When You Were Mine (Stone Lake 2)

“You want to tell me why your parent’s vehicle was seen speeding away from the scene of a crime?”

“I have no idea. I’ve been with Larry Richards all day.”

“That’s not great company to be keeping.”

“He’s one of the few guys who still talks to me. Not many want an ex-con around, even if he is innocent of the charges.”

“I’m crying you a river, Darren.”

“Whatever. Listen, I was at Larry’s all day filling out paperwork for a job. If you don’t believe me, call him. He’ll tell you the same. I drove down here with my nephew too. I don’t go anywhere alone. I’m not about to let you assholes jack up the rest of my life. I’ve lost enough.”

“We’ll need to talk to your nephew,” I tell him, already realizing that I’ve hit another damn wall in this case. I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll ever break through.

“Not without a lawyer present. You can contact my aunt and uncle about that,” Oakes says, and I frown, but I’m done here. There’s nothing more I can do.

“You hang tight, Darren, while I have my deputy catch up with Larry to corroborate your story,” Kingston says and then we walk out, leaving Oakes to stew.

“You believe him?” Kingston asks.

“Yeah, do you?”

“Yeah,” he answers, proving I’d probably like the asshole if it wasn’t for Luna.

“Then, what’s the next move?”

I turn to look at him and we say it in unison. “The nephew.”

Just once, I wish this job could be simple…

Luna

I’m almost asleep when my phone rings. I reach over to answer it, without even opening my eyes.

“…Lo?” I say, barely getting the word out, sleep causing my tongue to feel thick. I look over at the clock and notice it’s close to midnight.

“Luna.”

Hearing Gavin’s voice makes me feel strange. There was a time in my life, when I used to pray he would call. Now, I’m kind of scared that he has.

“Gavin? Is everything all right?”

“Yeah, I just… I needed to hear your voice, Luna. I’m sorry, I know it’s late.”

“It’s almost midnight, Gavin.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I could call back tomorrow.”

“No, it’s fine. What’s up?” I ask, turning over on my back and staring up at the ceiling. All remnants of sleep have dissipated. Hearing from Gavin this late at night has me completely awake.

“I saw Roy earlier today.”

“How did that go?”

I don’t know what I expected Gavin to say, or want to discuss this time of night, but this definitely wasn’t the topic. I’m actually surprised that he went by and saw his father. I know things were bad when we dated—if you could call our past relationship dating.

From what Roy says about the past, it was even worse than I imagined. I saw the kind of shape Gavin was in after a fight with his dad once in the past. It’s hard for me to reconcile the man Roy was in his past, with the man he is now. All I can really say is that when I needed him, he was there for me… and for Joshua.

“He’s different, I guess. I just… I’m not sure how I feel about him having any kind of relationship with my son. You know how things were when I grew up here. It was hell. Well, at least you know part of it. I’m just not sure how I can live with the fact that the man who could have killed me a hundred times before, is allowed to be a part of Joshua’s life.”

“You weren’t here, Gavin. When mom first left town I didn’t have anyone, except Atticus. When I discovered that Atticus wasn’t who I thought he was, I was alone. I needed someone in my corner. I couldn’t be the person that Joshua needed me to be without help. Your dad would come over and fix supper, sit with Joshua, play video games, whatever I needed him to do while I studied for my exams after work, so that I could keep a roof over our heads.”

“Where was Atticus?”

“I had nothing to do with him for a long time.”

“Something change that?”

“Before he died… he begged me to move in with him and help him.”

“Why?”

“He had cancer. The doctor had given him just a few months to live. I… at least that’s what he told me.”

“It wasn’t true?”

“It was all lies. Just like everything was with Atticus. It wasn’t long after that he died in the car wreck.”

“Why do I get the feeling there’s a lot that I don’t know?” he asks.

“Because there is?” I laugh. “It’s all water under the bridge now, Gavin. There’s no sense in digging up old wounds. They’re done and Atticus is dead. I hate that he wasted his life, but that was his choice.”

“Someone busted the window out of Roy’s house today.”

“Shit. Like they did at my house?”