“They’d only be able to use it for a couple months at random places like barsand…motels.” Detective Jameson audibly gasps, before I hear her angrily typing on a keyboard.
Shit, shit, shit.Why didn’t I ever think of it?
“Okay, Elijah. I’m going to need to make some calls. Are you home right now? Is Tobias?”
“I’m on my way back right now but Tobias has been home all day.” I sniff, feeling tears start to tip over. Gwen puts her hand on my back, trying to soothe my nerves.
“Okay. I’m going to get over there as soon as I can to help you look for your fathers documents. If it’s missing, you might’ve just stumbled on a key piece of information. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay.” I squeeze the phone in my hand. “See you soon.”
We both hang up and I sit there, in silence beside Gwen.
I should’ve thought of it. I should’ve pressed Tobias more to talk to me.
I should’ve—
“It’s no one’s fault.” Gwen speaks up, breaking the tension in the car as though she can hear my thoughts.
I want to believe her. I want to believe her so badly.
But if it’s no one’s fault, why does it feel so much like mine?
***
We get to our house in record time, thanks to Gwen. I try and not panic out loud but my brain is going a mile a minute.
I open the car door before she even puts the car in park.
“Elijah! Careful!” She yells out. But my mind is in a whole other place. I need to get to Tobias.
Running up to the house, I’m comforted at the fact that I can see the lights on in the house. He’s home.
Walking in the house, I’m immediately met with the smell of warm, spicy broth. Ramen.My favorite.
“Tobias!” I yell out, not bothering with my shoes.
I run into the living room and my mouth drops at the sight of what he’s set up for the night. This perfect human. I take it in, but I don’t let myself linger.
I call out his name again, with no answer in return. Running up the stairs, I beeline it to ours and the guest bedrooms. He’s not in either.
Running to my dad’s bedroom at the end of the hall, I take quick note that the lock on the door has been tampered with. It’s loose and if you weren’t looking for it, it’s easy to miss.
I suck in a breath and open up the door. I haven’t been in here since I lost my dad. I don’t want to mess with the smell of him in here. But, knowing Derrick might’ve been here makes me push through.
Walking over to the closet, I flip on the light and crouch down to the safe. I’m the only one who’d know it’s hidden back here. This iswhere he keeps our birth certificates—and pretty much every other important document.
The code is easy.
It’s not my birthday.It’s Tobias’s.
Which means…Derrick would’ve guessed it. Shit, how stupid?!
Swinging open the safe, I’m both deeply gutted yet not surprised with what I see.
Everything.Everythingmy dad had kept safe. Gone.
Derrick has been here and he has stoleneverything.
