Page 28 of The Sinner's Son
“Yes, ma’am.”
They ate in silence for several minutes while Royce contemplated how best to broach certain subjects. If he was going to help Dane, he couldn’t pretend he didn’t know about the escort work. Nina had already proven that she preferred blunt and honest communication over dancing around someone’s feelings, even her own. Cayden had said Dane didn’t like to be around his mom after spending time with clients, but Royce didn’t know if it was because he felt guilty or if he didn’t want her to know. “There are delicate things we need to discuss,” Royce began.
Nina held up her hand to stop him. “Let me spare you the awkwardness.” She kept a steady gaze on Royce’s face as she continued. “I know about Dane’s work as an escort. I was honest with the second police officer I spoke with, and I think that was a major reason I couldn’t get him to take my claims seriously.” Her voice had taken on a sharp edge, so she paused to take a deep breath. “Look, I don’t think any mother would choose escort work for her kid, but Dane did what he thought was necessary to help put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads.” Her lips trembled. “Not being in a better financial position to weather my illness is one of my other regrets. I could wallow in woulda coulda shoulda, but it will only waste precious time I don’t have. Dane was on the dean’s list at his college and working toward a finance degree when I got sick. He dropped out of school to get a full-time job at a local bank, and we were getting by until I lost my job. Dane took on additional part-time work, but it still didn’t pay well enough to make up for my lostincome. Cayden offered to get a job too, but his options were limited since he doesn’t have a driver’s license. I don’t know who introduced the escort work to Dane. Maybe no one did. He’s always been a resourceful person.”
Nina took a sip of her juice, then closed her eyes and cycled through a few breaths. When she fixed her icy blue gaze on Royce again, he only saw determination to find her son. “He made more in his first weekend as an escort than he earned at his other two jobs in a month. And he worked way fewer hours, so he was around to help out more.” Nina settled a hand over her heart. “I didn’t like Dane’s decision. In fact, I hated it. I wanted to cry and rage at the world, but I held that back and talked to him about being safe.” Her breathing grew choppy, and Royce wondered if they should take a break. She must’ve read his concern in his expression because she said, “I can’t afford to slow down or stop.”
“Okay. But take another sip of juice.”
She complied, taking a long pull from the straw. “Thank you. That just hits right.” Nina set the cup down and took a deep breath. “Dane assured me he would be safe. When I pressed for details, he said that he had three rules that he always followed. He went to great lengths to protect his real identity. Dane made sure his friend knew when and where he was meeting his clients. And he never had unprotected sex. That’s as much as he would say on the matter.”
“It sounds like Dane had a buddy system worked out.” It was more important than ever for Royce to speak to this friend.
“Dane never mentioned anyone by name,” Nina said. “I know he stayed with them after meeting with his clients.” She lowered her head, and her dark hair swooped forward to shield her face from Royce’s view. “I think he was too ashamed to come home, but I convinced myself he liked to keep that part of his life separate.” Her shoulders shook, and sniffles came from behindthe curtain of hair. “But maybe Dane resented me for getting sick, and he actually ran off.”
“No way,” Royce said.
Nina lifted her head and met his gaze. Her eyes were red, and tears streaked down her face. “You can’t know that.”
“But I do. Even if he was upset with you, and I don’t believe that for a second, Dane wouldn’t have abandoned Cayden. No way.”
“The alternative is just as unacceptable because it means he’s probably dead.” Nina buried her head in her hands and cried.
Royce rubbed gentle circles on her shoulder. “I’m going to get answers for you.”
She lifted her head, and watery blue eyes sharpened with doubt. “How? Earlier, I asked what you were going to do if you couldn’t get anyone at the precinct to take you seriously, but I didn’t get an answer.”
“I’ll investigate his disappearance myself.”
“Are you any good?”
“I am,” Royce replied honestly. “And I have connections to people outside my precinct who have incredible skills.”
“Such as?”
“One of my friends is an investigative journalist, one is a private investigator, and the third works for the GBI,” Royce told her. Those three friends had joined forces to create an award-winning podcast and were always up to their armpits in multiple investigations, but they’d make time for him. “Social media pressure has worked wonders before.” And caused a lot of chaos in others, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Nina offered a weak smile. “Okay. I believe you’ll do everything you can to bring Dane back to us, one way or another.” She released a jaw-cracking yawn and wilted like a flower. “I don’t think I can finish my breakfast.” She grinnedsheepishly at him. “I talked a big game earlier, but I think I need to rest.”
“I’ll get out of your hair,” Royce said. Nina had only eaten half of the food, and he gestured to her leftovers. “Do you want me to save the rest for later?”
“Please.” She pushed her chair back from the table, then stopped. Nina reached into her robe pocket and removed a cell phone. “Would you mind sharing your number?”
“Of course.” Royce put the leftover food away before programming his contact information into her phone. Nina immediately sent him a text so he’d have her number too. “Do you want help getting settled?”
She stood up, her movements slow but steady. “No. I’ll be fine.”
“After I finish at the precinct, I’m going to run by the hardware store to get the parts I need for your dishwasher. I’m going to get a few wooden boards to replace the rotten ones on the porch and see what I can do about the front door sticking.”
“You’ve done too much already,” Nina protested. “I’m so glad Cayden has someone like you in his life.”
“I’m just glad I can help.”
Royce walked with her down the hallway and said goodbye at her bedroom door. Cayden had zonked out on the couch instead of going to his room and was lost to the world. Royce quietly let himself out and headed to his SUV. He checked his phone for messages and saw a text from Jace. His brother had sent a breaking news article that featured Holly’s big arrest that morning. When Royce clicked on the link, it featured a picture of Holly wearing tactical gear as she arrested a suspect. A new message popped up from Jace, and Royce exited the article to read it.
Jace: My wife is smoking hot
Royce: Your wife is a fearless badass