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Me:Because I want you to be at home there too.
She doesn’t say anything further. But there’s nothing more to say either.
In the middle of the night, I grab my phone as has become a habit. There’s one message.
Pix:Thank you for allowing me to see the real Layton Ranger.
Right. The woman sees through me as if I were crystal. I might as well be an open book. She sees every secret, every fault, every dark corner, and acts like I’m still the most fascinating man she’s ever met.
By the time I get going in the morning, Livy is on the sofa in the living room, leg propped with an ice pack, a cup of tea in her hand. She lifts the mug and smiles. “Good morning. My tea is delicious. Thank you.”
Kyle leaves his position at Pop’s feet and comes to greet me before engaging my perpetual shadow, Luna, in play.
“You’re welcome. Morning, Pop.” I tap Pop on his shoulder and trail a hand along the back of the sofa on the way to the kitchen.
Steaming hot mug in hand, I lift Livy’s leg, sit in her spot, and reposition her knee on my lap. I rest my hand on her ankle, letting my thumb rub back and forth against the skin there.
“How’s your leg?”
“Sore. I’m probably doing too much on it, but—” Her phone buzzes, interrupting her thought.
She turns the screen to me. It’s a Florida number but not programmed in.
“Hello?” She pauses, “Yes, this is Dr. Morgan.”
Pop’s eyes go wide behind her. “Doctor?” he mouths.
I nod.
“Okay… Oh… I see. I’m afraid I won’t be able to help in that aspect. I never saw his face.” More silence as she stares down into her tea. “Of course. Anything you need. I’m sorry, Detective. Will you repeat your name for me?” There’s another gap in the conversation. “I appreciate your calling.”
She stares down at her phone, the call already over.
“That was the police. A body washed up on the beach. Cuts on his arms, bruising on his face, and a slice to the shell of his right ear.”
I squeeze her leg. “Did they ID the man?”
“He had a wallet on him. Driver’s license was from Virginia. Nothing to indicate he’d been in the area longer than a few months.”
“They think it was random?” My voice is incredulous. After everything she’s been through and I have, too, it’s so improbable.
“Right now, they do.”
“Mind cluing me in here?” Pop asks, leaning forward in his chair. “Are we talking about the man who did this to you and Kyle?”
Livy nods, twisting to face my dad. “They have an ID, but no case. There’s nothing to go on and no one to prosecute.”
“I don’t like it,” Pop says matter-of-factly.
“Me either.”
“Well, that makes three of us,” Livy says, taking a sip of her tea. “And not a darn thing any of us can do about it.”
Me:If I give you a name, can you dig into some background?
Exton:Happy to.
I send my brother the name. This may not be his exact area of expertise, but he has skills.
