Missouri
Wyatt drags my ass to his dining room table at eight in the morning with a stiff announcement.
“We got her.”
He means Tylee. But judging by the look on his face, this isn’t all good news. It could be the fact that he’s been up all night, but Wyatt doesn’t look happy at all. His beard is overgrown and looks like he hasn’t groomed in a while. The baseball cap on his head smells from where I’m sitting, and there are deep dark bags beneath his eyes.
No sign of Owen, which means he’s probably holding Tylee prisoner. They don’t get along as well as Wyatt and Tylee used to.
“Are my kids okay?”
“According to Oske, they’re safe.”
“I want to see them.”
I stand up, but Wyatt gestures back to the chair.
“Sit. They’re not here.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Oske and Brinley are doing their best.”
“Brinley? What the fuck does she have to do with this?” I haven’t heard that name in a while. She’s one of the Shaw girls who manages whichever gas station needs her the most along the highway. The only reason she’s not more trouble than Tylee is because she swings for the other team.
“She’s helping us, thanks to Oske.”
“What the fuck?”
“None of our business,” Wyatt says. “I got Tylee to agree to some mediation. Owen will bring her to the club house and I’m supposed to bring you to the club house. We talk with Oske and Brinley as mediators. Apparently.”
“I see. That explains a lot.”
“Yes. Oske has her hand in some trouble. But she’s on our side.”
Wyatt sounds confident, but I can’t trust the fate of my children’s lives to Oske without more information.
“Meaning?”
“She’s pissed that Tylee took your kids. She’s doing a good job of playing both sides, but this will go our way as long as you’re willing to take a little bullying.”
I can believe that there’s some type of moral thing going on there. Oske might not have children of her own, but it’s a real thing that Indians are more spiritual and family-oriented. I put up with Oske’s bullying for free. I don’t have any room to argue anymore. Tylee’s holding our kids hostage and they need to know no matter what happens that I fought for them.
“I don’t care what I have to do as long as I can see my kids before the end of the week.”
“We just have to hope that Tylee doesn’t up the ante.”
“Meaning?”
Wyatt shrugs. “I don’t know who exactly has your kids, and that troubles me, Isaac. I can’t lie to you.”
“I’m not fucking thrilled about it either.”
“Who do you think she would trust?”
“Is it Selma?”
“No,” Wyatt says pensively, “I checked. I don’t mean to piss you off but… Could be someone she’s sleeping with.”
