Page 39 of After All The Wreckage

“What in the blazes?” she said. She scowled, trying to bring it back up.

I knew in my heart what had happened before she said the words. I was astonished it had been left in the system this long, rather than disappearing on Friday after they’d talked to Monte.

“It’s gone,” she said. Her wide eyes met mine.

“Can you find out who deleted it?” I asked quietly, darting a look at the other two people in the room who I didn’t know.

“Not them.” Her voice was even more hushed than mine. Barely a whisper. “Someone with higher clearance. I can dig a bit, but if I do too much, it’ll attract unwanted attention. I could get in trouble for showing it to you.”

Our eyes locked, and it was clear we were thinking the same thing. Monte hadn’t run away. Fear curled through me, goose bumps reappearing over and over. What was I going to tell Gage? What if the worst had already happened? And what the hell did it have to do with their mother?

I swallowed hard, determination swimming in over the fear and sadness. We’d find him, damn it. We’d find him, and he’d still be alive. The split that threatened to rip through my heart at just thethoughtof the opposite being true was nothing compared to what Gage must already be feeling.

“Whatever you can, Lucidia. I’d appreciate it.”

I headed for the door, and she followed. Turning back to her, I added, “You still hoping the Capitols will make it to the Stanley Cup this year?”

Lucidia snorted. “No hope involved. It’s a sure thing.”

“Give me a date, and I’ll have a pair of tickets waiting for you at the stadium.”

“My grandson will love it.”

I wasn’t sure I could afford it, but I’d make it happen somehow. Maybe I could barter tickets for services to someone at the stadium.

When I walked out the door, Gage looked up at me with a hopefulness that sliced through me. He traveled the couple of feet it took to reach me in two long strides. “Did you see him?”

I looked up at the cameras I knew were watching us.

“I need my computer. Let’s get back to your car.”

Knowing I would have said something instantly if the news was good, his face fell, my words wiping away any optimistic thoughts he might have had. I hated it. I didn’t want to be the one bringing more anguish to his life.

But I didn’t have another option. I’d do the job, whether it was ugly or not, because Gage needed someone in his corner, putting on the gloves and fighting for him and his brother until we had the truth. Like my television hero had taught me, there was no way to be declared the winner if you walked out in the middle of the fight. So I’d do what I always did. I’d buckle down and do the job and hope it didn’t end up tearing us apart a bit more.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Gage

REBEL GIRL

Performed by Survivor

Whatever Rory had found out,it wasn’t good. The sliver of hope that had started to lift my heart disintegrated, melting away. I tried twice to start a conversation about what she’d found as we left the building, and both times, she ignored it, shooting me annoyed looks.

I was the one who should be annoyed. Annoyed and furious.

Monte had been there. A thirteen-year-old kid by himself, and no one had thought anything about it. Not the CarShare operator who’d dropped him off. Not the congressman and his flunky. How was that possible?

We were out of the building and halfway to the Pathfinder when I finally reached out and hauled her to a stop. People swirled around us, most heading the way we’d just come from.

“Just fucking tell me,” I demanded.

“How does Dunn know your mom?”

My jaw dropped and my heart slammed against my ribcage as her question rebounded through my brain. What the hell did Demi have to do with any of this? My tongue refused to work, and I couldn’t respond for several long seconds. Finally, I choked out, “He doesn’t.”

But how would I really know if he did? I knew nothing about Demi’s life outside of Cherry Bay. Not where she’d been or who she’d spent her time with.