"What the hell's going on?" I demanded.
"Julius," Forrest said slowly. "How nice of you to join us." He didn't look surprised to see me. "I had no idea rewiring a house could be done so quickly."
"It can't. I didn't trust you not to do something while I was out of town,” I said.
I shot Harlow a look to ask 'what the hell is going on?'
She exhaled softly. "Your father was explaining that he's not Zeus after all."
Confusion warred with relief. Neither gave an inch.
Boner, as gobsmacked as I felt, rallied quickly.
"Well, that's a good thing, right?" He stepped over to put his arms around Harlow and Cass, giving them both a hug at the same time.
"It's a good thing," Harlow agreed, hugging him back.
"But I thought you said…" I shook my head.
"Hypnos set your father up," Harlow explained.
"Why would he do that?" I felt like I'd stepped into Inside-outville.
Forrest slowly and carefully explained what I assumed he'd been telling Harlow and Cass.
"You're on our side now?" I asked.
"Sounds like he was always on our side," Boner said. "Isn't that wonderful? It's a family affair now. Not the sexual kind. No offense, Forrest."
"None taken," Forrest said, actually looking amused.
"Your father is all right," Boner said to me.
"That's a matter of opinion," I said without taking my eyes off Forest. "All this time you've been trying to do the same thing Harlow was doing? And Archer?"
I gestured in his direction to acknowledge the man who still hovered near the kitchen door, listening but keeping a distance from all of us.
"Not precisely what they're doing," Forrest said. "Trying to find them and bring them to justice. In whatever form that took."
"Harlow might buy this restaurant," Cass said.
Right, Harlow's idea of justice came with sauce.
"I might," Harlow agreed.
She looked around thoughtfully and nodded to herself. Apparently this was her newest pet project. Hers and Cass’, if the look on his face was any indication.
I sensed another re-wiring job in my future. I'd insist. This place looked like a deathtrap. Frankly, I'd seen enough deathtraps for one lifetime. I didn't want to eat in one.
"So that whole drive down to the Hamptons?" I started.
"Perfectly legitimate," Forrest said. "In fact, there was no reason for you to return until it was done."
"Yes, there was," I said. If I hadn't seen this for myself, I wouldn't have believed it. I wasn't sure I did anyway.
Okay, it wasn't much of a stretch to believe my father wasn't the monster we'd spent the last couple of days thinking he was, but we weren't best buddies either. Could we be father and sons? I wasn't sure if I wanted him around me, or my brother. The jury would have to deliberate.
"We have a lot to talk about," Forrest said.
