Page 25 of Our Darkest Summer

“This is why I came,” I answered, sliding another paper in front of him.

“And this?” he asked, keeping his distance from the note.

“We found it last night. Someone left it on the front door.” His eyes widened, and he put the letter aside.

“Kinsley and you?” he asked, his gaze flickering between the note and the letter.

I slightly tipped my head.

“Do you know who left it?”

I had said someone, hadn’t I?

I shook my head. “But, it was the same person who sent the letter.” I pointed at the similarities between the handwriting.

Connor leaned closer, following my fingertips. “And did you go to the cops?”

I shook my head again. “You know they’re no help. They didn’t even try to find Mom when she could’ve been alive.”

Connor leaned back, his expression faltering. “Could’ve…you think she’s?—”

“I don’t know, Con. It’s been almost twelve years.”

A sad smile formed on my brother’s lips, and my chest tightened. I didn’t want to get his hopes up. Or mine. But I didn’t want to destroy them either.

“In eight days,” he said quietly.

I nodded.In eight days.Connor let out a slow breath and shook his head, as if trying to push away whatever emotions were creeping in. But then, softer, almost like a confession, he muttered, “I miss her sometimes. And when I don’t… I feel guilty. I just don’t remember her that well… Not anymore.”

His words made something twist deep inside me.

I had spent so many years clinging to every memory, every detail I could salvage, that I never stopped to think about how much of her Connor had lost. He had only been eight. How much had slipped through his fingers while I tried to hold onto everything for the both of us?

He shook, as if trying to get free of the bad feelings before he leaned closer. “So, you stole Dad’s letter?”

I forced out a smile. “Maybe.”

Connor chuckled, but it was weaker than before. “I really think you should talk with the police, though.” He cleared his throat. “Kevin’s dad?—”

“Kevin’s father is not going to reopen a cold case just because someone sent us a letter and a note. That’s not how it works,” I interjected. “Without any real evidence, they’ll do nothing.”

Connor sighed. “Kevin could still help us.”

I winced.Us?I hadn’t even considered that he would want to help.

“You can’t help in this, Con.” I tapped on the wooden surface of the kitchen island. “This is not a game.”

“She’s my mother too, Thomas. If she hadn’t really run away?—”

I froze, my lips pressing into a hard line. She hadn’t, I wanted to say. But I always knew Connor was skeptical. He had been too young to understand.

“Fair enough.” My head throbbed as I stood up and walked toward the stairs. I shouldn’t have shown him the papers. I just felt bad for leaving him in the dark while Kinsley knew about everything.

“Where are you going?” he called after me.

I rubbed my temples. “To my room.”

I had a lot to think about now that I had one more stowaway to look after.