“Does it indicate anything illegal?”
Caleb shook his head. “This bank account might. I should send these numbers on the back of this photo to Noah. He might have a friend in some clandestine agency, or know someone who can check into all this and figure out what we’re supposed to learn from it. If the senator, or his family, is connected to Kesslerthen it’s possible that the guy is trying to get a friend of his elected.”
“Maybe he wants to control the presidency from behind the scenes.”
“It’s absolutely possible. And if that’s the case, then bringing down Kessler and Chathers will put a stop to that plot. We can’t have someone like Nathan Kessler thinking he can pull strings behind the scenes in Washington.”
Pops shook his head. “Bit above my pay grade.”
“I don’t know about that. Seems like you’re doing just fine.”
His grandfather smiled.
“I’m glad I came home. Thanks for keeping the porch light on, Pops.”
“I told you I always would.”
“You knew your two prodigal grandsons would need a place to come home to.” Caleb tried to make light of it, but the truth was this old man had saved his life more times than he could count, and Pops had never given up on either of them.
Pops swallowed. “I’m real glad you came home.”
“I knew I could, and that’s a powerful thing.” Not that he’d simply had nowhere else to go. He’d needed Pops, that steady presence of his and the physical strength he had. “Thanks for being here.”
“One day it’ll be yours, and I’ll be gone.” He cleared his throat. “I’m realizing I need to savor every moment I have here and do what I can to make it count.”
Caleb didn’t want to think about that, but there would be a time when Pops wouldn’t be here. “If we can get Noah to come home for Christmas, we can really make it count. The three of us.”
Pops nodded, a sheen of moisture in his eyes. “I’d like that.”
“Me too.” Caleb stood. “Love you, Pops.”
His grandpa stepped into his arms, and they shared an embrace that lasted until they’d said what they needed to without words.
“Love you, too, son.” Pops patted his back, and Caleb stepped away.
Caleb sniffed, gathering up the papers and the package with the phones. He put the envelope back in the floor.
“That’s where you hid stuff all those years?”
Caleb chuckled. “I figured you knew. You always seemed to be one step ahead of us.”
Pops shook his head. “I doubt that. But I ran a pretty good game.”
“You had two lost teenage boys on your hands. I’m not sure I could’ve done it if I got saddled with all that, and I’m not sure you could’ve done it better.” He set a hand on Pops’ shoulder. “No one asked you to take us on. You just did it.”
“They loved you,” Pops said. “They didn’t want to have to leave you, but they had important jobs.”
“They weren’t here for Noah and me. You were.” He kissed the old man on the forehead. “I’ll be back soon.”
Pops lifted his chin.
Caleb headed for the front door, blinking back the tears that had gathered in his eyes. From thinking about his parents, missing Noah, and feeling the pain in his arm from the flames…all of it made it so his emotions were a whole lot closer to the surface.
Pops had stepped in when his parents stepped out. He’d assumed for a long time it was because they’d been killed, and the truth had never made it back to the family.
Now he knew it was their choice it was all the more poignant that Pops took them on. Given Caleb’s current situation, the desire to have a normal family Christmas with his twin and their grandfather—and Tessa and her dad—was more powerful thanever. If he could close this case and bring down Kessler. Or put in motion the end of what had them all in danger… Then he’d be able to embrace the holiday season fully.
He could finally think about a future with the girl next door.
