“How do you know?”
“He’s been in contact with the police.”
It was a lie, of course.
But I couldn’t tell them the truth.
Not yet.
Talia’s shoulders lowered. “So, he didn’t just disappear.”
“No.”
“Is he okay?”
“He’s distraught over what’s happened,” I said. “But he’s doing his best to deal with it.”
She nodded, accepting my answer without pressing me any further.
Gabriel studied me for a moment. “Did Logan tell the police why he took off like he did?”
“His girlfriend was murdered. Sometimes people do irrational things when they lose the person they love.”
“That poor guy,” Talia said. “The rumors going around town about him, they’re unfair.”
“I agree.”
Gabriel cleared his throat. “Speaking of people behaving badly …”
Talia glanced at her father. “Dad.”
“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
I looked at Talia, then at Gabriel. “What happened?”
“Logan’s father has been by our house,” he said. “Twice.”
“When?”
“The first time was a couple days ago.”
Before they knew their son was safe, and with me.
“What did he want?” I asked.
“He was upset, demanding to speak with Talia.”
Talia drew a long breath. “I always thought he was a nice guy. But now, he kinda scares me.”
“Why?” I asked.
“He’s convinced Talia knows where Logan’s at,” Gabriel said. “He thinks she’s been protecting him, for whatever reason.”
“That’s not true,” she said. “I have no idea where he went.”
“I know,” Gabriel said. “I told him as much.”
I thought back to my conversation with Tilly and Vaughn this morning. Vaughn had behaved in a way that was different from the first time we’d talked. Still, I didn’t feel it was cause for concern.
