"I think your dad was trying to keep somebody from doing something on his land. With his business."
I spend a moment absorbing that before asking, "Do you mean money laundering?"
"I don't know what I'm implying, exactly. But I know"—he pauses—"knewyour dad. There was no way he was going to let anything illegal happen. Assuming that's what the red-haired guy was there for."
"Why didn't my dad go to the police?"
"Maybe he was silenced before he could. Or maybe he didn't feel like they could help him."
I think back to Detective Towles showing up at my house, case file in hand. The redacted name, and how Mallory pointed out the age of the ink didn't match the age of the document.
He's in charge now. I've never focused on those words before, never given them consideration. They press at me now, demanding closer examination.
I shift my weight, lightly brushing two knuckles over the desk as I think. "Mayor Rooney was the mayor at the time my dad was killed, right?"
"Yes, I believe so."
Thoughts turn over in my mind, rapid and hard to decipher.
My dad is dead, and then what? For what? Who benefits?
"Thank you, Mr. Esteban. You've given me a lot to think about."
We say goodbye and hang up. My mind races, flitting through everything Mallory and I have learned.
At this point, there is only one person I can think to call.
Chapter 47
Mallory
"You're adopted?"I ask, coming away from the pantry with an arm full of snacks. "That's neat. So was?—"
The words freeze in my throat, and a shiver skates down my spine.
In his email this morning, David Boylan said his cut had been small. He's amazed it was enough blood to have been found on a dusty road.
"Who else was adopted?" Liane asks.
"Oh, um," I stutter, thoughts slamming into one another. "Just this other guy I know."
"What other guy?" she asks. She sounds different now. On edge. Excited, almost, but that doesn't make sense.
I dump the boxes of crackers and cookies on the counter. Force myself to turn around.
Face her.
It's the same Liane, but different. Watchful. Like her image is no longer her first priority.
I force a smile. "Someone I know from Phoenix. I don't know why I said that." I tap my head with one finger. "Baby brain."
Liane nods slowly. Deliberately. "I've always wondered if I have a sibling out there in the world. What if I have numerous siblings? Wouldn't that be something?"
"It would be wild," I agree. My heart rate is soaring. What is the matter with me? People are adopted all the time. Liane and David both being adopted means nothing.
Except they appear to be around the same age. They aren't replicas of each other, but they aren't totally dissimilar.
David had many people to corroborate his whereabouts the day Simon died. According to him, he was at the Olive Festival hoping for prickly pear lemonade that was late.
