Page 83 of Devil and the Deep Blue Fish

“Whoever wants them,” Ellery said, getting it. “Including Conway Schmitt and Gannett Hoover. Not for money, but simply to be used.”

“And discarded,” Jackson whispered. “I don’t think Caleb was an accident.”

“You think he was a byproduct,” Ellery said, feeling cold.

“It’s like any other abduction,” Taylor Cramer said, sounding equally numb. “Itistrafficking—but it’s for personal use. They’re using the pray the gay away as an excuse to get children for their own needs.”

“I….” Jackson exhaled. “I have some suspicions,” he agreed.

Ellery’s stomach roiled, only now understanding what Jackson must have been carrying with him all of the last night. Toe-Tag. Toby Tagliare wouldliterallyknow where the bodies were buried.

And where they surfaced.

“When were you going to tell me?” Ellery asked, feeling betrayed. It was stupid. They’d been so busy, and so exhausted the day before. But this… this was so awful….

Thiswas why the dream, Ellery realized.Thiswas why that memory had been so close to the surface that touching him had scraped the skin raw. Because he was wondering where his sister had gone.

He’d already seen the worst the world had to offer. He’d thrown it in his minivan the night before and driven the victims to the hospital and hoped—hoped—it would be okay.

He probably knew this feeling, Ellery thought sickly. He probably lived it, in a tiny corner of his heart, every day.

“When I’d found the bodies,” Jackson said, staring sightlessly at the cats on the couch. “I’d tell you then. That’s why I want to be at the property when you’re there. I just… Iamreally hoping I’m wrong.”

And this was why he hadn’t told Ellery.Thiswas why he’d risked everything to break the kids out.

“Mother,” he said, feeling very off balance as he set her coffee cup down in the sink instead of refilling it. “How about you go take a nap. We can’t leave for Sonora until one. It will take us until at least three to get wherever Hoover’s little mansion of delights may be, and you will be far more dangerous with a little sleep.”

“I….” For a moment she was going to argue—he was well aware. Then she peered carefully between the two of them and said, “Of course.” She stood then and walked to Jackson to place a kiss on his cheek. “Be kind to each other,” she urged, and then she turned toward the guest bedroom, putting noise-canceling earbuds in as she moved.

Jackson grunted and watched her go. “Why is she doing that?” he asked. Ellery strode out of the kitchen and past him, grabbing his hand and dragging him to the bedroom as he went.

“Because you and I have some business to discuss,” he said crisply. “And she’s giving us as much privacy as she canmanage.” He gave Jackson’s hand a tug. “Come on, Jackson. We’ve got a little bit of shit to sort before Cody gets here—”

“He’s got two hours!” Jackson complained.

“Good,” Ellery muttered. “You should be in the shower by the time he arrives.”

“We’re having sex?” Jackson asked, sounding legitimately rattled. “With yourmotherhere?”

Ellery hauled him into the bedroom and shut the door, careful to make sure there were no three-legged furry creatures in the way.

“She put earbuds in, Jackson. She won’t be able to hear us having sex unless we bring the roof down. But that’s not the point.”

Jackson scowled at him. “What’s the point?”

Ellery kissed him, hard and inescapably and without equivocation. He kissed Jackson senseless, until Jackson was backed up against the bedroom door, thrusting his hands under Ellery’s pajamas, cupping satin handfuls of Ellery’s bare ass with one hand and scraping his fingers across Ellery’s shoulders with the other.

Ellery pulled back and made sure he had Jackson’s complete attention.

“The point,” he panted, “is that you look me in the eyes. The point is that you’re not afraid to tell meanything.” Jackson tried to protest, and Ellery kissed him again, dominating him, taking him over heart and soul. He pulled back again, to see if Jackson was understanding the point, and Jackson was leaning against the door, mouth slack, eyes clouded with passion, and suddenly the passionwasthe point.

Jackson’s eyes focused on him then, and he shook his head, as though trying to clear his thoughts. “Ellery—”

“You didn’t tell me,” Ellery growled, so angry and so hurt he wasn’t sure he could get the words out.

“I didn’t know—”

“You suspected!” Ellery accused. As he fumed he kept his hands busy, ripping Jackson’s T-shirt off, squirreling underneath the waistband of his pajamas.

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