Page 32 of Ride the Lightning

Felix tilted his head back and laughed. “I didn’t need him to tell me. Investigative reporter, remember?”

“Big fucking deal,” Rocky scoffed. “So, you uncovered my full name.”

“That’s not all I know, stud,” Felix said before sauntering into the house like he owned it.

Rocky met Jonah’s curious gaze. “He’s insufferable. Please tell me your sweet roommate is home. Seeing his pert ass would help offset your seriousness and Felix’s dickishness.”

Jonah laughed. “He’s here but sleeping off his wild weekend.”

“Damn,” Rocky said, snapping his fingers.

“I’m making barbecue ribs, coleslaw, and collard greens for dinner if it makes you feel better.”

“It’s a good start,” Rocky said before patting him on the shoulder and entering the house.

Never a dull moment.

“So, Major,” Jonah said, following Rocky to the kitchen where Felix was twisting the caps off three bottles of beer. “What were your parents thinking?”

“My mom had a lot of complications during labor, and it was left to my dad to complete the paperwork. He told me he was an emotional disaster. He was excited to have a son but worried sick about my mom. A nurse took pity on him and helped him with the paperwork. She asked questions, he answered, and she would fill in the lines. When it came to my name, my dad told her they were naming me after a great-great-great-grandfather who was a Civil War hero named Major Rockford Michael Jacobs. My first name was supposed to be Rockford, but the nurse took him literally and entered my great-great-great grandpappy’s title as my first name.”

“Oh, man. Was your mom upset when she found out?” Jonah asked. Felix’s eyes widened in alarm. Before Jonah could ask what his problem was, Rocky answered him.

“My mom died from her complications,” he said softly.

Jonah felt like a complete ass. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Rocky replied, patting him on the shoulder. “My dad remarried when I was five, and Michelle is the only mother I’ve ever known.”

“I don’t feel like such an asshole now,” Felix said.

“Don’t sound so smug. I still think you’re an attention whore,” Rocky told him.

The two of them verbally sparred for at least ten minutes before Jonah shoved them toward the backyard where he already had the ribs grilling.

“So, what did you find out about Bo Cahill?” Jonah asked Felix.

“He was a fifty-year-old black man who shot a twenty-six-year-old white man he caught raping his wife,” Felix said. “This Vanderwahl guy also happened to be the sheriff’s son. The prosecution claimed it was a consensual affair between Mrs. Cahill and Mr. Vanderwahl. They accused Bo Cahill of lying in wait to catch the two in the act.”

“That’s why they were able to convict him of murder in the first degree, which made him eligible for the death penalty,” Jonah said.

“Yes,” Felix said. “After reading the file, I believe Mr. Cahill was telling the truth. There’s more than one travesty of justice here, fellas.”

“Oh fuck,” Rocky said. “And Cahill was the sheriff’s guest until he was transferred to the state penitentiary after his conviction.”

“What do you want to do next?” Felix asked them.

“We dig up every rock until we find the truth,” Jonah said. “As expediently as we can because I don’t know how long Marla has.” He told them about Ellen’s caveat, and they both agreed.

“It could unravel quickly once we start pulling strings,” Rocky added.

Felix nodded. “The key is determining which are the right ones to tug.”

They spent the next few hours eating and formulating a game plan on how to attack both investigations simultaneously. There was no tension or lingering bitterness between them. Still, Jonah couldn’t shake the foreboding unease in the pit of his stomach. The repercussions of their investigations could be far-reaching, stirring up painful memories and trouble where they least expected it. He imagined the process was like poking a hornet’s nest with a stick. Some people wouldn’t want the truth to come out and would go to any lengths to keep it buried. Was Jonah prepared to feel the sting?

Hell yeah.

On Monday morning, Jonah wasn’t the least bit surprised when he swiped his badge and discovered his access to open the employee’s door was denied. He walked around the building and entered the same door as their visitors would. The receptionist looked nervous as he approached.