And Gene didn’t want to make waves. Seth understood. He’d made the same choice after losing Autumn and Tristan.
“I get it.”
“That I’m a coward? Yeah.” Gene looked contrite as hell. “Michael was a good man. I owed him more.”
Seth patted Gene’s shoulder. “He wouldn’t have wanted you to die, too.”
“I keep telling myself that. The truth is, whoever is orchestrating this shit? It’s got to be someone way above my pay grade.”
“The chief?” Seth asked, gut twisting with dread for his friend.
“That’s my best guess. Greedy fucking prick,” Gene spat. “I’d love to blow the lid off this mess. Once, a few years after your dad’s death, I thought I’d found some evidence…but it got buried immediately, covered up so tight a crowbar couldn’t pry it free. Then I got demoted out of the blue. I knew it was a warning. That’s one reason I tried so hard to keep you from pursuing your dad’s case. I didn’t know they’d come after your family and?—”
“I might have the evidence.” Seth glanced over his shoulder. Still no eyes on them.
Gene froze, then he leaned in, a smile spreading across his face. “What do you mean?”
“This morning, I found something. Some stash dad left for me a week before he died. It might be evidence, proof of what happened to him.”
Gene’s expression shifted—shock, then something sharper. “What? Here?”
“No. He hid a note in my room. I found it taped to the back of my dresser this morning.” Seth’s jaw tightened. “He left me a unit number and a key to the storage unit down the street.” He rattled off the name of the facility.
Gene’s eyes widened. “Jesus. Just like that? That’s…that’s shocking. After all these years...”
“I’m as blown away as you are.” Seth kept his voice barely above a whisper. “Since Mom is sending me on an errand, I’m going to swing by and check out this place.”
“Now?”
“It’s gotta be now or never. Do me a favor? Keep my mom occupied.” He sent Gene a grim expression. “And if I’m not back in thirty minutes, come look for me, okay?”
“Wait!” Gene gripped Seth’s arm. “You shouldn’t go alone. What if the place is being watched? It could be dangerous. Let me come with you.”
“I need you to stay.” Seth glanced back toward the family room. No one had moved. “If I take you with me, people will notice. Someone will ask why. I won’t be long. I just need to get in, see what’s there, and get out. Quick and quiet.”
Gene’s jaw worked. He didn’t like it—that much was obvious. “It’s risky, kid.”
“It shouldn’t be. Even if someone watched that facility in the past, who would still be doing it after sixteen years? They would either have cleaned the place out by now or given up. Hell, I’m half expecting it to be empty. But I have to see for myself.”
Gene stared at him for a long moment, concern written across his face. Finally, he exhaled hard. “Thirty minutes. Not a second more, or I’m coming after you.”
“Deal.”
“And Seth?” Gene’s expression was grim. “Don’t worry about anything here. I’ll take care of everyone.”
Seth nodded, something loosening in his chest. Gene had his back. Always had. Just like he’d had Dad’s.
“Thanks. It means a lot.”
Gene squeezed his shoulder with a nod, then stepped back.
Then, before he caved in to second thoughts, Seth turned, grabbed his mom’s keys, and darted for the door.
Before he could make a clean break, he heard footsteps stomping behind him.
“Hey!” Matt all but growled. “Hold up.”
Cursing under his breath, Seth worked to get his expression under control before he turned.
