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“Listen to me.”

“I am.”

“I think Landry was out of the will and now he’s back in and somebody’s pissed about that. Or someone used up their trust fund or borrowed against it and now it’s gone because Landry’s back. I dunno, but it has to be about cash either being gone or being smaller. Any way you slice this, it’s money.”

I just stared at him.

“What?”

“That’s a lot of fuckin’ scenarios.”

“And I’ve been the deal breaker on the end of all of them at one time or another.”

“Everything you just said—you’ve actually lived all those. Those all really happened.”

“Yeah. I’ve killed people because of all those things.”

“Jesus.”

“You don’t get it, but Landry’s been gone a long time. Eight years is long enough for things to have been changed, and now that he’s back, money will get redistributed. And probably his folks haven’t even thought about moving things around yet, but it follows that they will. Whoever did this is counting on it. Landry’s parents would want everything to be equitable between the four children.”

“You’re telling me that either one of his brothers or his sister arranged this.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m telling you.”

“That’s crazy.”

“That’s money. You have to think. What is some prodigal son when weighed against millions?”

“I just can’t believe it. I mean, I saw them with him.”

“Which is why seeing is bullshit, hearing is worse, just like the saying goes.”

“Then how do you know what to believe?”

“You follow your heart and listen to your goddamn friends.”

I took a deep breath. “I want him back. I need him back.”

“I know you do.”

I worked hard not to hyperventilate.

There were police cars in the driveway of the house when we reached it half an hour later. Conrad and I were allowed through the barricade, both of us given admittance without question. Someone had made sure my name was on the list, along with anyone who was with me. As the front door was opened by a uniformed policeman, I heard my name yelled from the opposite end of the room. I turned and Jocelyn ran fast to fill my arms.

“Oh, Trevan, I’m so sorry. You bring him to us after all this time and this happens,” she cried, hands on my chest. “I’m so sorry.”

I wrapped her in my arms and saw the looks of a pain and sadness on all the other faces in the room.

Except one.

Except the person I would have never suspected.

Neil, Landry’s father.

I had counted on Scott. Scott was the perfect choice. Scott was hard to like. He wasn’t warm like the others, and I had thought he wasn’t crazy about Landry. But the surface was one thing, and what was underneath was something completely different.

The look Scott was giving me was one of begrudging concern. He was sorry for me and worried about Landry; it was all over his face. What was on Neil’s face was surprise. He was absolutely stunned to see me.