Ever studies me a moment, then nods. “Ruth—”
That’s when it hits me. “You knew Renard before you found us in the swamp. Why did you let me think you two were strangers?”
“I didn’t want you to freak out. You were already dealing with the guilt and getting college taken away, then the hospital. I didn’t want to add to your stress when it didn’t matter anyway.” He shakes his head. “And truthfully…I didn’t want you to know about my dad and the Sons because you already thought so low of me. You were scared of me before the swamp. I was afraid if I told you the truth, you’d stop being my friend.”
“I never thought badly of you, Ever. Only him.” A wild thought occurs to me. “Is that why you were there that day? Because of Renard?” Had Ever followed us into the swamp?
“No,” he says emphatically. “I was hunting, like I told you. And okay, I spotted Renard’s truck. That’s why I got within earshot. Normally you see another person when you’re hunting, you hightail in the opposite direction. But I saw his stupid truck out there where no one ever goes, and I had to know what he was doing. He was a son of a bitch at the garage and I didn’t trust him. So I moved closer, and that’s when I heard you. Not even a scream. A whimper.”
I turn my back on him, hands sliding over my mouth. Six years, and I’m only now learning the truth about the day that changed my life.
“Talk to me,” he urges.
I try to shake offnot even a scream. Clear my throat. But my voice still comes out hoarse. “This gives the sheriff another connection to trace. Now it’s not just my date with Renard; it’s your dad’s garage. They’re going to put it together.” It’s my turn to start pacing.
“They won’t.” Everett’s voice is the surest I’ve heard it. “Trust me.The Sons of Liberty have been running drugs for years and doing worse things, too. If the people in charge wanted to stop them, they would’ve done it by now. This is a stone they don’t want to overturn. We’re going to have to force them to look.”
I freeze midstride.
“I told you I’d come up with a plan,” he says. “What do you think I spent the car ride doing? I know how to throw the sheriff off our scent.”
“You didn’t even know they found Renard’s skull until I just told you.”
“It was inevitable. Now, listen. The runners had to leave collateral with my dad. Something valuable they’d lose if they tried to screw the Sons and take off with the drugs or the money. Renard’s leverage was the deed to his mom’s house. I know because my dad used to give him hell for it, told him he was the world’s biggest tool for putting his momma’s house on the line instead of his own truck or something.”
I think of Renard’sMommanecklace: that measure of his love, blackening in the fire.
“My dad used to keep the leverage in a safe in the garage. And the man I sold the garage to after he died works for the Sons, too. They’re still using the place as a drop site. This man, Earl Hebert, is sharp as a rabbit. More than that, he’s lazy. I’d bet a million dollars he hasn’t changed a thing in there.”
“You want to go find out.”
Ever strides to me, pressing his hands together like he’s begging. “Hear me out. We can sneak in when Earl’s away and look for the safe. I used to watch my dad. If I can remember the code, it’ll be easy. But even if I can’t, I’ll get in.”
“Like you got into the safe at the church.”
Ever nods, his eyes grave. “You remember how it was back then with my dad—constant warfare. I learned how to steal things from that safe just to piss him off.”
I sink onto the couch cushion. It smells musty and sour, but I’m too lost in the magnitude of Everett’s bad idea to care. “Absolutely not.”
“If we can find that deed, that’s something unique and valuable of Renard’s. It’s at least something with his fingerprints on it. And I know where to find the Sons in Forsythe. We can plant it on them and send an anonymous tip to the sheriff. Then we’ll spread rumors Renard was mixed up with the Sons. You know Bottom Springs. It’ll spread like wildfire. The sheriff will have no choice but to search them if there’s pressure. When he finds the deed on the Sons, boom—there’s your suspects and your motive. Drug deal gone wrong.”
I shake my head. “We’re not doubling down on danger by trying to frame a drug gang for our murder. Do you hear yourself?”
He throws up his hands. “What other options do we have? Remember when we burned Renard’s necklace where the drifters made their fires? It’s the same thing. The Sons are committing crimes. All we have to do is bury ours in theirs.” When I don’t say anything, he continues. “I’m trying to save us, Ruth. There’s a clear fall guy. Better than clear—deserving. This is the best chance we’ve got.”
My throat goes dry. Before I make any decisions, I need answers. “Ever. Did you carve that symbol into the trees? The one they found in the swamp?”
The abrupt change in direction throws him, but only for a second. He shakes his head. “No. I’ve never seen it before.”
“But at the bar, it sounded like you knew—”
“I don’t.” His voice is firm, final.
Okay, then. I swallow. “There’s something else I need to ask you.”
His look turns wary.
“While you were gone, I went digging into Fred.” I tell Everett everything about the secret dock at the inlet and the men loading the boat with the scraped-off logo. His pale cheeks flush with color when I describejumping overboard. Before he can give me a hard time, I ask him the question that’s burning a hole in my head, the only option that makes sense.
