The Truth About Us

“Okay!” The doors burst open, and Abby jumped. Her pulse raced while she steadied herself by holding on to the arms of her chair as Mr. Oliver breezed into the room.

As he sat, he shifted his gaze between them, a brow cocked, and then he returned to business. “Lucky for you, I actually know this case. I was there when they pulled him out of the water. I helped the detectives for a while.”

“Really?” Abby’s eyes brightened as she straightened in her chair. Whatever moment she had with Kaden passed, replaced with the thrill of new information.

“Yep, and actually, this case is closed.”

Kaden squinted, the corners of his eyes wrinkling in confusion. “Wait, what? So, they know who did it?”

Abby hated how deflated she felt at the news. So much for her theory his murder was tied to her grandmother’s secret.

“So, who drowned him?” Kaden asked.

“Ah, I didn’t say we found the person who drowned him.”

Kaden pinched the bridge of his nose. “Now I’m confused.”

Abby watched as Mr. Oliver stood, closed the door behind him, then sat back down. “I’m not supposed to tell you this, so you’ll have to get creative with your report because you can’t mention this specifically, but the detective working the case convinced himself the guy that knocked off this PI, Lawson, was an enraged husband. Last name, McBride. Cliché story where Lawson was following him, caught McBride cheating, but before he could go to the wife with some rather incriminating pics, the husband got to him first. The only thing that made the case unique was that McBride was a real whacko, really into homeopathic medicine and whatnot. They lived on what was practically a commune outside the city. A couple of the other guys and I always thought the McBride angle was weak.”

“What does the homeopathic stuff have to do with anything?” Kaden asked.

“Well, let’s just say the cause of death may have been linked to his medicinal concoctions and not drowning, but you didn’t hear that from me. It’s not public record. Do you have any other questions I might be able to answer?”

Abby shifted in her seat, a question rattling around her head. “The reports we saw in the media said he was found in Newberry, but what was he doing there? Was that where McBride and his wife lived?”

“No, they didn’t live there, and the link to the location and murder was unclear. I can tell you Mr. Lawson was supposedly meeting with someone at a dive diner that night, potentially for a case, but who knows.”

“They didn’t know who?” Kaden asked.

“Never confirmed anything, but...” He pursed his lips and trailed off.

“What?” Kaden’s gaze brightened.

“Nothing. It’s just that the detective closed this one so fast. Lawson had made a phone call that night to The Department of Justice. I don’t know what it was about, and the team would’ve moved onto interviews of the department had they not decided McBride was their guy. I always found that phone call strange. It’s not every day someone calls the DOJ.”

Abby frowned and glanced at Kaden. Their eyes met as they took in this piece of information, having no idea if it was relevant, but before they could process it, Mr. Oliver slapped his hands on the table. “It’s almost five o’clock, and I’ve got work to do.”

Kaden stood. “Wait, that’s it?”

“Can’t tell you anything else, but I assume you two have homework and stuff you should be doing?”

Kaden’s cheeks pinkened, and Abby hoped his father missed the flash of guilt.

“Actually, Abby, could I have a word?” Mr. Oliver asked as she stood.

“Uh, sure.”

“Just a second,” he said to Kaden, then escorted Abby from the room.

Her pulse raced as she stepped into the hallway. She patted her pocket and realized she left her phone with Kaden.

The moment the door clicked closed, Mr. Oliver turned on her, a warning flashing in his eyes. Why did it feel like she was in trouble?

“This wouldn’t, by any chance, have to do with the fact that Lawson was working for your grandmother at the time, does it?”

Pins and needles pricked Abby’s skin as she met his gaze. “No. I mean, I knew she was but... How do you know who my grandmother is?”

“There was a list of current clients in Lawson’s file.”