Page 48 of Stabby Little

Jagger's jaw drops. "That's… sick. I didn't know your son worked for him."

Emotion claws at my chest. "He's not supposed to. Last year, Miles got mixed up with the wrong crowd and Michael helped him. Or so he said."

"I'm so sorry."

I tell Jagger that Miles dealt dope out of his locker and attracted the attention of school authorities. I tell him that the cops threatened to send Miles to juvie if he didn't quit. I tell him what Michael told me.

Jagger's eyes turn to slits. "Michael's fucking disgusting."

"I know," I say, throwing my napkin down. "Miles's supposed to be out of that business. It was a one-time thing—or so he said. He hung out with frat boys on the football team and they were a bad influence. He's a sweet kid."

"Michael went behind your back to recruit your son. That's so shitty I can barely comprehend it."

"Miles owes him two hundred thousand dollars." I wrinkle my brow. "If I don't follow Michael's commands, he'll take his anger out on my son."

"What prompted this conversation?"

"We were discussing my son's best friend who vanished seven years ago."

Jagger's expression softens. "It's the anniversary of his disappearance, isn't it?"

I've confided in Jagger about Ollie. Every year, he knows I go through hell during this time. Last year, I couldn't leave my house for five days as I triple-checked every lead I'd produced over the past few months to see if I missed anything. I called every person I knew, overturned every stone.

Nothing. Nada. The same as always. When Jagger told me Michael needed me to get back to work, I showed him my investigation room to prove I wasn't dicking around. He helped me search, but it was futile.

"Seven years." I stare at my wings.

I tell Jagger about Michael's reaction. I tell him Michael grabbed my neck and thrust me against the wall.

Jagger's eyebrows furrow. "That's fucked up Michael reacted like that."

"He's never done that before." I drag in a breath. "Normally he comforts me and tells me it's okay."

Jagger slides his drink across the table. "You need something stronger than tap beer."

"Thanks." I pick up Jagger's beverage and take a sip. The gin claws my throat, burning on the way down. But I ignore it. I savor the taste, relishing the way it claws at my insides.

Tonight, I need the liquor. Whatever it takes to get my mind off Ollie.

"Do you think Michael's threatened by Ollie's disappearance?"

"I don't know."

"You're one of his best men. Your distractions cost him money."

"He's known about Ollie for years. He's always helped me during this time of year. He knows I complete my work obligations even if my mood is shit."

"What day did Ollie vanish?"

"May second. He was en route to my house."

“I still can’t wrap my head around it.” Jagger takes his drink back. "That's the same day Nolan vanished."

Nolan was a boy in Jagger's nephew's Wilderness Explorer troop. Jagger told me about him last year when I confided in him about Ollie. Jagger frequently led his nephew and his troopmates on camping expeditions up north.

The two situations are similar. Ollie and Nolan both vanished on the same day, although four years apart. Nolan was fifteen and Ollie was eleven. In Nolan's case, he was heading to Jagger's apartment to play with his nephew. In Ollie's case, he was coming to my house to play with Miles.

"Do you think Ollie and Nolan's disappearances are related?"

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