Lies We Tell (Thistle Cove 3)

An expression of fury consumes his handsome face and he turns without saying another word. I look at the guys in confusion, but Finn reacts quickly, pushing past me to chase after him.

Ozzy and I are a step behind and follow them down the hall. Ezra charges down the hallway, ducking into a room. From a distance I hear the sound of a loud crash, then Mr. Baxter’s loud, angry voice.

“What the hell are you doing?” he shouts.

Finn darts in the room and by the time we get there, has inserted himself between Ezra and his father. Everything on Mr. Baxter’s desk has been thrown on the floor.

“I told you to stay the fuck away from her, but you couldn’t stop yourself, could you?”

Mr. Baxter’s eyes slide over to me in the doorway.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

Ezra holds up the photo.

“You don’t? It’s time to cut the bullshit. It’s time to admit what you’re doing—that your hands are dirty, you’re harassing Kenley, and at the very least, you’re involved with the cover up of Rose’s disappearance, if not personally involved.”

“Woah!” Mr. Baxter blinks, the gravity of what his son is saying rolling over him. “You’re throwing around some serious accusations.”

“Because I’m sick of living with your deceit and lies.” Ezra lunges, but Finn is on him, pushing him back.

“Dude, don’t do this.”

Ezra’s muscles strain as he pushes against Finn, and Finn’s whole body tenses holding him at bay. As much as I want Mr. Baxter to pay for what he did, I also know that if Ezra attacks him, we’ll never know the truth.

“Ez,” I say, “Stop. It’s time to find out what’s really going on.” I walk over and take the photo out of Ezra’s clenched fingers. I hold it up to Mr. Baxter. “Did you leave this for me?”

He drags his eyes away from his son. “No.”

“Do you recognize where it was taken?”

He hesitates for a brief moment. “Yes. I do recognize where it was taken. At the East Point Suites. Room 214.”

The admission is astounding, and I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. Ozzy’s hand wraps around my waist.

“You’re BD,” I whisper.

He shakes his head. “No. I’m not BD.”

“I’m confused,” I say. “How do you know about that apartment if you’re not BD?”

He sighs and walks across the room, stopping in front of a cluster of bottles on the top of a cabinet. He pours himself a drink and takes a gulp.

“Don’t believe a word he says,” Ezra says, voice low and angry.

“Son, as much as you want to make me the enemy, I’m telling the truth.”

“Then you better start explaining why we shouldn’t turn you into Chief McMichael for being involved in Rose’s disappearance. Or why I shouldn’t kick your ass right now for stalking Kenley. For forcing me to break up with her, and making all those threats?”

Mr. Baxter finishes his drink and says, “Because everything I ever did for Rose was to help her—not hurt her—Rose wasn’t my lover. She’s my daughter.”

31

Ezra

I did not expect that.

“What did you just say?” I ask my father.