Page 83 of Kill Your Darlings

She nodded absently, dabbed her dry eyes again.“I have to think wherever he is, he’s in a better place.”

“That’s probably a good way to look at it.”I rose.“Well, I don’t want to keep you.I know you must have things to do.I just wanted to check in.”

She rose immediately—I couldn’t help thinking in relief—and led the way back to the front door.“You always had nice manners, Kevin.Your father raised you right.”

I caught a glimpse of my expression in the hall mirror and almost laughed.

On the front steps, I said, “Thank you for taking the time to talk to me.Look after yourself.”

“Oh, I don’t have many worries.My boys take good care of me!”she assured me gaily.

I smiled and headed back to Finn’s car.I was not smiling as I climbed behind the steering wheel.

I spotted Finn sitting on the cinderblock wall on the far side of the laundromat parking lot next to Constantine’s, and I felt an unexpected surge of…

Hard to explain.Relief, for sure, but also the certainty that here was someone who was not going to lie to me, not try to use me, not attempt to trick or manipulate me.Despite everything, despite his earlier doubts, Finn was on my side.I knew that.Whatever else he had been or would be, he was a true friend.That would not change.It was something—he was someone—I could genuinely count on.Rely on.

Trust.

After leaving that house, driving through these streets that would live forever in my dreams, it meant a lot to have someone in my life I could completely trust.

I pulled neatly between the parking lines and got out, going round to the passenger seat.

“How’d it go?”Finn got into the driver’s seat of the convertible.

I shook my head.“I think you might be right.”

I could feel his gaze on my face.“You think Milo’s alive?”

“I think it’s possible.”I glanced at him.“Which, if true, I’m obviously relieved about.But.”

“But it’s a godawful thing to have done to you.”His eyes were the shade of wintergreen.

I nodded.Just for a moment, remembering, I couldn’t speak.

“I’m so sorry, Keir.”Finn rested his hand on my shoulder, his thumb tracing my collarbone.

I nodded again, drew a sharp breath.“I know.Thanks.I mean, I don’t know for a fact that he’s alive.But his mom slipped at the end and said, ‘My boys take good care of me’.She only ever had two sons.Although maybe she means Geo and her grandsons.I don’t have any proof.The absence of tears is not proof.But if Miloisalive, I really don’t understand what’s going on.Heknowswhat happened.He’s the one whomadeit happen.He can’t accuse me without being dragged into it himself.What would he have to gain?Hecan’thave anything to do with this.He could be alive and not have anything to do with this, right?”

Finn didn’t answer.I realized we hadn’t moved from the parking space in front of the laundromat.“Are we waiting for something?”

“There’s a vintage Cadillac DeVille sitting in the back of the restaurant parking lot.I’m going to pull around the block so you can take a look at it.I know you didn’t get the license plate of the car that stopped after the blowout, but if this one doesn’t match your memory, if it’s the wrong color or make, it would be helpful to eliminate it.”

I stared at him in disbelief, snapped, “Of course, it’s the same car!What are the chances that a different Cadillac just happens to be sitting in parking lot behind the Argyros family restaurant?We both know it’s the right car.What the hell is going on?”

“I don’t know,” Finn said calmly.“Let’s see if we can verify if it’s the right car.”

I closed my eyes.“Yes.Right.Sorry.”

“It’s okay.We’re going to get to the bottom of this.”

I nodded.Finn put the Mercedes into gear and we slowly circled the block.For several long seconds I had a perfect view of a 1969 deep green Cadillac DeVille.

“It’s the same car,” I said wearily.“Same make.Same model.”

“You described the car you saw as black.”

“It looked black at night and in the gas station lights.I see now it’s dark green.”I looked at him.“I know it’s the same car, Finn.”