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“That hold didn’t stop him from hitting on me the night we met,” Tessa says to Bryce.

“He hit on you?” Bryce puffs out his chest like he’s about to strangle someone.

“That’s why I was up on the roof the night we met. I spilled my drink on Missy, and when she left in a huff, your dad hit on me.”

Bryce’s jaw looks like it’s trying to grind a hole in either side.

“Oh, stop. You should thank him at this point. If he hadn’t, you never would have seen me kicking the garbage can,” she says sweetly, leaning up to kiss Bryce.

He takes full advantage to make sure his claim on her is reinstated.

“Dad has never loved Missy,” Austin says. “Even when Mom and Dad used to fight all the time, they still had this bond. I’ve never seen him look at Missy the way he looked at Mom.”

“I can definitely attest to that. I was still living at home when all of this happened, remember? I watched the transformation right before my eyes. I always felt it was Mom’s death that changed Dad, but maybe Dad changed because he had something to do with Mom’s death,” I say, nodding my head like I’ve just figured it all out.

Bryce goes eerily quiet. His eyes are closed, and he’s clenching his jaw. “The night of Austin’s accident, I saw him praying. He was atoning for his sins. And it wasn’t for cheating on Mom with Missy. It was something darker. Austin’s right; there’s no love in that marriage. Whatever it is that binds them isn’t physical. That said, I refuse to believe our father killed our mother. Unless we can prove it, we might be making a mountain out of a molehill.”

Harper grabs my arm. “You and Austin both said you think Missy has a hold on your father. What if she really does? What if she is blackmailing him?”

“I wouldn’t put it past her one bit,” Jalynn says with a little sass.

“I’m pretty sure they were having an affair long before Mom died,” I say.

They look at me like the idea isn’t rocket science.

So, I add, “Four years before.”

“Fuck,” Bryce mumbles under his breath.

Tessa rubs her hand on his arm to soothe him. “What do we do?”

“I can’t see something like that being a big deal, especially now—how many years later? And they’re married, so it’s not like she would claim he forced her or anything,” Austin says.

“If she does have something on him, you would think she’d have it stored somewhere, right?” Jalynn’s eyes light up like she’s watched too many episodes of Law & Order. “I mean, it’s a long shot, but if you want to find out if Missy really does have something on Edward, you’re going to have to look.”

“We’re not walking into a bank and opening her safe deposit box,” Tessa grumbles. “What about her closet? I keep a chest in mine with old diaries.”

“That’s possible, but I wouldn’t think she’d keep it where Dad could easily get it,” I say. “What about her office at Sexton Media?”

“Too obvious,” Austin says.

“Really Mr. Mad Men Office? You so would keep secrets in yours,” Jalynn mocks him. “The Kick Off The Holiday party is tomorrow, right? The building will be mostly empty, especially on our floor. Why don’t we”—she motions to Harper and Tessa—“do some digging in her office while you guys are at the event? No one will question me being on the floor.”

Austin grabs her around her waist, bringing him into her. “That’s hot. You sneaking around. Being bad.”

“Well, enjoy it because it’s probably the only time you’ll ever see me doing something against the law.”

“And what if nothing’s there?” Bryce asks.

“Then, nothing’s there. We can try their house next. Maybe even look for that mythical safe deposit box,” I suggest.

Bryce gives me a deadpan stare. “We should go to the authorities.”

Austin grips Bryce’s shoulder. “That didn’t work the first time, brother. Maybe it’s time we listened to our little brother and do what we failed to do a long time ago.”

Bryce turns to him. “What’s that?”

Austin doesn’t miss a beat. “Avenge our mother’s death.”