And then his arms had been around her, his face buried in her neck. “I don’t know what’s happening,” he’d sobbed over and over.
She’d held him tight until he’d calmed enough to speak. “I’m being set up. I think I found incriminating evidence in the books at the dealership. I told the manager about it. That’s the only thing I can think of. It must be him. It must be Rolly.”
“Oh my God,” she’d breathed over and over. “Oh my God.”
“I’ve hired an attorney,” he promised. “He knows what’s up, and he’s willing to help. But I am not going to turn myself in to those bastards. Rolly’s cousin is the chief of police. If they get their hands on me, I’ll never be seen again.”
“They can’t do that!” she’d responded.
“I’ll get railroaded into prison, Lily. I just need to lay low for a couple of days until the real evidence works its way through the system. I’ve contacted the newspaper already. It’ll go public. I won’t let them get away with this.”
“Where are you going to hide? I’m sure they’re watching the house!”
“I have a spot. But . . . I need your car. They’re on the lookout for mine.”
Lily had thrust over her keys immediately. “Take it. We’re fine. I can walk to the store for a couple of days, and we’ll figure it out from there.”
He immediately gave them back. “When you get home, move the car one block over. Under that willow. You got that?”
“Yes. Absolutely. Are you okay?”
He shook his head. She didn’t realize until much later that he hadn’t asked about her. Or about Everett.
That was the last time she’d seen him. The last time she’d seen her car. There’d been no attorney. No conspiracy. No article in the paper. Just more lies.
And she’d added to them. Her lies to the police after that night had given Jones a five-day head start before they’d realized her car was gone. Even then, even when doubts about Jones had begun to creep along her limbs at night, she’d still told the police she believed the car had been impounded along with everything else they’d taken. She’d lied about a lot of things that first week, scared that Jones was being framed.
It was no wonder they thought she’d helped him. She had.
Was it her guilt and hatred that made her keep Everett from his father? She told herself she was protecting him, but maybe she was making his pain worse.
When her text alert dinged, it finally occurred to Lily that she should be in a good mood. She should be texting Zoey to tell her the news or baking cupcakes to surprise Everett. Instead she was chewing her thumbnail and freaking out.
But when she flipped her phone over and saw the text, Lily’s heart froze.
Ms. Brown, I’m worried about Everett.
CHAPTER 26
“Come on, come on,” Everett muttered to the computer monitor. He’d sent the message five minutes ago, and so far there’d been no response. Josephine’s dad would be at the library in fifteen minutes.
He watched Josephine emerge from the bathroom, and he hunched in defensiveness. But she didn’t join him. Instead, she glanced at him with a deep frown and turned away, making her way to the YA section of the library.
She was upset. He knew she was upset, but he’d explain everything once it was done. She’d understand. Maybe she’d even enjoy the story.
When a bubble popped up, Everett nearly shouted with triumph.
Hey, LM. Find anything?
Everett set his jaw and curved over the keyboard. Maybe. You need the notebook for money, right?
He held his breath, waiting for a return message, but his dad took so long to respond that Everett had no choice but to draw another deep breath, and then another.
The message finally arrived. I guess you’re old enough for honesty. Yeah. I’m struggling & that’s my last back-up plan. I need those codes.
Everett’s fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long time. He didn’t want to ask. He didn’t want to know. But if his dad was going to disappear again, why shouldn’t he? He typed it out and hit SEND.
Is that the only reason you came back?
He couldn’t cry here. He couldn’t, but his face burned as he waited for the response. Finally, it came.
Don’t think I don’t love you, LM. I always have. And I wanted to get in touch. I tried. Did you get my cards?
Everett blinked. Cards? I got your birthday card when I turned 7.
Yeah. Yeah, ok. I fucked up. I dropped off the face of the earth for a long time and then . . . Well, that was my fault. But now we can talk whenever you want.
You promise?
I promise. I can’t stay nearby. It’s too dangerous. But I can be online when it’s safe. I can find you again here, right? Whenever we want?
Everett nodded, breathing carefully through his nose so he wouldn’t cry. As much as he wanted his dad close, he needed him gone now. But they could always find each other again. Couldn’t they?
I have the notebook, he wrote. He hit the button to send it, and then he closed his eyes. His dad would have what he wanted, and he’d leave. Then it would be safe for Everett to call the police. He’d tell them about Alex Bennick, about the storage unit, about the missing girls. They’d come and investigate, and his mom would be safe. His dad would be nowhere to be found, and more important, he’d be nowhere to be caught.
A tiny pop alerted him to a new window. Everett forced his eyes open.
LM? Can you meet me somewhere tonight?
He shook his head, ignoring the little bolt of lightning that shot through his body. He wouldn’t be home until almost five, and his mom wasn’t going to let him go anywhere after dinner. I don’t think so. But I can tomorrow. Neck prickling with alarm, he made his offer. The bus drops me off at school at 8:10.
Everett glanced over his shoulder, then back to the screen.
Do you remember where we used to feed the ducks? his dad asked.
A tear finally leaked from Everett’s eye. Because he did remember, and his dad did too.
CHAPTER 27
Lily grabbed a piece of packing paper that had blown up next to the fence and walked it over to the trash can, her eyes still scanning the road.
Any minute now. Any minute. Josephine had texted when they left the library.
Finally she heard wheels on the road and retreated to her hidden corner. Josephine’s dad was driving them home, and Lily hadn’t met him yet. She was far too upset to summon up pleasantries and friendly talk right now. She’d look like a madwoman. Better to stay in the shadows. She heard a door open; then she heard her son calling goodbye. The small gate opened, and the car pulled away. Lily stepped onto the walk.
“We need to talk,” she said, and Everett skidded to a stop, hands flying up in surprise.
“Mom! What? Why?”
“A lot of reasons, actually. Starting with the things I found under your bed.”
She saw the color drain from his face. His eyes went wide and wild as he took a step back. “Mom!” He shouted it, but it was more like a yelp of fear than outrage.
“You promised me you didn’t steal anything.”
“Mom, I—”
“I know you’ve been struggling with some things lately, and I know I’ve let you down. I avoided talking about Jones with you because . . . because I didn’t know what to say. I’m sorry, Ev. But what you did, that’s not all right.”
When she heard the sound of another car approaching, she winced, assuming it was Josephine’s dad returning for some reason. “Let’s just . . .”
But it wasn’t him. Instead Alex’s SUV turned in. Cursing his timing, she managed a small wave of greeting.
Everett made a strangled sound, and this time the pure alarm on his face didn’t surprise her at all.
“Mom, I do need to talk to you,” he said, the words rushed and tripping over each other. “Now. Can we go inside? Please?”
Alex parked outside the gate instead of pulling in.
“Mom!” Everett said as Alex opened his door and began to get out.
“Everett, stop it. I know why you’re upset, and we need to talk about that too.”