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“I’ll have to take another look at his belongings when we get back. Maybe it’s in there.”
“I hope so. I wish I could tell you what was in there, but most looked like that.” He gestured toward my arm. “I had no idea what it said.”
“Did you hear he was proven innocent of embezzlement charges a few months ago? It had been the Sultons all along.” My eyes locked on Bill, looking for any micromovement that would tell me he knew something.
“I knew he couldn’t have done it. Your dad was as honest as the day was long.” Bill’s quick grin disappeared, and his eyes narrowed. “But if he was exonerated for that… Shit, Jareth, do they know what might’ve happened? Your dad wouldn’t kill himself over something he didn’t do.”
“Not that they shared with me.” I’d known all along the Sultons had played a part in Dad’s death, but they were the type to not get their hands dirty. I knew someone else had to have been involved.
Bill scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “You don’t think… ” He swallowed hard. “The Sultons were awful, but to have anything to do with… ”
I stayed silent, waiting for Bill to finish formulating his response.
“Your dad was one of the good ones.” Bill stood and paced from one end of the living room to the other. “Are they investigating them? The Sultons, I mean.”
I shook my head. Over the years, I’d become adept at spotting a liar, and for all intents and purposes, Bill seemed to be telling the truth. His agitation was real. As disappointed as I was not to have found proof of Dad’s killer, if this bait and switch told me anything, the Sultons thought I was close to figuring out what happened. It was the only thing that made sense.
Bill sunk down into his previous seat. His bright blue gaze dimmed by the revelations I lay at his feet. “I’m sorry, Jareth. You know your dad would’ve been so proud of you. He wanted you to have the world, and it looks like you have the most important thing. Love.”
Hazel drew in a quick breath, and my body stiffened. Trying to hide my reaction, I slid my hand from her back and wrapped my arm around her. Bill thought we were a couple in love, and I didn’t hate that assumption.
Bill continued, missing our responses. “And with the bodyguards you have in tow, I’m guessing you made a success of yourself and are well-off.”
Hazel’s body relaxed, and she covered her mouth as she tried to hide her snort. I had a feeling it was the “well-off” comment that had set her off.
I shrugged. “I do alright. Listen, we should let you get back to your day and?—”
Bill stood, almost knocking back his chair in his haste. “Can you give me a few more minutes of your time? I recently found a bunch of old photos from back in the day while we were cleaning out boxes stored in our guest room. I’d love to show them to you.”
I hesitated. There was no reason to stay. I’d satisfied my curiosity about Bill and now needed to devise another plan to get information. I didn’t care about the pictures.
Hazel, who could read my mind half the time, squeezed my knee, effectively keeping me in place. “Of course. We’d love to see them.”
“What do you think?” she muttered under her breath when Bill left the room.
“I don’t think he knows anything,” I responded, looking at Tony and Dex, who each nodded in agreement.
“Here they are.” Bill perched on the edge of the couch and handed me a stack of photos.
I slipped my other arm out from around Hazel and flipped through the pictures, listening to Bill’s commentary on each one.
“That was someone’s birthday party. Your dad and Terri were good about sneaking in decorations to the breakroom, and one of the women, Brenda, I think, always made the cake.”
Hazel pointed to one of the pictures. “Is that your dad? He’s so handsome. I can see where you get your devastatingly good looks.” She kissed my cheek.
There were even a few photos of a young me hanging out at the factory.
“You were adorable.” She pointed to the one with my gap-toothed smile, long-ish hair, and coltish body.
“There’s Gena.” Bill said, motioning with his hand, to acknowledge the pretty redhead standing with my father. “She had the biggest thing for your dad.”
“Did they date?” I narrowed my gaze on the pictures, staring at the couple. It was strange to think of my dad with someone else. He’d never said a word to me. “I think I met her a few times at the factory.”
“Eh, I’d use the word date loosely. She wanted more, but Idris said he didn’t want anything serious and was better off alone.”
It was hard not to see the parallel in my relationship with Hazel. She wanted more from me. More than I was able to give.
“I don’t remember seeing her at the wake or funeral.”
