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“No, that’s not possible. I covered everything…”
“Did you cover archived files in libraries? We’re a small town and Fork River loves it’s history,” I remind him.
“And who else knows about that place?” Harvey looks between us all.
“Mayor Walker knew about it, but I guess he ain’t gonna be a problem no more,” I point out. “Now, tell me where my girl is or I swear to god I will shoot you.”
“Cole, look at me.” Harvey trembles like a shitting dog. “I don’t know where your girl is, if the place she was, was here, I will do everything in my power to help you find her. But you have to trust me when I say I wasn’t behind this.”
“Bullsh—”
“Put the gun down, Cole.” Garrett steps in front of me to stop me from attacking him again. “I believe him. You wanna get your girl back, we're gonna need all the help we can get because, right now, all we got is a dead-end trail.”
I close my eyes and drop my head because I hate being helpless. None of this makes sense. Why would she be here? Why would she have dressed herself up the way she did, and why the fuck would she keep it all from me?
“Why me, why my family?” Garrett turns around and asks Harvey.
“When I figured something was wrong, I personally relocated Sarah’s parents, they had to leave everything behind until I knew this place was safe for them. I’ve been watching this town ever since me and Kendall got our new start but I still had to work for the organization. I may have got myself a brand new name but they decided where I had to live and they weren’t finished with Harvey Marston. Sarah had always wanted to bring Clio home and raise her here. I kept on promising her I’d get out, but I never had the chance to keep that promise. I’ve spent years making sure this place is safe and that they have no power here. Fork River can be my daughter’s salvation when the time comes.” Harvey looks hopeful.
“Before, destroying these men was just a pipe dream. I’m good at what I do, and they need me. As long as I have something they can take, they can manipulate me. I may be in the palm of their hands but I’m also in the inner circle now. No one doubts me and I have what I need to take them down. I just can’t do that without incriminating myself.”
“That doesn’t answer my brother’s question.” Wade glares at him. “My girlfriend went through some real fucked up shit because of you and your people.”
“Nothing I’ve done here has been ordered by them. They don’t know this place is even on my radar. The organization don’t want you to be mayor, Garrett. I do. I used the skills I have and the threat of the organization to convince you to work for me.” Harvey looks apologetically at Garrett. “I’ve been dishonest and underhand, but I know you understand that nothing is more important than family. That's why I picked you.”
“You son of a bitch.” Wade goes for him and this time it’s Uncle Jimmer who steps in to hold him back.
“Wait, hear him out.” He slowly releases him and turns back around.
“I’m not like you, Garrett Carson, men do what I want them to do because I pay them or I threaten to take something away from them. I wrap people up and get them into situations where they have to obey me. You… you have this whole town at your feet, because the people here respect you. Bad people fear you, but good people aren't scared of you, they like you. You have no idea what it’s like to be me.” He tries to justify himself.
“Wrong, I have a family and I’d do anything to protect them.” Garrett shakes his head in disagreement. “You could have come to me man to man and asked me to make sure your daughter was safe here. Sure, I ain’t no saint, but I do have morals. And I will always support a man who’s doin’ the right thing. You could have come to me with the truth. There was no need for any of this.”
“Why would a man like you help a man like me?” Harvey laughs bitterly. “I’ve been on the wrong side of good, and part of me is still there.”
“Because despite all the wrong you’ve done, you're prepared to put it right. You're prepared to sacrifice yourself to bring down those people because you want to protect someone youlove. Every man standing in front of you right now knows how that feels,” Garrett explains, and Harvey looks real fuckin’ ashamed of himself.
“I’m sorry.” He looks up at us all, pale and defeated.
“I can’t help you take down the organization and I will not risk dragging my family into that. But when the time comes I will help protect your daughter, and I will become the mayor of this town in order to protect my family. No more manipulation, no more threats. You got my word and that’ll be enough.” Garrett holds out his hand for Marston to shake.
“You got mine too. I have charters all over the country, when the time comes, every one of ‘em will be prepared to protect your girl.” Jimmer holds his hand out too. “I want that organization shut the fuck down,” he adds.
Harvey nods in agreement as he shakes both their hands.
“Guess we better find this girl of yours.” He sits up and straightens out his shirt and despite the fact I still don’t trust him, I have little other option.
“Do you have a description or a photo? Something I can give to the staff here so they can look at the CCTV?” he asks, getting straight to work and picking up his cell.
“Yeah, she has red hair, she was wearing a blue lace dress?—”
“Holy shit.” Harvey’s eyes sink into his head and his skin turns even paler.
“What?” I go for him again and Garrett immediately grips me back.
“She was here. I spoke to her. She bought me a drink in the bar.” He looks as confused as I am.
“Is that the girl who found the records?” he checks.
