Page 108 of Strum Me

“Damn. How did you find that out?”

“She had to have her mail forwarded and Phil give me the address. It’s a PO Box that’s being paid for by Silas’s management company.”

“How the hell do you know that?”

“Just, it’s my job, okay?”

I can tell there’s something he’s wanting to say but isn’t.

“What?” I press.

“I was going to make an insulting joke, but for once, I think you probably don’t deserve it.”

I raise my eyebrow, curious. “Well, now I have to hear it.”

“I was just going to say, I got four deadbeat musicians two Grammy awards for playing classical music in a year where the video with the roundest, jiggliest ass was the most popular form of entertainment. Finding the address of an ex-employee is a lazy morning for me.” He gives me a half-smile and I know he’s just as worried as the rest of us.

“You are the king,” I tell him.

“Seriously, though. I don’t know what you’re going to do with this information. And to be honest, I spent a lot of time wondering if I was going to give it to you. Be careful. I’m serious, it’s not just about her…and the kid. But you, you need to be careful how you tread from here.”

“What do you think I should do?” If anyone would know the right thing to do, it would be Dennis.

“I don’t have a clue. I’m sorry it’s come to this. I like her. Hell, I even like the sticky little kid. You guys don’t deserve this. Whatever’s going on, why she left and why she’s working for him now? I don’t know. I just know it’s not right.”

“Well, I know why. Well, I can guess. And you’re correct on that—it’s not right. It’s not right at all.”

He pats me on the shoulder, and not for the first time, I wonder where any of us would be if it weren’t for Dennis.

“Thank you, D.”

“You bet.”

I reach over to try to give him a man-hug. He pulls way, looking terrified for a moment, before batting me with his tattered leather notebook and making a run for it.

***

It’s Sunday here, and you’ve been gone almost a week. I miss you more than I did yesterday. By tomorrow, who knows if I’ll even be able to bear. I’ve found Ben’s sock, the one with the toes all different colors? I know he loves it. Tell him I’ve got it, and I’ll get it back to him one day. Tell him I promise it.

The message sends, and I close my eyes, ready for another night of missing them.