“You’re being too hard on yourself, Talon. You were ten years old, a scared little boy, and all you remember about that place is that it was cold, dark, and gray. It’s a miracle you’ve remembered the things you have. These men were all in black, and it was dark. You may have to face the reality that you may not remember anything else visible. Because it was dark and you were scared, there are a lot of things you probably didn’t notice.”

“Take me back, then. I’ll try harder. I’ll look around more. I’ll—”

“Talon,” I said, “I think you need to face the facts that you’ve remembered everything you’re going to remember.”

“No. There’s got to be something more.”

“Maybe. But probably not. It’s pretty amazing that you’ve been able to recall what you have. Remember that today all you said about the area was that it was cold, dark, gray. I couldn’t get you to go any further until you went up the steps. Up the steps there was light. You could see. You were frightened, and you wanted to get out of there, but still, you noticed a few things on the table. That’s huge.”

“But it’s not enough.”

“It’s a leather briefcase and a cuff link with a T on it. It’s what we have, Talon.”

“I need more. I need to figure out who the hell these guys are. I need to find them.”

“Calm down. You need to focus on your healing. I think it’s time we really focused on that. I think you need to take a break from trying to figure all this out.”

That was easy for me to say, since Jonah had already figured out who one of them was. Once Talon knew that, he would feel better about the whole thing, and maybe he’d decide to give up this quest and focus solely on the life ahead of him.

“You have a beautiful future with Jade. The future is what’s important. Not the past. Don’t take your eyes off the prize.”

“I haven’t, Doc. I haven’t.”

“Have you popped the question to Jade, yet?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Why not?”

He sighed. “You know why. Because we’re knee-deep into this investigation into the rose and the business card. The thing with Felicia. And now what has happened to you, and how it might be all related… It’s just so much to deal with.”

“And again, you’re losing focus on what’s truly important.”

“This is all important, damn it.”

“I’m not saying it’s not. But what is constant, whether you figure the rest of this out or not?”

He closed his eyes. “My family. Jade.”

“That’s right.”

He opened his eyes. “You always have the right answer, Doc.”

“I’m not so sure that’s true,” I said. I hadn’t had the right answer for Gina, apparently. Though now I wasn’t so sure.

“It’s true for me.”

I opened my mouth to respond when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll see who that is,” Talon said. “I don’t want you answering the door after what you’ve been through.”

“I’m fine—”

He gestured for me to stop. “Nope. I’m getting it.”

I followed him out anyway. He opened the door to a young man dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt. “I’m looking for Melanie Carmichael.”

“I’m Melanie Carmichael.” I walked to the door.

He handed me an envelope. “This is for you. You’ve been served.”

Chapter Thirty–Seven

Jonah

I didn’t like doing it, but I dropped a few Franklins to a guard, asking that Larry be roughed up a bit in the next week. I had no idea whether it would get done or not. I didn’t rightly care. Maybe I was just padding the guards’ pockets, and I was okay with that too. They were more than likely underpaid for their thankless work.

I probably didn’t need to go to the trouble. Some of the inmates had obviously been taking care of Larry. Child molesters didn’t usually do too well in prison.

I was pretty okay with that, too.

I let out a sigh. I had a job to do, one I’d put off for too damned long. I was going to drive back to Snow Creek and stop in town to see Bryce. Our talk was long overdue.

 

Although Bryce had rented an apartment on the outskirts of town, he was still staying at his parents’ house since his father had gone missing.

Evelyn Simpson answered the door. She looked pale. “Hello, Joe. What can we do for you?”

“I’m looking for Bryce. Is he here?”

She nodded, holding the door open for me. “Come on in.”

“How are you holding up?” I asked her.

“All right, for the most part. I just don’t understand what could have happened to Tom. It’s not like him to up and disappear.” She grabbed a tissue out of her pocket and wiped at her eyes.

Rage seethed inside of me. Evelyn Simpson was a nice woman. She’d fed me many times as a kid, and she continued to do a lot for her family and the community. She didn’t deserve what was about to go down in her life.

She didn’t deserve it at all, and neither did Bryce.

“How’s the baby doing?” I asked.

That got sort of a smile out of her. “He’s good. He’s the only sunshine in my life these days.”

Hell of a lot of pressure to put on an innocent baby, especially with what was coming. I wasn’t sure what to say to her comment, so I changed the subject. “Is Bryce back in the nursery?”

“No, he’s out back. Henry’s napping.”

“Okay. Thanks.” I walked through the house and out to the deck.

Bryce was sitting at the table, reading. I never knew Bryce to be much of a reader.

“Hey,” I said.

He looked up. “Oh, hey, Joe.”

“Sorry to interrupt.”

He set the book down. “You’re not. I’ve read the same fucking page twenty times. I’m trying to get my mind off of my dad, but I’m not having much luck.”

“Your mom doesn’t look good,” I said. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s taking its toll on her. And me. Thank God for Henry, or I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything.”