Helia slipped into the castle. He felt bad leaving her to explain her return to Dulcie and Kendall, but he closed the door behind her, then leaned against the cold stone of the entryway.
“Where do you want to start?” Leo asked.
“The pistol,” he replied.
“Good choice. It was used in a drug bust gone south in Jacksonville seven years ago. A young cop was shot. He survived but is no longer a cop since the bullet went through his spine and left him a paraplegic.”
Monk gave a fleeting thought to the young man whose life had irrevocably changed in that instant. But the question that occupied most of his thoughts was, “How the hell did my dad get hold of a gun from Florida?”
“And it’s not the first time the state has cropped up in the weirdness that’s going on,” Leo pointed out. “Derek Weber and Trish are from Florida, too.”
“Any news on Trish?” Monk asked.
“She’s next on the list,” Leo replied.
“What about Flannery? Or Kurt Fisher?” He felt bad dumping so much on Leo but knew the cyber expert would beoffended if he didn’t. He did decide, though, that he and Joey would be getting a case of Bacco wine for Christmas.
“No updates on Flannery as far as the police are concerned. They’re still combing through the evidence. There’s nothing being tested for DNA so it will be a slog. Old-school detective work.”
“That may be what the police are doing, but what about you?” Monk asked as the door swung open.
“You should come in,” Dulcie said, standing in the doorway. Monk raised an eyebrow. “The ladies are speculating like crazy what that call is about, and I think it would be best for everyone to be on the same page.” He paused, then added, “Not that I think a twelve-year-old should be hearing the things you’re probably hearing, but Kendall isn’t your average twelve-year-old.”
Monk sighed, not really surprised by the development. They knew about the murders. Kendall knew about his cyber expert friends. Between the two, who knew what stories they were concocting.
“Hold that thought, Leo. I’m going to join the group, which will include Helia and Kendall—who is twelve. Don’t hide things from her, but if you could…”
“Not get graphic?”
“Please.”
“Not a problem. Why don’t you update them on what we covered, then I can pick it up.”
He mumbled a thank-you as he entered the tasting room behind Dulcie. Helia and Kendall both blinked at him with wide eyes, not hiding their surprise at his willingness to bring them into the fold, so to speak.
“Leo Gallardo, a cyber expert from HICC, a security firm in Mystery Lake, is on the line. I’ve been asking him to look into a few of the things going on here,” he started.
“Like the murders?” Kendall asked.
“That’s Kendall,” he said to Leo. “And yes, the murders. But also the fact that I found a pistol in my father’s room along with—” He hesitated, wondering if it would be going too far to talk about the drugs in front of Kendall.
“Drugs,” she said.
The fact that she knew—or guessed—didn’t make the regret he felt at her having that kind of knowledge any lighter.
“Yeah, drugs. I don’t know what kind. Lovell dropped them at HICC to get tested.”
“Drugs?” Helia repeated.
“Roger has been into them for as long as I can remember,” Monk said, holding her gaze. “I knew he was a user, but I found more than what a single habit could support. Or even a year’s worth of his parties.”
“So is my mom,” Kendall said.
Monk swung his attention to her. Not once had she mentioned her mom since waking up that morning. She gave an awkward shrug. “She’s been on and off them for as long as I can remember. She’s fine for a while and then…well, then she isn’t. That’s how we ended up here a few weeks ago. The parties here give her everything she needs—food, drink, drugs, a place to crash. Sex.” That last word, spoken so quietly, ricocheted across the room.
Conflicting emotions crashed through Monk at her admission. He desperately hoped they’d find her mother so Monk could drive some sense into her. Intellectually, he knew that wasn’t possible—you couldn’t help people who didn’t want to be helped. But that didn’t stop him from wanting to protect Kendall.
Another part of him hoped they never found her, though. Kendall might be better off without her. It wasn’t his call to make, of course. But if it came to that, he and the Falcons wouldtake her in if she didn’t have any other family. She deserved a safe place, a place she could thrive. He wanted to see her laugh and go to school. And chase whatever dreams she had.
