PART TWO
“When you love someone, you’ll sacrifice.
You’ll give it everything you’ve got
And you won’t think twice.”
-When You Love Someone
CHAPTER 8
Gideon closed the laptopwhen the twins slinked into the doorway of the study and lingered there, arms linked, a look of uncertainty on their faces. He waved them in. “Something on your minds, boys?”
The twins exchanged a glance and Gideon noted the uncharacteristic tension in them both.
“Sit.” Gideon motioned to the two chairs before his desk. The boys sat down. “Now, what’s going on?”
Marcus remained silent as Mickey shifted in the chair and took something from his pocket. He showed it to Gideon, a cell phone.
Gideon frowned. “It’s a phone. What about it?”
“It’s Derek’s phone,” Mickey said quietly. “He gave it to us before he went into town with Bailey. He said if he kept it, he would call Patrick, and he didn’t want to, not yet.”
“I see.” Gideon leaned forward on the desk. “Why are you showing it to me?”
“Because…” Mickey looked at Marcus, and the other boy nodded for him to continue. “Because he… he got a call.”
Gideon straightened. “Did you answer it?”
Mickey nodded.
“Who was it?”
The boy pressed his lips tight, then whispered, “Patrick.”
“What?” Gideon left his chair and moved to the front of the desk, sitting on the edge. “You’repositiveit was Patrick?”
“Yeah…” Mickey faltered. “He didn’t say his name, but… but I know it was him.”
“What did it say on the caller ID?”
Mickey licked his lips and fidgeted. “Unknown caller.”
Gideon rubbed his mouth. “Derek had his number saved in his phone. If it was Patrick, his name and number should have shown up.”
“I-I know,” Mickey stammered. “But it was him—I know it.”
“Tell me what he said.”
Releasing a shaky breath, Mickey recounted the brief conversation. “When he hung up, he was…” He swallowed, his eyes misting. “… he wascrying.I could hear it in his voice. He sounded so… sad and lost.” He blinked as his tears welled. “He begged me not to tell Derek that he called, but… but wehaveto, right? Derek was so upset about him—hehasto know that Patrick called.”
Sighing heavily, Gideon murmured, “First of all, I agree that it was Patrick. I don’t know why his call showed up as unknown caller, though—unless he was calling from a different phone. But that isn’t important right now.”
Marcus finally joined in. “We’re going to tell Derek, right?”
“Yeah,” Gideon whispered. “He needs to know. But I’ll tell him.”
“Right now?” Marcus asked. “Are you going to call him at Bailey’s?”
