Page 120 of The Art of Dying

“Talk, Kitsch,” Naomi said, her voice breaking. She didn’t look much different from the last time I saw her. The light was back in her eyes, but she stared at me as if I were an imposter. A man stood next to her, seeming as confused as Darby. He was the only person in the room I didn’t recognize. It must’ve been Zeke Lund.

Kitsch looked to Agent Lindy, and she didn’t disappoint.

“The tour you were on when Kitsch received the news about Karen, Emily, and Dylan’s deaths was your first deployment after some time stateside, correct?”

“Correct,” Trex said, more of a question than a statement.

“I, uh,” Kitsch began. I’d never seen him so nervous or unsure. “I’d done some contract work for the son of a Japanese business owner just before. It went south. Turned out the family was in all kinds of business, including human trafficking, drugs, dark web, you name it. The son died in the hospital, and they came after me, Trex. They came after Karen and the kids.”

I breathed out, relieved he didn’t tell them the details about Mason in front of Dylan and Emily. I knew it would come up, but it didn’t have to be at that moment.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Trex asked.

“They stepped in immediately,” Kitsch said. “I couldn’t.”

“I was a fucking agent!” Trex yelled.

Emily scooted a bit behind her dad, and I touched her shoulder.

“It was East Coast division,” Agent Lindy said. “The case wasn’t transferred to us until they hit a wall, and I came on board.”

Part of the truth, I thought.We’ll get to the rest later.I wasn’t sure what the FBI knew anyway, and surely Tiger and Kitsch didn’t want them to know everything.

“I didn’t lie,” Kitsch said. “But in order to protect my family, I had to allow you all to be told that they’d died.”

Martinez blinked. “He did talk about them as if they were alive.” He took a few steps forward and patted Kitsch’s arm. “Good to know you’re not crazy after all.”

The men kept talking, but Caroline couldn’t wait, grabbing me and hugging me tight.

“The case has been wrapped up; Kitsch and his family are free to go about their lives.” Agent Lindy smoothed her suit and checked the button on her blazer.

Caroline released me, her eyes scanning my face.

I smiled. “We’re moving to the Springs.”

“You are?!” she squealed.

“Karen…” Naomi said, stepping toward me. She waited a beat and then hugged me. It was both familiar and cold, but the longer she held me, the more relaxed she felt. She let me go and gestured to the man next to her, introducing him.

He hugged me. “Wow, this is bizarre, but… glad you’re back.”

Trex moved past everyone to hug me, holding me almost too tight. He held me for a long time before whispering in my ear, “Mack? I can’t believe it, I…” He released me, scanned my face, and shook his head before kissing my temple.

Tears began to well up in his eyes, and that triggered mine.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “He wanted to tell you. It was killing him.”

Agent Lindy checked her watch and then waved goodbye, leaving us to face our friends and their questions alone.

The DJ’s voice came over the speakers. “Oooookay folks, it’s my favorite time of the evening, when Mr. and Mrs. are front and center. It’s their time to shine! Let’s give a round of applause to welcome our newlyweds as they dance together for the first time as husband and wife.”

Everyone began to clap, and Trex’s eyes danced between Darby, Kitsch, me, then back to Darby. “We should…”

Darby nodded and took his hand.

“Of course! Go, go!” I said, clapping.

Not a minute into the song, Naomi stood beside me, her arms crossed. She’d been wearing a suit with a white tank top, but the jacket was off, exposing the suspenders and her insanely toned arms.

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