Page 100 of Hidden Truths

“Thank you,” I say to Joseph, who is smiling with watery eyes.

“I wish I could tell you where he was now.”

“You have no idea what you have done for us,” Belle explains through her tears. “This is the first time we have proof he didn’t die like the police said he did.”

“That case is bullshit,” Fiona blurts.

“You’ve got that right,” I tell her.

“Was this from a disposable camera?” I ask, flipping the picture over. Printing pictures isn’t super common with the invention of smart phones and digital frames.

“It wasn’t. Ezra had a fancy camera. He took it with him everywhere. He turned the closet in Bea’s rental into a dark room. I remember her complaining about it after they moved out,” Joseph says.

Fiona nods. “He really liked photography. He even sold some of his photographs before he left. Granddad let him display them in the store window.”

Kai takes a shaky hand and continues to go through the box. There are more pictures of the area and landscapes, a few stray t-shirts, and some DVDs. Kai tips the box and pulls out a black frame.

“Is this the boy?” he asks Joseph, turning the frame so everyone else can see it. It’s Ezra standing with a blond boy in a baseball uniform. Although calling him a boy isn’t accurate. He’s in his twenties, from what I can tell. They’re smiling and look happy.

“That’s him!” Joseph says.

“Can I see that?” I ask, and Kai hands it over. I examine it more closely. “WM University?”

“Oh, that’s the local university. White Mountain University. They have a great baseball team,” Fiona says.

“Thank you for everything,” I tell them, standing and taking Cal with me since he won’t let go of my waist. Belle quickly puts everything back in the box, taking my signal to leave.

“Please let us know if you think of anything else,” she says, shaking Joseph and Fiona’s hands.

We all say our goodbyes and exit the store.

We’re close. So close. I can feel it.

forty-one

CAL

Harlow isin our cabin on a video call with her dad and Jo. So Belle, Kai, and I decided to start a fire in the fire pit. We’ve all just been staring at the flames in silence. There are plenty of chairs, but Belle is on Kai’s lap, and he’s clinging to her like she’s his life raft.

I’ve opened and closed my mouth so many times I know I look like a fish. There are no words to help Kai or to express all the feelings I have right now. I wish I could grab Harlow and cling to her in the same way, but she’s busy. Not only that, but it’s been her determination that got us this far. I fought her on coming here, but she was right to insist.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt eventually.

Kai and Belle both look at me with matching frowns.

“I tried to stop this trip. If I had . . .”

Belle shakes her head. “Do you really think you could’ve stopped Harlow?”

Kai snorts, and I glare at him.

“I mean, she’s my wife,” I say, like that means I have any control over her.

“I think that just makes you her bitch,” Kai says. I’d glare at him, but he’s smiling.

“I was her bitch before I married her,” I grumble.

Belle throws her head back and laughs.

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