“On, well, in that case…” Charlie let go of the suitcase and strode into the kitchen. “Sheriff. Didn’t you have a burger for lunch as well?”
Aaron leaned in the kitchen doorway and watched as Charlie headed for the refrigerator to pull out a soda.
Uncle Will raised his eyebrows. “Don’t try and nag me, Charlie Kyle. I’m immune.”
“Mountain Dew or Coke?” she asked.
“You’re a better host than Aaron,” Uncle Will said. “Coke.”
Charlie tossed the soda at him, and he caught it deftly and popped it open.
Lennox, sitting across from Uncle Will, stole a fry with a cheeky grin. Uncle Will pretended not to notice.
Aaron felt his throat aching as he watched. He was worried for Uncle Will, for whatever was coming to Spruce Creek, but he needed to get Charlie and Lennox out of here. He knew Uncle Will understood that.
He moved forward, grimacing at the pain in his leg.
“You want to sit down, Uncle Aaron?” Lennox asked.
“Thanks.” Aaron walked slowly over to the table.
That was when Uncle Will’s phone buzzed again, rattling gently on the tabletop where he’d left it after his last message, and Aaron just happened to be in the perfect position to see the screen as the notification flashed across it:
JM
He told you he’s a cop?
Aaron’s blood ran cold.
* * * *
Aaron was sixteen, numb with grief and shock, and sitting on the top step because he couldn’t bear to go down them any more than he could bear to go back to bed.
“But Will,” Mom cried, “where were you? Where wereyou?”
And Uncle Will just stood there, staring at nothing, with his arms wrapped around her. “I know, Grace. I know.”
“You were supposed to be with him! You were supposed to have his back!” Mom was lashing out in her grief, looking for someone to blame. “Will, why would he go out therealone?”
Aaron had thought she was being unfair.
Maybe she hadn’t been though.
Maybe it had been a hell of a good question.
* * * *
Aaron eased himself down into a chair, turning his head to smile at Lennox as Lennox squeezed past him, to mask his expression.
“Coke or Mountain Dew?” Charlie asked.
Aaron held her gaze, aware that out of the corner of his eye he could see Uncle Will tap a reply to the message. “There a water bottle in there?”
Charlie dug one out from somewhere, and came over to give it to him.
By the time Aaron cracked the seal, Uncle Will was eating his burger again.
He didn’t look any different. Why would he? He was exactly the same man Aaron had known his whole life.
