Page 26 of Some Like It Fox

“What did you find?” I tuck my legs under me, wiggling to get comfortable.

Jake rubs the bristles on his chin. “I think I know where the letters are coming from, at least geographically.”

When we found the letters and Jake wanted to be the one to research their origin, I didn’t think he would take the task seriously. He doesn’t take much seriously. “How did you figure that out?”

“There was a sentence that didn’t make sense, ‘Good old Dull.’ I thought it was a mistake or something, but then I realized there’s a town called Dull in Oregon.”

My brows lift. “Dull, Oregon? Seriously?”

“Yep.”

“So you think the letter writer lives there?”

He shrugs. “Or they used to. It’s a small town, and these letters were written almost ten years ago. I’ve tried searching around online for any Ryans or Mias living in Dull, but I don’t have last names. I don’t know, do you think it would be weird to reach out to people who live in the town to see if anyone knew Dad or these people in the letters? I don’t really know where to begin, or what to say even if I found someone who knew something. What do I even ask?”

I purse my lips in thought. “You could hire a private investigator.”

“To do what?”

He doesn’t know I’ve gone down this route myself, and I’m not about to tell him. “They can find things not available on Google or social media. Skip tracing, image searches, databases the public can’t readily access, property records, marriage records, address records, all of it.”

His head tilts. “How do you know all that?”

“I banged a PI once at Lollapalooza.”

He groans and covers his face. “Taylor.”

“What?” Okay, so it’s not entirely true, but I did meet Georgia at Lollapalooza. She agreed to give me a discount for her services after I let her sleep in my van during stormy weather when her tent sprang a leak.

“I did not need to hear that.”

I giggle and smack him on the knee. “So. Have you told Finley?”

His hands drop to his lap. “No. She’s been busy with the camp. You’re the only one I’ve told.”

Probably because the rest of our siblings are all wrapped up in their work and their relationships. Over the past year, they’ve been coupling up at record speed. It’s like Love Island without the island and much grosser because they’re my sisters.

He taps my knee. “How long are you staying?”

“Until I can get the bus fixed.”

He frowns.

“Don’t give me that hangdog face. It will be at least a few weeks, probably longer. I’m going to see Veronica tomorrow about work. I need to save up some money, so you won’t be getting rid of me anytime soon.”

“Good.” His eyes soften. “I’ve missed you, Tay.”

I slide toward him on the couch so our shoulders press together. “I’ve missed you too.”

We sit there for a few seconds, then he elbows me away. “No more sappy shit. Come on. Finley is dying to see you. Let’s go down to the camp. You can help with the kids’ science stuff. You’ll love it.” He jumps off the couch.

I follow him through the kitchen and out the side door. “How am I going to help with teaching kids anything?”

He glances at me over his shoulder. “C’mon, you’ve gleaned many skills over the years. You can show them how to dress like a wookiee, make flower crowns, and pee in the woods.”

I laugh and shove him in the back. “Dick.”

“You love it.”

---