Page 20 of Sins of the Fathers

“He’s interested in the sanctuary,” Archie said.

That wasn’t what Jasper had expected. “Why?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. He told me he wanted access to the building that was once the sanctuary. I told him that there was nothing I could do for him because I have nothing to do with the sanctuary. He mentioned my in-laws, so I think that maybe he believed I had an in with Leroy.”

Jasper snorted. “My father would try to kill you before he’d tell you anything about the sanctuary. Hell, I’m pretty sure he’d rather kill me than tell me anything about the sanctuary.”

“That’s what I told Kester. He tried to get me to change my mind by telling me about you. Apparently, he has information on how Leroy got you.”

That was information Jasper would give anything to know. He still hadn’t talked to his father because the man even refused to pick up his phone, let alone see him face-to-face. Jasper was pretty sure that if it was up to Leroy, he would never find out the truth about what happened at the sanctuary. It sounded like Kester knew that, though.

Or he was making it up.

“You said no.”

Archie sighed heavily. “I did. I don’t know what he wants from the sanctuary, but there was nothing I could do for him there. I’m sure he’s going to go there, though.”

That got Jasper’s attention. “So he wants something physical from the building.”

“It sounded like it, but you know him. It’s not like he’d give me any details.”

“But he’s going to go there. Maybe we can be there, too, and watch him. Maybe that’ll give us information.”

Jasper had never returned to the sanctuary. He knew where it was, but he also knew the state it was in. There was nothing left there. The building had burned down that night, and while the area had been cleaned up a few weeks after that, nothing had been rebuilt. It was just an empty lot now, and even if Jasper remembered things, the place wouldn’t hold any memories. Everything and everyone that would’ve made up the memories were gone.

“You think Kester actually knows something about my past?” he asked.

Archie was cautious when he answered. “I think he definitely knows something and that he’s interested in the sanctuary, so he’s interested in you by proxy.”

“Maybe I should meet with him. Maybe he would answer if I asked questions.”

“Or maybe he’s just playing with you. You know how he is, Jasper. Begging him to get answers isn’t going to help. If anything, it would make things harder because he’ll know that he has you where he wants you. He’d have leverage over you, and he wouldn’t be afraid to use it.”

“Besides, it’s not like I know how to reach him.”

“Even if you did, I don’t think it’s something you should do. Remember what happened the last time the two of you were together.”

There was no way Jasper could ever forget. Kester was the one who’d told him he wasn’t human, and he’d been right, which was one of the reasons Jasper wanted to talk to him again. Kester seemed to have a lot of information that Jasper didn’t. Apparently, some of that information involved Leroy.

“Please tell me you’re not going to look for him,” Archie said, his tone making it obvious that he was anxious about it.

Jasper didn’t want to make Archie worry. He knew that he would probably never find out what happened that night. He could get information on the people who’d lived at the sanctuary and the work they’d done from Sarah and maybe the historian Archie had reached out to. But he’d never find out about the night the sanctuary had been destroyed unless a hunter or Leroy agreed to talk to him, and that wasn’t going to happen.

Maybe Kester knew something, or maybe he didn’t. Archie wasn’t wrong when he said that Kester knew he had power over Jasper with this. Jasper wasn’t going to let him win. He’d rather never know what happened than have to pay whatever price Kester would demand of him.

“I won’t look for him,” Jasper promised. “But you know him. I might not have to go and look for him because if he wants to talk to me, he will.”

Archie groaned. “I know. I’ve been resisting the urge to lock you in your apartment since I talked to him.”

“Well, unless you’re willing to pay my rent and my bills, that’s not going to work.”

“I know.”

It was more than Jasper’s rent, though. Jasper wasn’t going to give up his friends and his social life because of Kester. That would allow him to win, too. Was Jasper afraid of the monster? Definitely. He’d seen what Kester did when he killed people, and for some reason, he was intrigued by Jasper. There was no way that was a good thing, but until he did something, Jasper’s best bet was to stay away and continue living his life.

But both him and Archie knew that if Kester really wanted to talk to him, he’d find a way, and that terrified Jasper.

Chapter Seven