Page 49 of Scorched

Declan sighed. “I know.” He ran a hand down his face. “God, this is a mess.”

“That seems to be the norm the last few months.”

“Right? I mean, did we enter some alternate universe and not know it? It’s been one weird thing after another.”

“Yeah. I need a break. But first, we have a killer and an arsonist to stop. You up for hitting a few of those addresses Ms. James gave us?”

“Sure. Who knows? Maybe we’ll find the asshole.”

“Just don’t punch him. Or at least warn me first, so I can look away. I don’t want to have to arrest you again.”

“I don’t want that, either. Jail sucked.” That was an experience he never wanted to repeat. “So, where are we going first?”

“I figure we can try a couple of the friends. Those addresses are in the neighborhood.”

“Let’s do it.”

Seb made a series of turns and they pulled up at another house. This one looked worse than Denise’s. Paint peeled off the exterior, and the porch sagged. One strong gust and it looked like it would collapse. More weeds than grass covered the yard.

“It doesn’t look like anyone’s home,” Declan said, shutting his car door and rounding the hood.

“We’re going to find out.” The chain link gate let out a squeal as Seb pushed it open. They walked up the rotted porch stairs and knocked on the door.

Declan peered through the window. Nothing moved. “I don’t think they’re home.”

“Yeah, me either. Let’s try the next one.”

They headed back to the car, spending the next couple hours driving around the city. At every stop, either no one was home, or no one had seen Cole. Frustration clawed at Declan. He’d been dreading seeing his dad again, but now he just wanted to find him to ask him why he’d left and created a whole new family. Declan wasn’t upset Cole abandoned him and Macy—they were better off without him—but he did want to know why Denise and her kids were different.

Seb pulled into a fast-food joint and ordered them some burgers. Declan made him drive through a Starbucks too. Part of the headache pounding behind his eyes was from a lack of caffeine. Once they’d eaten and Declan had his coffee in hand, they headed for home.

It was a long ride. Declan couldn’t shut his mind off, even with his ribs aching and his head pounding. He had Seb drop him at Peppy Brewster and prepared himself to throw another bombshell at his sister for the second time in one day.

Macy’s smile vanished, and her shoulders sagged. “God, what now?”

He said nothing, walking past her to push through the swinging door to the kitchen. She told the young woman working with her she would be back and followed him. He stopped at the table and leaned against it, propping his hands on the edge of the cool metal on either side of his hips.

“Dad’s dead, too, isn’t he?”

“Not as far as we could find out.”

She frowned. “Okay. What is it, then?”

“Seb got a last known address for him from his parole officer. We went to the house. He wasn’t there, but a woman answered the door.

“He has a girlfriend?”

“She’s much more than that. They have three children together.”

“What?” Macy’s voice rose several octaves.

“A boy and two girls. Michael is nineteen. The girls, Hannah and Jessie, are twelve and seven. Their mom’s name is Denise James. I gave her my card and cellphone number. I’m hoping she’ll FaceTime us later so we can talk to the girls. Michael lives out of state. He’s an oil field worker in North Dakota.”

Macy covered her mouth with her hands. “Oh my God,” she muttered from behind them before letting them fall away. “Do you think Mom knew?”

“Maybe? I’m not sure.” His phone beeped, and he took it out to look at it. “Well, that’s good timing. It’s a text from Denise. The girls are home from school and want to talk to us.”

“Call her.” Macy pushed away from the table to stand next to him.

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