Page 60 of Hidden Truths

“He got Ezra’s phone restored?” Kai asks, looking both scared and hopeful. He reaches out to Mav who grabs his hand and holds on.

My dad nods and hands them a piece of paper. I watch their eyes fly back and forth, a single tear falling from Mav’s eye. Kai’s face loses all color. Belle gently takes the paper and reads it over, with Willa and Jo behind her. By the time it gets to us, our friends are either pale or crying. Cal takes the paper gently from Belle and holds it out so I can see it too. It’s a printout of a text conversation.

Unknown

I know what you saw. Meet me at the river at 10.

Ezra

I already told you no.

Unknown

Meet me at the river at 10 and no harm will come to Maverick.

Ezra

What are you talking about? I don’t know anything!

Unknown

I know what he means to you. I know you saw what I can do to people. Turn yourself over to me, and I’ll spare him.

Ezra

He has nothing to do with anything. Leave him alone!

Unknown

Whether or not I leave him alone is up to you.

Ezra

I have your word that if I meet with you, nothing will happen to Maverick?

Unknown

Nothing will happen to Maverick. 10pm. The small bend in the river.

Ezra

I’ll be there.

My eyes fly to Maverick. That single tear is the only one that fell, but his gaze is unfocused, and he isn’t moving. Kai is next to him, his gaze just as unfocused, but their hands are still joined in a white-knuckle grip. Like they’re holding on to each other for dear life.

“I heard him arguing on the phone with someone that night,” Cal says. “He was mad at someone. I thought it was Kai all this time until now.”

“What did he say?” my dad asks.

“Just that he couldn’t do something and that whoever he was talking to couldn’t be serious. Nothing helpful,” Cal says, sighing into his hands. “I should’ve checked on him.”

“If you thought it was me and I was pissed, I would’ve punched you,” Kai offers.

“Why do you think I turned in the other direction instead?” Cal says, trying to smile, but it’s more of a lip twitch.

“I’ve tried tracing the number, but it was from a cheap burner that was purchased at a gas station that no longer exists. So I have no way of looking into who purchased it,” my dad says, sympathy on his face. “The number that texted him was also in his call log from that night, so we can assume it was the same person. The call came first.”

“No. This is not where this ends!” Willa exclaims, making everyone jump. “I’m so sick of all these dead ends! Did you look at his call logs? Search history?”

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