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“We think we’ve identified another one of Talon’s abductors.”
“Really? That’s great.”
“You see, Talon remembered something about one of his abductors during his therapy.”
“Yeah? What?”
“One of the guys had a birthmark.”
Bryce’s eyes widened. “What kind of birthmark?”
I cleared my throat. The time of reckoning had come. “A tan birthmark on his upper arm, right below the armpit. Shaped like the state of Texas.”
“Wow, that’s—” Bryce stood. “No way. You’re not trying to tell me that you think—”
“Sit down. Hear me out. Please.”
“You’re accusing my father? The fucking mayor of Snow Creek? One of our finest citizens?”
“Please. I don’t make these accusations lightly,” I said. “If you have any respect for our friendship of thirty-five years, please sit down and hear me out.”
“Respect for our friendship? You’re the one with no respect for it. You really think my father could’ve done such a thing? My father raised me. He never laid a hand on me my entire life, even when I was a little piece of shit. This is my father. The man I trust with my life. With my son’s life.”
God, Bryce’s son. Every time that baby had been left alone with the Simpsons, I had chills. I wanted to drive over to that place and grab the kid and never let him set foot in the house again.
“I know this is hard to believe. But look at Larry Wade. He was th
e city attorney. No one believed it of him either.”
“You’re really going to compare my father to Larry Wade? That sick motherfucker?”
“If what we suspect is true, your father is just as sick, maybe sicker, than Larry Wade.”
“You, of all people. When my father has been missing for a week now. You want to lay this on my doorstep?”
I rubbed at my forehead. My head was starting to ache. “Did it ever occur to you to question why your father might be missing now? He knew we were onto him. He’s probably gone into hiding somewhere. We think we’ve identified the third abductor as well, and we haven’t seen hide nor hair of him in months.”
“Oh, yeah? Who’s the third abductor? Your milkman? Maybe an elementary school teacher?”
“No. He’s a man named Nico Kostas. You’ve heard me talk to Larry about him. He was dating Jade’s mother, and we think he tampered with her airbag, trying to kill her for insurance money.”
“You’ve lost it, Joe. Are you listening to yourself? Do you and Talon have such a need for vengeance that you’ve decided to write your own story? This poor Nico Kostas is probably as innocent as my father is.”
I shook my head. “Your father is not innocent, Bryce. Who the hell else has the exact birthmark Talon described? No one.”
“That’s not evidence. It’s circumstantial. I bet a lot of people have a birthmark like that. Talon probably saw my dad’s once and made it up. You’re trying to frame my father. What the fuck did he ever do to you?”
Rage boiled under my skin, and I stood. I had to stop myself from punching my best friend in the jaw. Cool it, Joe. He’s defending his dad. You expected that.
I took a deep breath and walked toward Bryce. “What did he ever do to me? Nothing. But he kidnapped and raped my brother, man. He killed his own nephew. Open your eyes, Bryce. Your father is a psychopath, and you’re better off now that he’s gone.”
Bryce backed away. “I never expected anything like this from you. We had the kind of friendship that stories are written about. We could go for years without seeing each other and then get together, and it was like no time had passed. We were up to our old antics, finishing each other’s sentences, laughing at each other’s stupid-ass jokes. That’s the kind of friend I thought you were, Joe.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I was so wrong.” He raised his fist.
I stalked toward him. “You want to hit me? Think that’ll make you feel better? Go for it. Then I’ll hit you back. And neither one of us will feel better. You think I like what your father has done? You think I like having to tell you? I’ve been dreading this since I figured it out. I haven’t even told Talon yet because I thought I owed you the courtesy of letting you know first.”
Bryce dropped his fist, his whole body tense. “I can’t fucking believe it. You of all people.”
“Look, if you believe in our friendship—”
