Page 136 of A Forgotten Mistake

“And you know this because we were so close I told you the location?” Liam asks. “Sounds like I was an idiot. Then again, I was sixteen, sooo…”

“Liam, out, please,” Michaels says, and when I go to follow him, Liam gives me a soft shake of his head and motions to me with his hand, telling me he wants me to stay and listen.

“He knows and he’s protecting him too,” she accuses as she points at me. “He knows.”

I shake my head sadly. “Abby… what we know is that we tried really hard to figure this stuff out to help you, but the deeper we went, the more we realized that you were just manipulating us with your stories.”

“You go dig up that body and then come back here and we’ll talk,” Abby says.

“Gabriel, out with Liam,” Michaels orders.

I step out into the hallway where Liam is leaning against the wall. “So… you murdered her father?”

Liam laughs. “Right? I never even met the man. She’s the one who rejoiced the day she learned he died. I mean… I don’t blame her; from what she said about him, he seemed quite abusive, but hell… maybe that was a lie too.”

“I just find the whole thing weird. What does she want them to find if she’s adamant about having them dig up a body that you supposedly buried?”

“I think she’s bluffing. I don’t think she’s actually going to send them somewhere,” he responds. “Or maybe she’s going to send us to one of her first victims or something and try to pin it on me somehow.”

“She’s not bluffing, she gave us a location,” Michaels says, overhearing us just like I’d assumed he would as he exits the room with Matthew behind him.

“But if it’s one of her victims… why would she give us more fuel?” I ask. “I guess unless she’s trying to find some wild way to blame it on Liam.”

“She was in quite the state at the time… what if she really believes I was involved?” Liam suggests. “She kept trying new drugs. It started off with just weed, but I know she later got involved with heavier drugs. I feel like her decisions were questionable at best. But there’s only one way to find out what was buried there.”

“Just what I needed was someone declaring a detective of mine was involved. This is why you’re not supposed to be within a mile of this case,” Michaels says.

“It’s not my fault I’m ridiculously useful and figure everything out so you let me do whatever I want,” Liam says.

Michaels grunts. “You’re not going to the site.”

“Uh-huh… and if I didn’t go to that site, what would the address be so I can make sure I can avoid it?” Liam asks.

“You’re the one over there burying the bodies, you should know,” Matthew teases until he gets a look at Michaels’ face. Then he quickly clears his throat. “I mean… uh… I will… wait here to uhh… keep an eye on her.”

Michaels seems at least a little more agreeable to that. “Paige, go home. Hyde, you too. You’re both off the case.”

“Yes, sir,” Liam says as he turns around and heads out the door.

Michaels growls some about that, clearly displeased even when Liam listens.

“Oh, he’s totally going to find a way to show up,” Matthew comments. “There’s absolutely no way he would have willingly left if he didn’t already know he was going to show up there.”

“Hyde, I’m relying on you to keep him away.”

“Of course, sir,” I say.

“And Gabriel is already prepared to do whatever Liam wants,” Matthew mutters.

I grin at Matthew before starting to walk away. “Shhh, Matthew, I’m being good. We’re both being good.”

“Good, my ass,” Michaels grumbles.

I hesitate and turn back to them. “Let me give you Lisa’s information. She’s the one who saw the videos of Liam, but they do seem to be similar to the one that Liam saw back at the department. She disposed of the tapes, but they obviously made her uncomfortable enough that she got a new placement for both of them in the hope of keeping Abby away from Liam.”

“Thank you,” Michaels says as I send him Lisa’s contact.

I hurry out to the car where I find Liam in the driver’s seat holding a phone against his ear, but the moment he seesMichaels come out behind me, he ducks down, like Michaels might not have seen it.

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