Chapter 1 - Everyone at the Kentucky travel plaza turned when the little girl suddenly broke free from her mother’s hand.Claire Bennett barely had time to react.
“Junie!”
The six-year-old girl sprinted across the concrete parking lot, her purple unicorn shirt flashing beneath the harsh afternoon sun.
Claire ran after her.
But Junie wasn't running toward the bathrooms.
She wasn't running toward the candy machines inside the store.
She was heading straight for the biggest man in the parking lot.
Everett Knox stood beside Pump Seven with one hand resting on the tank of his black Harley-Davidson.
At forty-four, Everett looked like a warning label brought to life.
He was enormous.
Broad shoulders.
Tattooed forearms.
A gray-streaked beard.
Long black hair tied behind his neck.
Heavy leather vest.
Black jeans.
Boots that looked capable of crushing concrete.
People moved around him without making eye contact.
Junie walked directly toward him.
She stopped beside his motorcycle.
Then she grabbed his leather pants.
Everett looked down.
Junie looked up.
“Mister…”
Everett raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah?”
“Are you a bear?”
Three people near the convenience store turned their heads.
A cashier behind the window stopped stocking drinks.
Even the truck driver at the next pump stared.
Everett remained perfectly still.
The little girl waited.
Then he slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
“What kind of bear are you looking for?”
Junie smiled.
“A nice bear.”
Something changed in Everett's face.
The hardness disappeared.
His shoulders relaxed.
He gave the smallest growl.
“Grrr.”
Junie exploded into laughter.
“You ARE a bear!”
She wrapped both arms around his leg.
Claire finally caught up.
She was breathing hard.
“Oh my God. Junie!”
She pulled her daughter away.
“I'm so sorry.”
Everett stood.
Claire expected anger.
Instead, he looked strangely pale.
His eyes were fixed on Junie.
“She asked me that exact same question once.”
Claire frowned.
“What?”
Everett swallowed.
“My daughter.”
His voice dropped.
“She used to ask me if I was a bear.”
The parking lot suddenly felt much quieter.
Everett looked away.
“She was six.”
Junie stared at him.
“Where is she?”
Everett didn't answer immediately.
He looked toward the highway.
Then toward the horizon.
“She passed away.”
Junie's smile disappeared.
“Oh.”
Everett nodded.
“Six years ago.”
Claire put a hand on Junie's shoulder.
“Come on, sweetheart.”
But Junie didn't move.
Instead, she reached into the pocket of her unicorn shirt.
She pulled out a tiny silver necklace.
Everett's face went completely white.
The necklace had a small silver bear hanging from it.
He knew that bear.
There was no question.
His daughter Lily had worn it every single day.
Everett slowly reached for it.
“Where did you get that?”
Claire immediately stepped between him and her daughter.
“Junie…”
Everett stared at Claire.
“Where did she get that?”
Claire's face had changed.
She wasn't embarrassed anymore.
She looked frightened.
“I don't know.”
“You don't know?”
“I told you. It's hers.”
Everett pointed at the necklace.
“That belonged to my daughter.”
Claire's lips parted.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Junie looked confused.
“Mommy?”
Claire grabbed her daughter's hand.
“We're leaving.”
Everett stepped forward.
“Wait.”
Claire pulled Junie toward the car.
Everett's voice became harder.
“Ma'am.”
Claire stopped.
She looked over her shoulder.
Everett pointed toward the necklace.
“Where did you really get that?”
Claire whispered something so softly that Everett almost didn't hear it.
“She gave it to me.”
His blood ran cold.
“Who?”
Claire stared directly into his eyes.
“Your daughter.”
Everett's world stopped.
“That isn't possible.”
Claire's face crumbled.
“I know.”
A black SUV suddenly entered the travel plaza.
Claire saw it.
Her entire body stiffened.
The SUV didn't stop at a pump.
It simply crossed the parking lot.
Slowly.
Watching them.
Claire grabbed Junie.
“Get in the car.”
Everett noticed the fear in her eyes.
He turned toward the SUV.
The tinted driver's window lowered halfway.
A man inside looked directly at Claire.
Then at Junie.
Then at Everett.
The window rose again.
The SUV disappeared toward the highway.
Everett looked at Claire.
“Who was that?”
Claire didn't answer.
“Claire.”
She stared at him.
“You need to forget you ever saw us.”
Then she shoved Junie into the car.
Everett watched them drive away.
He stood beside his Harley, unable to move.
Six years ago, his daughter Lily had died.
At least, that was what he had been told.
But five minutes after meeting a little girl in a purple unicorn shirt…
May you like
Everett Knox suddenly realized he might have been grieving the wrong story.
And somewhere inside that little girl's necklace was a secret someone had killed to keep buried.
Related Stories
