Thomas looked away. “I called The Priory because I wanted his details. I wanted to get in contact with him so I could pay him directly, that way you would owe the debt to me and there wouldbe no time limit, because that’s what he did, didn’t he? He gave you a time limit.”
“It was me. I suggested a month,” Scott said shakily.
“The woman on the phone told me some of the money got refunded.”
Scott frowned. “Refunded?”
“Megan didn’t stay for the full eight-week course. The bill came in at 75K. You’ve made it back… You made it yesterday.”
The money, Warren, they weren’t important in that moment. Thomas had used his sister’s name, saying it in such a way that spoke of grief.
Easy, Scott told himself,easy.
Don’t jump to the wrong conclusion.
Don’t lash out.
“Please say you didn’t,” Scott whispered.
“Didn’t what?”
“Look up my sister.”
Thomas dropped his shoulders. “I wanted to know what happened to her.”
“You didn’t.” Scott shook his head. “You wouldn’t.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You bastard.”
“Scott –”
“No.” Scott smashed his fist down on the table. “It’s my life to tell or keep secret. You had no right to go snooping.”
“I was trying to help.”
“I didn’t need it.”
Thomas folded his arms. “You wouldn’t have come here if you didn’t need help.”
“I could’ve looked you up too, Thomas. I could’ve snuck into that room in the night and read those files. I could’ve asked Tim or Janice, but I didn’t. I waited until you trusted me enough to tell me.”
“You were never going to tell me.”
Thomas’s words were a slap to the face.
“She…passed while we were inside together,” Thomas murmured.
Passed sounded too gentle, like her death was expected. It raised Scott’s hackles.
“She died while we were inside, yes.”
Thomas made an exasperated noise. “Didn’t those fuckers tell you?”
Scott blinked.
“Did they wait until you were out so you could find out for yourself?” He clenched his jaw.
