Page 66 of The Meaning Of You

Nick frowned at the screen. “If it was Justin that Davis wanted access to, then why were you still in the picture?”

Lachlan sighed. “Because Davis found me useful. He had a character who was a journo and he was picking my brains about the work. That’s it. And that’s as much as you’re going to get from me. Trust me when I say you shouldn’t be pushing this.”

Nick stiffened, and when he spoke, his voice shook with anger. “Fuck that. And fuck you too. You say I don’t understand the risks I’m taking, and you’re right. I didn’t know there was a fucking risk until now because no one’s told me shit. My husband died a couple of months back and I’m only now finding out he was involved in some secret crap I knew nothing about. Do you have any idea what it’s like to discover laptops youknew nothing about, credit cards and bank accounts you weren’t aware of, a passport and driver’s licence for your husband but under a different name, not to mention my house was broken into twice.”

Lachlan drew a sharp breath. “Someone broke into your house?”

Nick growled, “Yes, twice. And today, some guy laid into me at the caravan and took off with a box of Davis’s stuff, including the laptop I was looking for. So, am I pissed off and running a tad short on patience for any bullshit runaround? Damn right I am. I want some fucking answers, and it starts with you.” His voice rose in defiance and I almost applauded.

Lachlan studied Nick for a long moment before conceding. “Fine. Justin gave Davis the passport and driver’s licence as examples, nothing more. They’re unusable.”

“We know,” I said. “The expiry date is past and the birth date is incorrect.”

Lachlan looked surprised. “You’ve got good eyes. But as for the credit card? I have no idea.” His gaze narrowed on Nick. “They followed you to the caravan?”

Nick frowned. “We aren’t sure. Maybe.”

“Yes,” I argued. “I’msure.”

Nick’s knee knocked against mine and I returned the favour, only harder. He grimaced but kept his focus on Lachlan. “Do you agree with him?” he asked, meaning me. “I just want to understand.”

Lachlan dragged his fingers through his hair, looking like he wanted to be anywhere else. “Okay, look. I don’t know if you were followed or not, but you need to be careful, regardless. Davis was only loosely connected to my past, and that land was in your mother-in-law’s name. It should’ve been off the radar, which is why we met there.” He unleashed another heavy sigh. “I shouldn’t even be talking about this over the phone.”

“Then meet with me,” Nick pleaded. “I can keep my mouth shut. It’s part of my job. And I don’t understand why you never tried to get hold of me after the accident.”

Lachlan hesitated. “I wanted to, at first. I really did. But then I figured Davis would wake up and explain everything himself, so there was no need for me to pre-empt it.”

“But he didn’t wake up, did he?” Nick snapped. “And you still didn’t contact me. Why?” I could almost hear Nick’s teeth grinding. “Tell me what you know. If not for me, then for Davis’s sake. Otherwise, I’ll keep hounding you until you do. I’ll leave messages at the paper, stalk you on social media, maybe even get my cop brother-in-law to pay you a visit.”

Lachlan groaned, the battle playing out in his eyes as he looked between us. The outcome was fifty-fifty.

I reached under the table for Nick’s hand and he grabbed on tight.

I saw the second Lachlan made his decision. He slumped in his chair and breathed out a long sigh. “When Davis had the accident, I tried to get hold of Justin, but he didn’t pick up. Not that day, not ever again. Ten days later, I heard the police found his body dumped in the Waitakere Ranges. He’d been shot. The time of death wasn’t conclusive, but the police thought he’d been there a week, possibly more.”

Nick looked to me and I did the calculations in my head. They could’ve happened on the same day. I squeezed his hand again and he gave a soft nod.

Lachlan licked his lips. “A really big coincidence, right? Although fucked if I know how they’d be related.”

The hamster wheel in my brain spun faster. What the hell was going on? A thread of fear curled in my gut, and when I turned to Nick, he looked thunderstruck. Pale as a ghost, mouth gaping, eyes wide and panicked.

“Y-you’re saying that Justin’s death and Davis’s accident are linked?” Nick finally managed in a thin voice.

“Mightbe,” Lachlan amended.

Nick stared at him, his stunned expression mirroring my own. “Then why the hell didn’t you go to the police?”

Lachlan shook his head. “And tell them what exactly? There’s zero evidence. We don’t even know exactly when Justin was killed. It could’ve been days after Davis saw him. If the two incidentsarerelated, then it might also mean one of two things. Either Davis was involved with Justin’s death in some way.” Lachlan’s hand shot up as we both opened our mouths to protest. “Hear me out.”

We fell quiet.

“Orhe saw something, which in turn led to hisaccident.” He made finger quotes.

“Are you saying someone drove him off that road?” Nick’s grip on my hand turned vice-like. “Because there’s no way Davis would have been involved with a murder. It’s simply ridiculous.”

Lachlan opened his hands. “I’m saying, I don’t know.”

I leaned forward. “And how does that connect to the break-ins and today at the caravan?”

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