Page 88 of Byte

“What’s going on, Gabby?” he asked when he arrived.

“I need your help with something, but it might mean you have to keep something pretty significant to yourself depending on the outcome,” I said.

He gave me a skeptical look. “I’m not sure about this.”

“Let me explain,” I said and gestured for him to have a seat on the sofa. “Well, let me ask you something first. What do you know about Byte’s past?”

“More than I should,” he said. “I overheard my dad talking about it.”

I exhaled in relief. I wouldn’t be breaking Byte’s trust by talking to Flint since he already knew. “I want to know if Byte was ever a suspect. He never wanted to know, but I thought I could look for him and maybe give him a chance to have his life back.”

“What if he was a suspect or is wanted for murder?” Flint asked.

“Then I’ll never say a word about it.”

“I don’t know, Gabby. This is a slippery slope to go down,” Flint said.

“I know, but I can’t do it without you. I know Byte’s been teaching you computer stuff. You’re the only other person I could ask besides him. Well, the only other trustworthy person,” I said. I knew I was asking a lot and wouldn’t be upset if he said no, but I really hoped he’d say yes.

“I guess I could try,” Flint said reluctantly.

“Great,” I said excitedly. “What do you need to know?”

He snorted a laugh. “Pretty sure I already have that information. Blake Williams from Nebraska, right?”

“Right,” I confirmed. “I don’t know what his mother’s name was, but I think the stepfather was named Glenn.”

While Flint started searching, I got up and went to the kitchen to make us some coffee. When I returned to the living room, Flint turned the screen to show me a news article he found.

“Search continues for missing boy after parents found murdered in their home. It is unclear at this time if fourteen-year-old Blake Williams was kidnapped or murdered. Police are asking anyone with possible information regarding the case to contact them immediately,” I read aloud.

Flint clicked to a different tab. “Here’s another one.”

“Gambling debt probable motive behind double homicide. Teenage son missing and likely in danger.” I turned to Flint. “They think someone else did it. They think he was a victim.”

“There’s more,” he said. “I saved the best one for last.”

“Bookie Johnny Jenkins found guilty of murdering eight people who owed him money. The victims were,” I read and skimmed over the names until I saw two that seemed pertinent. “Glenn Dodson and Sheila Williams.” I couldn’t believe what I was reading. “Someone else was convicted for murdering them?”

Flint nodded. “Yep. I found some other articles that say his prints were found inside the house. He denied killing them, but he also denied killing the other six people.”

“Can you send me the links to those articles?”

Flint laughed. “Sure, but he’ll be able to find them and more on his own once you tell him.”

“Crap,” I said. “Now, I have to tell him.” I knew he’d be relieved in the end, but I wasn’t sure how he would initially react.

“It’ll be fine,” Flint said. “Just tell him the main point, and don’t beat around the bush.”

“Thanks, Flint. I really appreciate your help.”

“Yeah, about that. Maybe don’t tell him I helped you,” he said.

“I won’t,” I promised.

It was all I could do to contain myself after Flint left. I couldn’t call Byte and ask him to come home without him thinking something was wrong, and I couldn’t show up at the clubhouse without garnering the same response. Plus, neither one of us needed an audience to witness what could be a disastrous conversation. When he finally got home, I was ready to burst.

“How was the rest of your day?” I asked.

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