My eyes meet Caden’s and he nods. It’s just what he suspected.
“What did you tell them?”
“If their spawn didn’t back off, that some very damning evidence would make it into the hands of the district attorney.”
Luke chuckles and shakes his head. “My dad has the D.A. in his pocket.”
“That’s why I also mentioned media. I didn’t mean to get them to focus on Harper.”
“They think I know something. Why would they think that?”
“Your father’s body was never recovered.”
My insides twist.
They continue, “While everyone believes he’s dead, I might have brewed some doubt in them. After all, they didn’t know I exist.”
“So William thought you were my dad contacting him?” A warm hand touches my shoulder, and I lean back into Nico.
“That’s what I suspect. Which means he thinks Sean has been in contact with you to know what’s happening. It doesn’t matter if he thinks it was Sean. He knows someone is looking out for you and has information on him. That’s enough for him to suspect you know more than you do.”
I could ask them who they are or who they were to my father, but they haven’t been forthcoming with that information. And if I press on that, will they disappear? We need their help. Jack can’t do everything on his own.
I blow out a breath, and my gaze collides with Luke’s. His eyes are hard. It’s his father terrorizing all of us. And that’s the next part.
“We need a favor.” I return my gaze to the laptop.
“If I can.”
“We need something to give William that Lukefoundto get them to back off for a while.” I don’t know how this person willtake this. “William’s looking for the evidence my dad might have hidden.”
“I’ll email you a zip file to put on an old flash drive. It will be encrypted, but have a few of the files Sean sent me to review. Nothing damning, but something to tide them over while you continue to look.”
“Thank you.” I release the breath I’d been holding. It would be nice to have William off our backs, even just for this week.
“Jennifer told us you were a friend of Sean’s.” Caden leans in and narrows his eyes on the computer. “Homecoming is this weekend. Will you be in attendance?”
“No. Homecoming isn’t my thing.” Still not giving us any answers, but if my father trusted this person with me, they must be a good person. “I’ll keep working on the laptop though and get it open.”
“We actually have a problem with that.” Jack meets my eyes. “The laptop might not be safe in any of our homes.”
“Jack Hill, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Your house might be the safest. Out of your fathers, Sean trusted your father the most. That doesn’t mean he didn’t backstab Sean. But if it’s going to be safe anywhere in that town and not where Sean put it, then hidden in your house might be the last place they’d have access to it.”
Fuck. Did Jack’s dad betray mine? Is he the reason he didn’t come back from the quarry that night? Maybe our friend is talking about another time my dad trusted Jack’s.
“Look, I know I’m being cagey about identifying myself, but I have enough going on in my life right now. Sean helped me when no one else could. I owe him more than my life and am grateful to finally have a way to help him.”
“We’re glad to have your help,” I say.
“You were young when your dad left.” Our friend sighs. “You should have heard him when he found out your mom was pregnant. You’d think he’d been given the second coming. And then to know you were going to be a girl. He bragged and bragged until I wanted to punch him to get him to shut up. But there’s nothing like the look on his face when he held you as a baby. Like nothing in this world would stop him from protecting you. He loved you and your mother so much, Harper. It breaks my heart that he isn’t here for you now. That you missed all those years with him.”
Tears roll down my cheeks. I can’t say anything as I turn into Nico’s arms and he holds me.
“I’ll be in touch, Jack.” Then there’s only silence as I cry softly against Nico again.
