Page 118 of You Know Why

“I know, Brook. I know what really happened in Thiviers.”

The memories rush me like a charging bull—the riverbank, the gunshot, Alex’s shocked face, Roger cold and still, the screams—and I twist away with a cry.

“You can’t possibly be serious right now.”

“I’m dead serious. And I’ve taken care of it, okay?”

“What is there to take care of? I didn’t do anything wrong! And what the hell is this, Trey?”

I stomp over to the window, look out into the dusty square. It is deserted, but I feel their eyes watching.

“I told you. The French government thinks you had something to do with Roger Bandolier’s death. A man who was part of the show came to them with testimony that you provided Bandolier with the drugs that killed him. They’ve been looking for you. That’s why we’ve been traveling so much. I’ve been keeping us ahead of them. But they found us, and they wanted to extradite you. So I’ve made them understand you were not involved. It took the rest of the money, but we don’t have to worry about this anymore.”

“You need to explain yourself. Who in the hell do you work for?”

“Let’s just leave it as a government agency, okay? Seriously, Brooklyn, I can’t tell you anything else. I’m sorry I lied to you. I will never lie to you again. I’m out now. That was the conversation I just had. I’ve quit. No more.”

“You just quit. Over me?”

He laughs, short and exasperated. “I didn’t foresee any of this happening. Falling in love with you was not part of the plan. My having a wife and a kid was not encouraged. But you and the baby mean more to me than anything. So I quit. We’re going to have a quiet life together. We’re going to raise our family and live in suburbia and do the school pickup line and host backyard barbecues and I’ll coach Little League. We’re going to live the dream, together.”

“I’ve seen the movies, Trey. ‘Getting out’ is impossible. They always come back.”

He kissed me, soft and slow. “I will do everything in my power not to leave you again. But if I do, I swear to you, I will be back.”

“And if something happens to you, and you can’t?”

“You will be taken care of, love. You will want for nothing.”

My anger is bleeding away in the face of this man whom I love more than my own life. Who has taken it upon himself to eradicate my sins.

“But if that happens, I won’t have you. I’d rather be destitute. I don’t like this, Trey. It feels wrong.”

“I know, baby. I should have told you sooner. But you’re safe with me, okay? I’ll always keep you safe.” He kisses me deeply. “I’m yours now. And I will do anything for you, Brooklyn. Anything. Lie, cheat, steal, kill. Anything, if it keeps you safe.”

Now

I open my eyes and try to put the dominoes in a straight line.

Trey would do anything to keep me safe. I believed him then, and I believe him now.

Yes, a decade ago, Trey was sent to find me in Mexico.

Yes, Trey and I fell in love, and he quit his ultrasecret job with the government so we could be together. I didn’t even know whose government he worked for.

Yes, he knew about Thiviers, about the night both Alex and Roger died. How, I don’t know. There were only three people there. Alex, Roger . . . and me.

Yes, we’ve lived in comfort and quiet for the past ten years, until Trey did something so utterly stupid and out of character—stealing money from my uncle—and set us on this collision course.

Why? Why now? What in the world is he up to?

I have to trust him. I trusted him ten years ago, and I have to trust him now.

I’m asking the wrong questions.

Who was the man who ratted me out to the French police all those years ago? Trey said he didn’t know, but I think he did.

An absolutely nuts idea floats to the surface.