Page 98 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

Field glanced at JP, then held out the phone.

JP took the phone, leaving it on speaker. “August, this is JP Torn.”

“I don’t know what I could tell you that Charlie doesn’t already know.”

“Sometimes, we don’t know what we know.”

“I’ll do what I can, but first tell me, have you checked out Nigel Gates?”

“I have, and he’s still on my radar, but right now he’s sitting in prison.”

“Good to know, but let me guess. He’s there for hurting little girls.”

“You’re right as rain.”

“What do you need?” August asked.

“I’m trying to locate your mother,” JP said.

“Why?” August’s tone was defensive.

“Because she may know something we don’t,” JP said. “Or she may have seen something later that didn’t seem important at the time.”

“She moved around,” he said after a beat.

“Do you know where she is now?”

“Yeah.”

JP waited.

“She’s in Fallbrook. It’s a small place. She doesn’t like people knowing where she is. But if you think it’ll help…”

He gave JP the address and phone number, and JP wrote it down.

“Are you still in contact with her?” JP asked.

“Sometimes,” August said. “Not like before.”

“How’s she doing?”

August let out a quiet breath. “It depends on the day.”

“And you?” JP asked.

That seemed to catch him off guard. “I’m good. Life has been good to me.”

“Do you ever stop looking?” JP asked.

The line was quiet for a second. “No.”

JP believed him. “I appreciate you talking to me. This helps.”

“If you find something,” August said, “you call me.”

“I will.”

JP handed the phone back to Field, who wrapped up the call and hung up.