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“So what happened to her after that?”

“I don’t know, man. I’m telling you what I do know.”

“Why her?” I ask. “Why not me—or some other girl? What made them choose Piper?”

“They take girls no one is going to look for. Kids in the system and shit. Twins, man, it’s the jackpot, especially when you know no one will look hard for them.”

“Why didn’t they take me?”

“Could have been anything. They might have thought you’d fight more. Something could have went wrong with their plans. Did they give you something to eat or drink—any pills?”

“Yeah, they brought shit back from the concession stand…sodas.”

“Well there you go, you can’t be drinking shit strangers give you.”

“What about Colby Crimball? What did he have to do with it?”

“Man, fuck Colby Crimball. His brother introduced him to those guys. Everyone thought Matt was such a clean boy, but that bitch liked to pay for pussy. He met those guys down Aurora Avenue, do you know where that is?”

“Yeah, it’s where the hookers walk.”

“Yup. They were pimps. Colby started hanging out with those guys even when his brother wasn’t around. Colby liked to know bad people.”

“Is there any chance they found Piper that night and were lying about it?”

“Maybe. I wouldn’t know.”

“You gonna play it like that, huh? I know you know something. Your mama knows where you are, Piper’s family doesn’t. I’m asking you to help me.”

There’s a long silence, I think he’s hung up.

“I’m gonna play for me. You should start doing that too. Piper wouldn’t have done this for you.”

He hangs up on me before I can hang up on him.

Chapter23

This Is Allso sickening. If Dupont’s story is true, it confirms my theory that Piper got away and went to Jude for help. I don’t understand why she chose to trust him over Gran. If she’d run to us that night instead of him, she’d be alive…but we wouldn’t have Cal. It was one of those thoughts that dropped right in the middle of your grief like a tornado in a hurricane.

A large part of me thinks I’m the reason she chose Jude over us. She hated me. She wanted Gran to herself and I got in the way. She didn’t necessarily have Jude to herself since he was married, but he was probably promising her things.

The following night I drive to Leo’s condo. I find a spot in front of a doughnut shop, and he meets me downstairs. He looks at me in concern as we walk to the elevator hand in hand. I try not to look at him because if I do I’ll break down in tears. We get off on the eighth floor. Leo leads me down a long carpeted hallway before stopping at one of the nondescript doors. Leo holds it open for me and I step inside. It’s small but modern. Tastefully decorated. The living room walls are painted dark blue, a white leather sectional takes up most of the space facing an enormous TV. Two barstools sit in front of a counter that divides the kitchen from the small dining room.The only things on the counter are a Keurig machine and an empty paper towel holder. The art on the dining room wall is abstract.

“Can I get you a drink?” he asks, walking toward the kitchen. I shake my head. I’m already anxious; alcohol would only exacerbate it. He points me to the couch, and I perch on the edge closest to the kitchen. The note that was left on Gran’s door is in the back pocket of my jeans. I hear him moving around the kitchen, and when he finally sits next to me, he has two bottles of water.

“So what’s up? What’s scared you?”

“I have to tell you something.” It’s the first time I’ve seen him frown. He searches my eyes like he’s going to find the answer there. I take a steadying breath.

“I haven’t been honest with you.”

“Okay…” His eyebrows are furrowed.

“I wanted the job…” I tuck my hair behind my ears and lick my lips. “I don’t know how to say it without sounding like an awful person…”

“I’m immune to thinking you’re awful,” he assures me. “No one is awful, we’re just reacting.”

I take a breath to steady myself. “I wanted the job because of one of your patients, Leo. I wanted to get close to one of them in particular.”