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“I can’t remember. I feel like it’s in my brain somewhere.”
Recall came trickling back. Justin had been a new kid in town. He was nothing special, but for some reason, he never quite fit in. He didn’t blend. He was quiet and always alone, and…
“Whose idea was it, anyway?” Joe asked.
“It was mine,” I said, thinking. “I asked my dad if we could bring him along.”
“Damn. Do you think your father…?”
“I don’t know.” This time I paced in circles. “I’m afraid to even think about it.”
“We have to think about it, man. We have to.”
“Whether he did or not, it shouldn’t have anything to do with us,” I said. “We were nine. We’re innocent.”
“Morse is bluffing,” Joe said. “He has to be. How could he even know anything?”
“I don’t know. He’s got money, though. Not Steel money, but enough to dig up any dirt there is. And he might have done just that.”
“He seriously can’t think he can take us on,” Joe said. “Like you said, he doesn’t have Steel money.”
“I don’t have any money.”
“But he has to know that we’ve got your back.”
“Why would he know that?”
“He’ll know if he tries anything.”
“I can’t—”
“Don’t even,” Joe said. “You’re an honorary Steel brother. You always have been. Whatever you need, bro. Always.”
I already felt like I was taking advantage of the Steels by accepting their generous offer. My only solace was that I knew I was qualified and would do a damned good job for them. “Thanks, man.”
“You know it.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m going to talk to Morse.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“I should go alone.”
Hell, no. If Joe went alone, he might do something hotheaded and stupid. He’d been ready to blow Ted Morse away once before. With good reason, but still. Joe and I were good for each other. We kept each other level-headed.
“I’ll go with you. He came to me with this. I’m already involved.”
“Good enough.” He pointed to his ankle. “But Rosie’s coming along.”
I nodded. “No problem there. I’ll be packing as well.” If I was there to stop him, Joe wouldn’t cross the line. But I was absolutely fine with him scaring Morse a little, and since I’d learned the truth about my father, I’d carried my own concealed weapon.
“Funny,” I said. “My dad is the one who taught us how to be such good shots.”
Joe started to reply but stopped when his phone dinged. He pulled it out of his pocket. “Text from Talon. He needs to talk. I guess I’m going over to his house. Come with me. We have to tell them—”
I widened my eyes. “No, Joe. Not yet.”
“You’re right,” he said. “This has stayed between the two of us for thirty years. A few more days won’t hurt. We see Morse first.”
I nodded. “You were going to have those PIs sweep my house for bugs. We need to get all your properties swept too before we even mention this anywhere inside.”
