Page 4 of The Guilty One

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “I’ll come by your house as soon as I can.”

“You’re scaring me,” she says softly.

“I know. I’m sorry. I just…I have to go, okay? Give them a kiss for me.”

“I will.”

“Oh, hey, before I let you go…you haven’t heard from Tate, have you?”

She hesitates. “Heard from Tate? What do you mean? Today? Was I supposed to?”

“No, it’s fine. I just…I’ll see you soon, okay? I love you.”

“You too, sweetheart. See you soon.”

I turn back to the desk and begin scrolling through my contacts. I find my mother-in-law’s name first and click on it. Unlike my mother, she answers quickly.

“Hey, honey! What are you up to? I was just thinking about you earlier because I found this recipe for a lemon?—”

“Daph, I’m sorry, I don’t have time to chat. I was just wondering if you’ve talked to Tate today?”

“Oh. Talked to Tate? Today?” She hums. “No, it’s been a few days since we spoke, I suppose. Why?”

“Do you know if Lane has?”

“I’m not sure. Well, actually, he’s right here. Let me ask him. Is everything alright?” I can hear her speaking to my father-in-law in the background, her voice muffled.

I have no idea what I’m supposed to tell them, if anything.

“Neither of us have spoken to him today, honey. Is something wrong?”

“I’m…” My voice cracks, and I do my best to collect myself. “There was a car accident, and…we can’t find him.”

She’s quiet, then my father-in-law comes on the line. “A car accident?” he demands. “What are you talking about? He was involved?”

“It was his car, but someone else was in it. I’m just trying to track him down.”

“Where are you?” he demands.

“The police station.”

“The police station?” His voice rises an octave. “What for? Do you need us to come down there? Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

“No. No. I’m okay. I’m fine. It’s just…the person involved, the man in Tate’s car he…he’s dead, Lane. They thought it was Tate.”

Now we’re all crying, trying to talk over each other as we make sense of it.

“What do you mean?—”

“Have you called him?—”

“I just saw him a few days ago?—”

“Yes, he was okay this morning?—”

“Where are the boys?”

“We’re coming down there?—”

---