Page 43 of To Have and to Hold

“You know that’s the truth. Come on. You’re a lawyer.”

“Yeah, and the lawyer in me also knows that I can ask questions as a concerned citizen. I have that right.”

“Not if it impedes the investigation.”

“Knox, all I’ve done so far is canvass the area Emme where was taken and questioned people who might’ve been present. All things a private investigator hired by her family would do.”

“I’m sorry, did I miss something? Were you hired by Emme’s parents?”

The sarcasm had my molars aching, but his words had me thinking instead of Jack and Perry and what they must be feeling right now. Emme’s parents. A picture book of what it should be to raise a child. Their love stretched past Emme and brushed against me, and for that small time, I imagined what it would’ve been like to have a wholesome family. Until I noticed that hope rising and tore it into strips.

Still, people of daylight like that shouldn’t have to be flipped to the nightscape. They shouldn’t become aware of what could happen to children when they close their eyes to sleep.

What could still happen when their child becomes an adult.

Knox said, “You got your info, fine. But step anywhere close to Emme’s fiancé, Spence, and I’ll—”

“Give it to me, then. What have I done to fuck up your case?”

Knox went silent.

“I’ve annoyed you, sure. Retraced your steps, as you said. But I haven’t done anything to prevent you from finding evidence on where Emme is. And if you can’t give me access to info, I’m going to find it myself.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Knox, it’s fact. You went silent on me twenty-four hours ago. Emme’s been missing for almost seventy-two. I don’t like those odds.”

Knox’s heavy breathing overtook the speaker. “You can be one arrogant son of a bitch.”

I grit my teeth. “You got something to share? A new piece of evidence? Anything to stop me in my tracks and concede that it’s better if I back off?”

His exhales were my only answer.

“That’s what I thought. I’m going to keep at it, Knox. You really want me out of your business, arrest me.” We both knew he wouldn’t. Not unless I really did something to fuck his shit up, which was looking more likely the longer Emme couldn’t be found. “Or let me in on what you’re finding. Tell me what Emme’s fiancé has given up. Until then, I got nothing to say to you.”

“We’re friends,” Knox said just as I took the phone from my ear. “We’ve been through a ton. You really want to do it this way?”

A beat of silence passed between us, where I once again found the ceiling. Where my jaw settled into its familiar lock.

“Check on the fucking jugs of juice,” was all I said. Then hung up.

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