Page 38 of The Sinner's Son
“You’re welcome.”
They chatted for a few more minutes before Talia excused herself to go back to work with a promise to be in touch soon. Alec disconnected the call, bowed his head, and sat motionless for several moments. “Holy shit,” he whispered. “I was right.” There wasn’t an ounce of hubris in his voice, only dejection.
Sawyer looked at Ricky and Marina for guidance, but they didn’t seem to know how to react in the moment either.
“Do you want to be alone?” Sawyer asked.
Alec shook his head. “I just…don’t know how to feel. There’s no joy in proving I was right about Andrew having more victims.” He stood up and reached for his aluminum water bottle. “I think I’m going to get some fresh air.”
“Me too,” Ricky said.
Marina stood up. “Me three.”
They all looked at Sawyer.
“I believe I promised you lunch,” he said. “My favorite Mexican restaurant is within walking distance from here.”
Alec shook his head. “I’m not good company right now. I, um, think I’ll call it a day and go back to my rental on Tybee Island.”
Marina exchanged a worried look with Ricky. “I think that’s a wrap for the day,” she said.
Ricky closed his laptop and began unplugging his equipment.
“You guys can leave whatever you’d like to in here,” Sawyer said. “I keep everything locked tight.”
Ricky shook his head. “My gear goes wherever I do.”
“Understood,” Sawyer said. “Guess I’ll see everyone tomorrow.”
The trio left much quieter than when they arrived, and the bullpen was less lively without the playful banter he’d witnessed between them all morning. The mood in the room had turned melancholy, and he’d had enough of that over the weekend. So, Sawyer continued with his lunch plans, only he had a new companion in mind. After a quick text to Kelsey, the two of them were on their way. The day had turned oppressively hot, so they’d driven to the restaurant instead of walking. Kelsey listened in rapt attention as Sawyer caught her up on what had happened with the investigation so far.
“Oh, wow,” she said once he finished. “I can’t imagine how Alec must be feeling right now. I’m not sure being alone is what’s best for him.”
“I don’t know Alec well enough to say. I think I’d want to hide away and lick my wounds if I were him.”
“Maybe so,” Kelsey conceded.
“And I’m going to need a nickname for your husband since he has the same first name as Andrew Bishop. Does he ever go by Andy or Drew?”
“Nope,” Kelsey said, popping theP. “You’ll have to get creative.”
“What do you call him?” Sawyer knew he’d set himself up as soon as the words left his mouth.
“Big Sexy.”
Sawyer rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I don’t think he’ll care for that.”
Kelsey shrugged. “Won’t know until you try.”
“And in other news,” Sawyer said before his mind could start pondering the original story for that nickname. Big because of his height, or…
“Don’t keep me hanging,” Kelsey said. “What other news?”
“Eddie had a health scare this morning, and Royce told him we were having a baby.” Sawyer parked the car and looked over at Kelsey. “And for reasons I’ll never understand, Royce told Eddie that I held the cup during the sperm donation.”
“What the hell?” Kelsey yelled before bursting into laughter. “Oh. My. God.”
“Yeah, right? How does that naturally come up in conversation?”