Page 18 of The Sinner's Son

“Maybe,” Jason said.

“Is there any chance Dane could have walked away from everything?” Royce asked.

“Hell no.” Jason’s resolute expression never wavered. “Dane has attended every medical appointment and treatment with Nina. Does that sound like someone who would peace out when she needed him most?”

“No,” Royce admitted.

“I’ve been in Dane’s shoes,” Sawyer said. “And you don’t always think or behave rationally when someone you love is dying.” He held up his hands when it looked like Jason was going to protest. “I’m not saying he ran off or that you shouldn’t beworried. I’m just explaining that grief brings out unpredictable reactions from people.”

Jason pursed his lips and nodded. “I’ll give you that. I can’t imagine what’s going through his mind right now, and he’s sure as hell not talking about it.” Jason tapped his chest. “But I feel it here.” He raised his hand and tapped his temple. “And here. Something is really wrong. My friend is in danger or…” His voice trailed off when he couldn’t finish the thought.

The more Jason talked about Dane, the more Royce believed his nephew was right. Sex work was dangerous on a good day, but high levels of stress had likely impaired Dane’s judgment and put him at a higher risk for harm. “This is what we’re going to do,” Royce said. “You’re going to call Cayden and tell him that you and I are coming over.”

Jason shook his head. “He won’t like that. Their house is a mess right now. Nina won’t want you to see it.”

“You came here for my help, and we’re going to do things my way,” Royce said. “Tell them I don’t care how clean their house is. I just want to help them find Dane. We can talk on the front porch if they’d feel more comfortable.”

Jason took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. I’ll call.”

It was fully dark by the time Royce and Jason parked at the curb in front of the Suttons’ home. A single bare bulb next to the front door cast a small circle of dim light onto the covered porch, its wattage no match for the inky night pressing in. The bulb flickered a few times as if surrender was imminent, but the light steadied and seemed to glow a little brighter when Royceturned off his SUV. He wasn’t one to look for signs from the universe, but he wondered if that resilient light mirrored the will of the people living inside the home. Cancer was the formidable, heartless foe that just kept coming, and Nina’s spirit refused to give up until she found out what happened to her son. There was no amount of bracing that would prepare Royce for the heartache he was about to witness. The best he could do was open himself to it and help them any way he could.

Jason reached for the door handle but stopped. “Watch your step on the front walk. There are a lot of cracks, and the concrete is uneven.”

Royce reached over and placed a hand on his nephew’s shoulder. “Have I ever told you how proud I am of the young man you’ve turned out to be?”

Jay shrugged like it was no big deal, but Royce saw a hint of a smile tug at his lips. “You’re so sappy, Uncle Ro.” He reached for the door handle again. “But thanks. I think you’re pretty badass too.”

Royce unbuckled his seat belt and stepped out of the vehicle. “Well, that was never in doubt.”

Jason waited for him, and they navigated the uneven pavement together. “Told you,” he said once they reached the circle of light.

“I can easily fix that for them,” Royce said as he knocked on the front door. While they waited for someone to answer, Royce assessed the porch’s condition and noted several rotten or warped boards. “And the porch.”

Jason chuckled softly. “Please don’t say anything. It will only make them feel bad.”

“I won’t.” He’d just show up on Saturday morning and take care of it.

Footsteps quickly approached on the other side of the door. The knob turned, but the door didn’t budge. The wood had probably swollen from the humidity.

“Going to fix that too?” Jason whispered.

Royce tapped two fingers against his temple. “It’s going on the list.”

Jason shook his head. “Don’t make me regret this.”

With a grunt, the door swung open so hard that Cayden stumbled back a few steps. Embarrassment crept up his neck and settled into his cheeks. “Hey, Jay. Um, hello, sir.”

“I’m sorry to show up so late, but Jason told me you’ve had trouble filing a missing person report at the precinct.”

“They wouldn’t even take a report,” Cayden said. “The first cop told us to wait forty-eight hours, so we did. We tried to file a second time, and that cop wouldn’t take the report either. Gave us the same song and dance about Dane running off. It’s making me rethink a career in law enforcement. I don’t want to be that asshole someday.”

“Then don’t,” Royce said. “There are going to be times where your hands are tied as a cop and you have limited options, but it’s never okay to be an asshole to people. How about you invite me in so I can help, and you give my program a fair shake?”

Cayden’s eyes looked suspiciously moist when he cleared his throat. “Yes, sir. Come in. Please excuse the mess.” He stepped aside for them to enter, and Royce gestured for Jason to go first.

“Don’t worry about that,” he told his cadet. “I’m here to help however I can. You name it.”

“Do you know how to fix a dishwasher?” Cayden asked. “Ours died, and now, everything we own is dirty. I’m trying to keep up with stuff, but…”