Page 18 of Truth is the Ultimate Weapon

“No.” Coy cut him off as the elevator doors opened, “It’s a beautiful name, and I’m sure Em would be honored. She loved you all so much. I’m…”

“Are you sure?” Cut asked. “Don’t say yes just to…”

“No. I’m sure. I mean it. Thank you for asking and for… remembering her.”

Coy embraced his brother tightly, then swiftly made his way to the elevator before his emotions overwhelmed him. He was deeply moved, and the usual pang of sorrow that accompanied thoughts of his late wife felt different this time—warm, even joyful. It felt like a special tribute to her memory, one he could never orchestrate himself if he were to move on with someone else and have children. Such a gesture would be unfair and inappropriate to any new love in his life, as it would force them to live in the shadow of a ghost.

The notion of new love hadn't crossed his mind until now. Was it possible? As Kenzie left Cut's embrace and joined Coy in the elevator, his gaze lingered on her. Did she hold the key to transforming the ache in his chest into something entirely different? Could she be... new love? Sure, he loved her in their own special way, but what he was trying to wrap his mind around was… could this be a new forever?

7

“It sure is quiet around here without the kids around,” Nash commented as he sat by the fire pit outside with Charlotte while Coy and Kenzie delved into additional missing persons files.

“I’m just glad they’re safe,” Charlotte replied.

“Nora and Cut will leave tomorrow.” Coy shared with the group. “I just got word that she’s being released with the baby. Dillon is sending the plane, a whole security detail, and they’ll be escorted from the hospital straight to the plane and take off immediately after.”

“Wow. That sounds like a pretty big production.” Kenzie added. “I’m glad this option is available for them. I couldn’t imagine how it would be to bring Nora and that brand new baby here with all that’s been happening.”

“Getting the charges dropped against Nora was key. I think her doctor kept her and the baby a little longer than necessary just to keep them safe. She was almost stuck here to face all of this, terrified, healing, with a newborn.” Coy nodded in agreement, casting a curious glance at Kenzie. “Pretty sure someone called in favors.”

Kenzie grinned, “I might have called in a favor or two.”

Coy tossed the file he'd been working on into a pile and gave a frustrated shrug. “We’re out of files and came up with nothing.”

“What’s next?” Nash asked, “Expand to further counties and the date range?”

“I really don’t know.” Coy answered, “What if there was never a missing persons report filed? We’re just wasting time and effort on a dead end.”

“But on the off chance there was a report…” Kenzie continued. “We have to try.”

“Odds are, this wasn’t a clean and honest death. There’s something sinister about the whole thing. My money is on no report filed because murder, death, and shallow graves don’t just happen for good reasons. If someone from around here had been missing for this long… they’d still be doing weekly search parties.” Coy sighed heavily, the weight of disappointment settling upon his shoulders like a heavy cloak.

As he surveyed the scattered files before him, each representing a piece to the wrong puzzle in a mystery that seemed increasingly inscrutable, a sense of defeat crept into his heart. Despite their best efforts, the answers remained elusive, taunting him with their elusiveness. It was a frustrating reminder of the limits of their knowledge and the complexity of the task at hand.

“Isn’t it odd that nothing else has happened around here since Cut and Nora’s accident? Nothing here, nothing in town.” Nash asked. “That can’t be a coincidence, can it? Maybe it’s over.”

“Or it’s simply the calm before the storm,” Coy said flatly.

Devyn stepped out on the patio, a stack of their mother’s journals in hand and Diesel at her side.

“Find anything we can use?” Nash asked her.

“I don’t think so. These were hard to read.” She explained. “Something happened in these. Something sad.”

“Like what?” Coy asked.

“I’m not entirely sure. There are gaps in the journals I’ve read so far ––Mama didn’t document every single day, but the gaps of time in these are much larger. It’s like… she was distracted. Troubled. Something with Pop, I think. She’s worried about him in these.”

“Any specific mentions?”

“No. Most aren’t even dated. I’m figuring out the order by piecing together a timeline based on what she shares about us, our milestones, and funny little memories when she mentions them. So, I’m getting a ballpark idea but nothing specific. However, this particular group doesn’t mention us much –– just Pop.”

“Interesting.” Kenzie pondered. “No specifics, though?”

“Nothing yet, but I have more to read.” Devyn shared. “I also found another set of birth certificates, though. They appear to have different signatures, though I can’t tell. Most of it isn’t legible –– water damage or something. The pages are smeared.”

“Maybe that’s why there are multiple copies?” Coy asked. “The originals are damaged?”

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