made noises of agreement as Selina emphatically nodded at every word Michelle said.

The women finally stopped several dozen feet from a large dark-green tent. “Hello! Leigh! You in there?”

Leigh. The same name Tammy said.

Bulging black garbage bags leaned against one side of the tent, and Cate wondered if they contained belongings or actual garbage. She noted a beat-up bicycle under a tree and a large wagon with two broken wheels. The air was still and humid and smelled of damp wood and dirt. The tent had several patches, and Cate spotted two long slashes that still needed to be patched. The slashes looked deliberate, as if someone had been angry and stabbed at the tent.

How does anyone live like this?

A hugely pregnant woman ducked and stepped out of the tent, her hand supporting her belly.

Ashlee.

Her long hair was pulled back in a ponytail, but its pale-red color was discernible. Pregnancy had rounded her face, making her look much younger than in her photos. If Cate hadn’t known she was eighteen, she would have guessed she was closer to fifteen.

“Hey, Leigh,” Michelle said. “This doctor’s got some antacids and vitamins for you. You can have those, right?”

“What the hell?” said a man moving out from behind Leigh.

Michelle and Selina audibly gasped and froze.

It was Rich.

He had aged considerably. He looked as if he should be Ashlee’s father—not her baby’s.

Cate was thankful she’d put on a ball cap that morning and pulled her hair into a messy bun at her neck. She’d never met Rich in person, but there was a possibility he’d seen her on TV in press conferences or searched out her photo online years ago, looking for the face of the woman who was hunting him.

“Hi!” Cate said brightly, as if the women she was with hadn’t frozen in surprise. “I’ve got something to help your wife with heartburn—”

“We don’t need it,” Rich announced, stepping in front of Ashlee.

“How about some vitamins that are for pregnant women?” Cate said rapidly. “It’s so important that she’s getting all the vitamins she needs. That baby is stealing them from her body.”

“Vitamins are just a ploy to get your money,” said Rich. “They’re bullshit. Our bodies make what we need.”

Cate wanted to get something into Ashlee’s hands. “That’s true. But babies are greedy. Every little bit helps.”

Rich took a step toward Cate. “Get the fuck off my property.”