Page 110 of Hidden Truths

“I’m going to be cast out of New England if I wear a Chickadees jersey,” he says, looking a little panicked.

“Why don’t you just wear Shattered Halo merch?”

Cal’s shoulders slump in relief. “That will work.”

“Glad I could help. Now, I have to go over some files that were submitted to the platform with Jo,” I tell him. “I’ll be back in time for Cora’s bedtime.”

“Okay, wife,” he says, kissing me longer and with a lot more tongue than is appropriate for a goodbye.

“You’re not convincing me to stay and have sex on the new couch.” We had to get a new one after Cora got into some markers I didn’t hide high enough. My girl is growing a lot faster than I like.

“Aww. Come on, Firecracker. It’ll be fun,” Cal says, trying to pull me closer to him.

“Yes, it will. Tonight,” I say, freeing myself and quickly walking to the door.

“Fine,” he says, pouting. “I’m going to go over to Mav’s. Kai is already there. So that’s where I’ll be if you need me. Or you miss me.”

I snort and shake my head.

“I love you, wife,” he says, smiling sweetly.

“I love you too, husband.”

I quickly make my way out the door and down the sidewalk to Willa’s house. The temperature has turned cold quickly, and I can smell winter in the air.

Jo is at the door when I get there. “I think we got something!” she yells and turns to run into the house. I follow quickly behind her, stopping to discard my shoes at the door. Willa and Belle went out to dinner. They invited us, but I was already cooking dinner for my little family and Jo was busy. So it’s just us here right now.

Willa’s house is brighter than the others. She has large windows throughout the bottom floor and all the walls are white where you can even see the wall. She kept the natural wood on the window frames and the beams on the ceiling. The warm brown leather sectional and thick blue rug in the living room are inviting. I haven’t been in too much of the house, but I imagine it’s the same style.

I take a seat on the couch next to Jo and wait while she pulls her laptop onto her lap. She has an audio clip on the screen that was submitted anonymously.

“I was a reporter at the time of Ezra’s disappearance,” I read the note accompanying it out loud. “I’ve kept this recording as insurance, but I think you could use it more.”

“Ready?” Jo asks.

“They don’t say who the recording is of?”

“Nope.”

“Have you listened to it yet?” I ask her, turning to see her looking annoyed.

“Woman, can you ask all your questions after I play it?”

“Right. Yup. Play it,” I say, miming zipping my lips.

Jo hits play, and I listen.

“You got rid of the boy?” a voice comes through. It’s muffled, and I can barely make out what they’re saying.

“I told you I did.” That one is Senator Wolfe.

“Then why is his brother trying so hard to find him?” comes the muffled voice again.

“It’s his brother. What the fuck were you expecting?” Wolfe.

“You could’ve left a fucking body,” the muffled voice hisses.

“You told me to make sure no one could connect it to us!” Wolfe.

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