Page 214 of The Bluffing Game

Toby steps up and gives me a quick hug around the leg, and I look at him in amazement.

“Thanks, Toby.”

“You’re welcome,” he says, and then he runs off to his room.

I am in complete shock. That’s the first time Toby has ever said something like that to me, and it really means something and actually helps to remind me that I am on the right path, that maybe I can atone for my sins one day.

I pick up the phone and call Brett.

“Hey. How’s it going?” he asks.

“I just wanted to know if you had any updates on Toby’s mom or on Sage’s dad.”

“Actually, I’ve got some leads, but nothing concrete yet,” Brett says. “It’s weird, you know? Some people are easy to find, like they want to be found. Then there are people who aren’t easy to find, and sometimes, I wonder if those people should just be left where they are.”

“You don’t have a good feeling, huh?”

“Do you, Dalton?” he asks me matter-of-factly.

I don’t say anything because the truth is, I don’t—not about Toby’s mom and not about Sage’s dad—but I hope I’m mistaken.

“So, I actually have to go,” Brett says. “I have a meeting in about thirty minutes with someone you used to know who might have a lead on Sage’s dad, actually.”

“Oh?” I question.

“Yeah, one of Jimmy the Fish’s friends, Mikey. Do you remember him?”

“Vaguely. He is old school. He would’ve worked with my dad.”

“Yeah, well, turns out Mikey, Jimmy the Fish, and this third guy used to hang out quite a bit and go down to New York. And well, it turns out, this third guy used to be a bit of a ladies’ man, so I’m trying to get some information from this guy, Mikey.”

“You didn’t want to ask Jimmy the Fish?”

“Not yet,” Brett says.

I don’t question why not because Brett knows what he’s doing far better than I do.

“I’m ready, Daddy.”

Toby comes running, and I hold my hand up.

“Hey, Brett, sorry about that. That was Toby. We’re about to head to the beach.”

“Oh, no worries. By the way, how is Sage doing?”

“Great. I think she’s doing great. Thanks for asking.”

“And her sister—what was her name again?”

I pause because I know Brett well enough to know he hasn’t forgotten Rosie’s name, but I decide to play with him.

“Whose sister? Sage’s sister?”

“Yeah. Shoot, what’s her name? Was it Becky or Sarah or Daisy or something?”

“Rosie,” I say.

“Oh, yeah. I don’t know how I forgot.”