“So what do you guys have to say that’s so important enough to interrupt me in the middle of my swim?”
“Oh, that was swimming? Looked more like skinny-dipping.”
“Just show me what you have, Tal.”
“They were able to extract enough blood from the business card to get a DNA sample,” Talon said.
“That’s good news,” I said.
“The only problem is we have no idea whose DNA it is. And here’s something as well. Jade found Larry’s fingerprints in the Colorado attorney database, and they do match one of the three sets that were on Colin Morse’s card.”
I nodded.
“We can get a DNA sample from Larry easily,” Jade said, “If it’s his blood, he’s probably the one who left the rose. He could have pricked his finger on one of the thorns.”
That made sense—which blew my Tom Simpson paper cut theory. Was I totally barking up the wrong tree? Maybe Tom was completely innocent. I’d have to give this some thought. I was certainly glad I hadn’t yet voiced my suspicions to Talon.
“Or,” I said, “someone planted Larry’s fingerprints on the card to implicate him. He’s still claiming innocence in the whole Colin matter.”
“That’s also a possibility,” Talon said. “But I don’t believe Larry for a minute when he says he’s innocent with regard to Colin’s disappearance. That man is no good.”
“We already know that our uncle is a sick criminal. But remember, the other two beat him to a pulp when he let you go. It’s possible they’re trying to frame Larry to ensure that he stays quiet.”
“Larry is scared to death of those other two,” Jade said. “I could see it on his face when he refused to tell me who they were.”
“Yeah, Jade is right. Larry won’t roll over. He’s scared.”
“How would you know?” Talon asked.
“I went to see him. Bryce and I.”
“Bryce went with you? Really?”
“Yeah, now that this whole thing is dredged up again, he wants to find out what happened to Luke.”
“Oh my God, you didn’t tell him what they did to Luke, did you?” Talon rubbed at his chin.
“I had to. I hadn’t, which was a bonehead move on my part, but he insisted on going with me to see Larry, and Larry mentioned that you knew. Which of course meant that I knew. So I was the one who had to tell Bryce.”
“God, I’m sorry, Joe,” Talon said.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for. None of us have been through the hell you have. Bryce needed to know. Hell, Bryce wanted to know. If I hadn’t told him, Larry probably would have.”
“It’s a nasty situation all around,” Jade said. “But now we have to figure out where to go from here. I can get a court order for Larry to take a blood test, so we can check to see if his DNA matches what’s on the card. We already know his fingerprints are on the card, so I’m sure Judge Gonzalez will give me the warrant.”
“Yeah, let’s do that,” Talon said. “The next thing I want to try to figure out, while we’re dealing with this, is why in the hell Mom and Dad swept this shit under the rug twenty-five years ago.”
“I can talk to Wendy again,” Jade said. “But Talon, I think maybe you should talk to her. She told me the last time we spoke that there were things she had promised only to reveal to you.”
My skin tightened around me. I wanted to know some answers as well. Why in the hell had my father, who was an intelligent and reasonable man by anyone’s standards, allowed this to happen?
“I think Jade’s right,” I said. “And I want to go with you. I think we should visit her in person. We need to go to Denver.”
“Jade, you should come along too,” Talon said. “After all, you’re the one who has the relationship with her.”
Jade shook her head. “I’ve actually been thinking about that. I don’t think I should be there. I’m pretty sure she’ll only reveal the stuff to you alone, and maybe to your brothers. So yes, take Jonah with you. Maybe Ryan, too.”
“Ryan’s too busy,” Talon said. “He’s knee-deep in winemaking and wine-bottling. Busiest time of the year. I wanted him to come over here today and hear about the new evidence, but he couldn’t get away.”
I nodded. “Understandable. Jade, I understand your reluctance to go as well. But Talon, I do think the two of us should go.”
“Will you and Marj be okay at the house with your mom and all?” Talon said.
“Of course.” Jade smiled. “With that mega-security system you have installed, no one can get in. My mother is a handful no matter what. But she’s got a physical therapist and her nurse to deal with her. I can handle it. Marj can handle it.”
“Still, I’m going to have Steve Dugan keep an eye on the place.”
“That’s fine,” Jade said. “When do you guys want to leave?”
“I can go anytime,” Talon said. “Axel is used to me taking off by now. He’s getting a big raise this year, by the way.”