“Your place this time, right?”
“Yeah. Usual time.” Carter coughed and TJ knew what he was about to ask. The question didn’t get asked as often now, but he knew. “Have you heard anything?”
“No. I check hospitals and police, prisons and morgues as I always do, but still nothing. No news is good news.”
“I’m not my brother. I know what the likelihood is.” A soft sigh. “I want them to have some closure.”
“I know. I wish I could give it to them. I don’t know how I’d feel if it was one of mine or Macy.”
“Thanks TJ. I know you don’t have to keep looking. Cody isn’t a relation of yours.”
“Don’t be daft. Like I wouldn’t keep looking for him. He was almost sixteen when he disappeared, and he was staying with me at the time. I feel responsible.”
“Cass knows it’s not your fault. He thinks he would have left before if you hadn’t stepped in and tried to help.”
“Look Carter—”
“Don’t. We both know Cass fucked up where Cody’s concerned. Cass should have put him in therapy, but refused to do it. Cody refused to do it. We should have forced it, then Cody wouldn’t have jumped off the deep end and done what he did.”
TJ shook his head, even though Carter couldn’t see it. “We all watched him fall apart.” They all bore some responsibility.
“No, TJ. You told Cass time and time again to get Cody help, and he refused.”
“If I find anything—”
“I know.” The words sounded weary, so TJ changed the subject.
“Macy wants me to take her to the horses. What do Lincoln and Arthur want?”
“We both know those boys will do whatever Macy wants. She rules them like a queen.”
TJ chuckled because it was true. All of four years old, Macy ruled her brothers, and they let her. They adored their little sister. “How’s Toni doing?” Five months pregnant with their surprise baby, she’d had terrible morning sickness and had lost over ten pounds in weight.
“She’s much better, thankfully. You know I was getting worried, but she’s doing well and putting weight on now.”
“You know where I am if you ever need me to have the kids to give you both a break. I love all three of them.”
“We’re lucky, aren’t we? Not many people get on like we do, and share our kids the way we do.”
“I guess we are, but I wouldn’t want any other man for Toni. I’ve gotta go, Carter. I’m exhausted.”
“Shit, TJ. I forgot about the hours you’ve been working. Toni told you she left you some food?”
“She did and thank her again for me. She really doesn’t need to do that.”
“Like she’ll ever stop caring for you. Or me. Go to sleep, TJ. I’ll call tomorrow to arrange when I’ll drop the kids off.”
TJ hung up and got out of the truck and trudged up the driveway to his house. The light from the moon shone through the windows, so TJ didn’t bother putting the lights on once he was inside. In the kitchen, he grabbed a beer from the fridge and as he shut the door, he spotted something on the side he hadn’t noticed when he’d first walked in.
Medals.
It took TJ a few seconds to realize what medals they were. The missing medals that had gone when Cody had. He reached over and touched one, then went to pick it up. A scrape behind him had TJ spinning around and drawing his gun, pointing it to where he’d heard the sound.
Someone sat at his table, shadows falling across his face. “TJ.”
The voice sounded familiar, but TJ couldn’t quite place it. It took a few seconds, then he swiftly inhaled. It couldn’t be, could it? “Cody?”
Chapter Five
