Page 147 of Veil of Silence

“Your father was right,” Prine continued. “He uncovered the connection before the rest of us did. Cross killed him when he discovered your father knew the truth about his real identity.”

“He should have called you first.”

“Yes.”

“He should have called me.”

Prine remained silent.

Austin looked at the receipt crushed in his hand. His father had spent most of his life pursuing answers, often at the expense of everyone waiting for him at home. In the end, that instinct had cost him everything. Dad’s motives were good, but his priorities had been jumbled.

Austin vowed never to be like that.

“I thought you should hear the update from me,” Prine said. “There’s something else you need to consider.”

“What?”

“We’re putting together a multiagency task force to investigate the missing boys and the organization behind their abductions. It will operate out of Knoxville, at least initially. We’ll also be reopening some of the older threads that may connect to the network—Roy Callahan and Everett Voss, for starters.”

Austin turned from the window. “That makes me feel better. What about the Renshaws?”

“They’re still scheduled to sing at Homecoming on October eighteenth,” Prine said. “We’ll be looking into what your father expected to happen that day.”

“Good to know.”

“I’ve requested you for a temporary assignment,” she continued. “You wouldn’t work the investigation into your father’s murder, but you know his files and the history of Christian’s case better than most.”

“My assignment is in Baltimore.”

“Your supervisor is willing to discuss a thirty-day detail. After that, you would need to decide whether to return or pursue a permanent transfer.”

Thirty days in Knoxville would keep Austin close to Fog Lake—and close to Nora.

“When do you need an answer?” he asked.

“Tomorrow.”

“I’ll give you one then.”

After the call ended, Austin placed the receipt inside his father’s paperback and set the book in the suitcase.

He packed the clothes next, followed by the toiletries, and the blood-pressure medication his father had left behind. The task should have taken ten minutes. Instead, each item carried the weight of a decision neither of them would have the chance to revisit.

A knock sounded at the door.

He turned and saw Nora standing there holding two cups of coffee. Her gaze moved from Austin to the open suitcase.

Relief washed through him at the sight of her, but he ignored it.

“I thought I told you I could handle this.” He hadn’t wanted her to see how hard this was for him. She already had enough burdens of her own to carry.

“You did.” She handed him one of the cups. “I decided not to listen.”

“Sounds about right.”

They shared a smile.

Nora glanced around the room.