Page 59 of Weight of Guilt

Nash waited for Luke’s reaction.

Finally, Luke blew out a deep breath and nodded slowly. “Here’s where we are. Christian sees a doctor today. Not tomorrow. He’s been gone for ten years, and no one has laid eyes on him but you all. He needs to be examined and documented.”

“He’ll say no,” Wren said.

“Don’t make it an option,” Luke said. “Second, we need to let the proper authorities know. The FBI. Do you remember the name of the agent who worked his case?”

“Donnelly,” Wren said. “I think his first name was Jeff.”

“I’ll call.”

Wren rubbed her neck. “How fast will things happen?”

“For a child abduction with a live return? Fast. Could be someone in Fog Lake tomorrow.” Luke let that land. “Which brings me to the part you’re going to like least. How old is Christian now?”

“Seventeen.”

“That’s what I thought. He’s a minor. That’s going to pull in the state at some point. Not today. But it’s coming.”

Luke hesitated as if he wanted to say more.

Wren’s hands went still on the table. “Say the rest.”

Luke frowned before his gaze met hers. “As one parent to another, until you have more answers, I wouldn’t leave Christian alone with your son.”

Wren sucked in a breath. “You mean . . . because . . .”

“I just mean that’s what I would do out of the utmost caution. We don’t know for sure who this boy is or what he’s been through.”

Wren nodded, an almost stoic look in her gaze. “I understand. Mason’s with his father right now. He’ll be back tonight.”

“Then that’s your evening,” Luke said. “Somebody stays awake in that house tonight. I’d rather it wasn’t you, because you look like you’re running on fumes, but somebody.”

Nash spoke before he’d decided to. “It won’t be her.”

Luke and Wren turned toward him.

“I can station myself outside in my truck to keep an eye on things,” he explained. “I’d feel better if I were there—just in case.”

Luke studied him for a good while before saying, “You’re on leave.”

“That’s why I’ve got the time.”

“Good to know.” Luke stood and dug his phone out of his back pocket. “Wren, go tell your mother.”

Wren paused for a moment before asking, “You believe he’s my brother?”

Luke stopped scrolling. “I haven’t got an opinion yet on who he is. But I think it’s only wise to proceed with caution.”

Chapter

Thirty

There’s a flat spot in the grass where the bike usually lies. Right now, there’s no bike there.

That’s the first thing I check, every time. Before the cars, before the windows, before anything. The bike tells me where the boy is without my having to see him, and today the bike tells me he’s gone.

He must be with his father.