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I stuff my hands in October’s coat. “Did you hear the sheriff say something?”
He shakes his head.
“Did you hear the Roberts admit to it? Did someone tell you the truth?”
Parry is more rigid. “Not-t-t-tttt exactly, no.” He runs a distraught hand through his thick golden hair.
My mouth slowly falls open. “Parry, do you have any actual evidence they’re setting him up?”
He’s quiet until he says, “No—but I have a feeling.” His gaze bores into me until he eyes the road again. “The town council have been fucking Colt over since they put him in that lighthouse.”
“But it’s just a hunch you’re going on?”
“Yeah.”
Jesus. “…and what if Colt’s right? What if there was a girl?”
“What if there wasn’t and he spends an eternity searching for something he can never find?” Parry is scared for Colt. It’s clear just how much. “The best way to get him back to his old self is to help him move on. Hunting down an imaginary person isn’t going to fix things, Zo. It’ll just prolong…” His voice tapers off.
What was he about to say?
Prolong my brother’s binge-drinking, chain-smoking, paranoia, anxiety, trauma, or how about his clear lack of eating?
All of the above?
All of the above. I nod slowly to myself, then wince a little. I’m not totally convinced Parry is choosing the best route.
If there’s anything I know, it’s the power of belief. Belief in curses and legends has fueled generations of wealth for certain families in Mistpoint, while it’s left others to drown.
Belief can be even stronger than the truth.
So if Colt really believes this girl exists, nothing I say will change that. And I don’t even have the evidence to back up a counter argument.
“He won’t believe me,” I tell Parry. “Not without evidence.”
“It’ll take too long, Zo. I’ve tried for months and I’ve already come up with as much as Colt. Augustine Anders doesn’t exist, and the town council acts like Colt has lost his mind.” He glances at me. “You were my only hope left. If anyone can get through to Colt—it’s you.”
To simply talk Colt out of his beliefs?
“That’s not true. The only person my brother would drop to his knees and tunnel his way to hell for is a guy named Parry DiNapoli.”
He grimaces. “It’s been three months, and he hasn’t listened to me at all. You’re the next best shot.”
I think for a long second. “I’ve never seen him so sure about something, Parry. We’re not going to be able to help him without proof.”
And a huge part of me wants answers too. If the girl is out there, then she needs to be found. And if Colt is being set-up, the prick who’s fucking with my brother needs to be throat-punched.
But what if Parry and Colt are wrong? What if Colt didn’t see anything and there is no nefarious hoax? I’ll be helping him track down a girl that really doesn’t exist, and I’ll be wasting my time here. There really will be no closure for Colt.
In the end, Colt is a Durand. He’s my brother. And the worst thing about not being believed is not being believed by your own blood. That’s never happened to me before. Like hell I’ll do it to him.
Parry exhales a big breath. He’s wishing we could just easily convince Colt that it’s all a hoax. But we can’t.
“We have to prove that she’s real or that she’s not,” I tell him.
“How are you going to do that, Zo?”
I don’t think as I say, “October. She’s connected to the town council. She can get inside the inner-circle. Places we can’t.”
“Will she really help you?”
We’re both remembering her storming out earlier.
My stomach knots. “I don’t know.” I think harder. “…but I’m supposed to be writing a book about Mistpoint. I can ask around without appearing that suspicious.”
He nods more. “I’ll help any way I can.” He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “You know, I would’ve given anything for the sheriff to believe me that night.”
The night his parents died.
He breathes, “I hate that Colt is going through this now, and I just want it to end for him. And you’re right, he needs proof. I got mine.”
I go cold. As far as I’m aware, his parents’ death is still a mystery. “What proof?”
“I’ve only told Colt…and Brian.”
Brian?
I swear Parry reddens, but he inhales strongly. “I wanted to tell you. I was going to tell you at some point…but then you…”
I left.
“You’re going to tell me now?” I wonder.
“Yeah,” he nods, lips lifting. For a blip, I can tell Parry is happy I’m here. That I’m back, and it feels good to be home.
Your time here has an expiration date.
A pain sits heavy. I know. I can’t stay.
His smile wanes as he starts. “When I was seventeen, Enzo dug up our parents’ bodies a day after he buried them.”
