“Here’s the problem though,” Talon said. “We’ve determined that the third set of prints on the business card doesn’t belong to Larry.”
“What?” Jonah stood and started pacing around the kitchen. “How did you find out?”
“It was pretty easy. Larry was fingerprinted when he was arrested. Mills and Johnson hacked into the
database and retrieved them and then checked them against the set Jade found in the attorney database.”
“So how do we know which ones are Larry’s real fingerprints?”
“We can assume the more recent set, from when he was arrested. His fingerprints in the attorney database were obviously tampered with, and probably recently, to make it look like he’d had his hands on that business card.”
“This is fucking crazy.” Jonah continued pacing, his body tense.
“What is it?” I asked.
He shook his head, pursing his lips. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
I didn’t believe him for a minute, but I wasn’t about to push it with Talon there. Talon was upset enough as it was.
Talon stood. “Jade will be home from work soon. I should get back to the house. I like being home when she gets home.”
I smiled. “That’s sweet. You and she are lucky to have each other.”
He nodded. “That’s the truth, for sure.”
“Sorry to interrupt your pool time again, Joe.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Jonah patted him on the back. “You know I’m always here for you.”
Warmth coursed through me at the love and devotion Jonah had for his brother. He was a man of honor and integrity.
After Talon left, Jonah began pacing around the kitchen again.
I touched his arm. “What’s eating at you?”
“I have to tell you something. I can’t keep it inside any longer, but I need you to keep it to yourself. I haven’t told Bryce yet, and I can’t tell Talon until I tell Bryce, but I think I know who one of the abductors is.”
My heart nearly stopped. “Who?”
“The mayor. Bryce’s father.”
“The same mayor who— Oh my God!” I clamped my hand over my mouth. The same mayor who I had seen buying duct tape and rope the day I was attacked.
And he had blue eyes.
Chapter Twenty–Nine
Jonah
I could almost see the clockworks in Melanie’s mind. She was putting two and two together, and it didn’t take her long.
I told her the whole story about Tom Simpson and his birthmark.
“You have to tell Talon,” Melanie said. “You can’t keep this from him.”
“I know it.” I grabbed a handful of my hair. “But I have to tell Bryce first. It’s his father, for God’s sake, and he’s my best friend. Bryce has to know who his father is.”
“But Talon is your brother,” Melanie said. “That trumps best friend.”