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“I thought about it…” I say, leaning back in my seat and staring blankly at the road in front of me. “I wish I could bring it up. I know I should tell her everything I know. It’s not easy, though. She might have a reaction, as you just said. And I don’t know the entire truth yet. If it is what I think it is, there will be an unavoidable rift between us. That thing alone will keep us apart. I hope things are not as bad as I think they are. I also hope it’s a string of coincidences. And the fact that what we’re all looking for is in her house––or it was in her house––it’s pure happenstance. Anyway, I need to find that thing first. I need to know what it is and if my father played a role in that story. Only then will I talk to her.”
We both go silent.
“So, back to Martin Jackson,” I say.
“Yes. Martin. He hasn’t surfaced yet, and I don’t know if it’s because he likes to keep a low profile or if there’s something else. Whatever it is, he knows some stuff, but the best source of information is still George.”
“Yeah… He won’t talk unless I make him talk, and I’ve got nothing so far. Are you sure there’s nothing I could use against him?”
“Uh… There’s nothing I can think of. Their business is in great shape, and there’s nothing funny going on.”
“How far in the past have you checked their business records?”
“I started from the beginning.”
“Is there any chance my father worked with Andrew Bach?”
“Doing what?”
“I don’t know. Audits maybe? Some business consulting? Bookkeeping?”
“Has he ever mentioned anything like that?”
“Nothing in our records indicates they’ve worked together, and he’s never mentioned the guy. In all fairness, he didn’t mention Major Wilson, either. My father was strange in that regard. You know him. Not even my mother could make him talk. He refused to discuss anything related to these people. The only reason I know about Raven’s father is that my father kept his picture in our house. I don’t remember seeing Andrew Bach’s picture anywhere. Anyway… Going back. He’s looking for numbers. And Andrew worked with numbers. And I think there’s a connection there.”
“That’s a valid theory. If that’s the case, we need more than George Bach’s business records. I doubt we can find an official act to prove it. If this thing was so important to your father, he must’ve taken care of it by now.”
“Yeah… You’re right. Okay,” I say, a bit rushed this time. “I need to go back and check on her.”
“Sure, no problem. Drive safely.”
We end the call, and I stay silent, not moving, only thinking.
This story shapes up to be crazier than I thought, and the worst is yet to come. My gut tells me to brace myself.
There are so many things at play and so many variables.
Not being able to talk to Raven about these things drives me nuts. Not being able to come clean only makes her more suspicious and heightens her stress.
I know how she feels. And I wish I could tell her what I know. But what do I know?
That my father might have something to do with what happened to her family in the past.
If that’s the case… What would happen to us? And what can I say to make her feel better?
Four more weeks. That’s all we have. After that, our time is up. I won’t be able to use our agreement to buy more time.
So far, it’s worked. It’s been a bumpy ride, but we’ve made it somehow.
Tonight wasn’t a good moment. And the question is, how much longer can I do that?
I try not to think about it.
It takes me an hour to get home.
The road is covered in snow, and it’s slippery. And by the time I enter my street, the clouds split open, and a big moon shines over the homes and the trees.
Her house is royally lit, and that’s not a good sign. It doesn’t surprise me at all.
