Didn’t matter that it was technically a missing persons investigation, considering Callie’s body had never turned up. And it also didn’t matter that a dead man couldn’t be charged with murder. The gossip columns weren’t much different than the studio behind Roughing It—not interested in showing the facts or the truth. Very interested in sensationalism and ratings. Or in this case, clicks and advertising dollars.
Dragging my family’s name through the mud, just like they were dragging Leah Mae’s, made for a juicy story. And apparently they were going to take full advantage, no matter who they hurt in the process.
I insisted Leah Mae come stay with me for a while. I didn’t want her alone at that cabin. She still went to see her dad most days, and it wasn’t like I’d stop her. But I worried about who was lurking around town, hoping to get some pictures. And this way, we could hide out somewhere safe and wait for it to all blow over without adding fuel to the fire.
People still found us, though. I went with her to get some of her things at the cabin, and there was someone parked just up the road, waiting. Snapped some pictures of us before we could get inside. Neither of us could go into town without being followed. Leah Mae said the best thing to do was ignore them, but it wasn’t easy.
I knew things were about to get worse when I got a text from Scarlett, calling for a family meeting at Bowie’s.
Jonah and I drove out to Bowie’s place early the next morning. Bowie was in the kitchen cooking up breakfast, but the lack of waffles told me everything I needed to know. This was about me. I sank down into a chair and waited for Scarlett and Gibson to arrive.
The wait wasn’t long. Scarlett and Gibs came in a few minutes later. By the look Gibson gave me, I could tell he was mad. He always looked angry—to people who didn’t know him, at least—but there was a difference between the everyday-Gibson scowl, and an angry-Gibson scowl. I was getting a ragey vibe from him the moment he walked in the door.
Bowie, Jonah, and Scarlett all dished up some breakfast. I didn’t bother to get up, and Gibson sat down across from me, leveling me with a glare.
Shit.
“All right, I think y’all know why we’re here,” Bowie said.
“Yep,” Gibson said, not taking his eyes off me.
“The stories circulating around are gettin’ out of hand,” Bowie said. “Started off with just stuff about Leah Mae and Jameson. I’m sure you didn’t like that too much, but it seemed harmless. But then they started in on the Callie Kendall case and the possible connection with Dad.”
“And now the whole goddamn country is talkin’ about the Bodine family secret,” Gibson said. “Like it was ever a fuckin’ secret.”
Bowie tipped his head, like he was acknowledging what Gibson had said, but he would have found a more diplomatic way to say it. “Right. I don’t know what’s happening with the investigation.”
“It’s not like the cops are going to give us a call and let us know if they find anything,” Jonah said.
“Exactly. But now all these stories are bringing attention to the case,” Bowie said. “I think we need a public statement. At least that way the press will have the truth.”
“Devlin and I can work on that with Jayme,” Scarlett said.
“Thanks, Scar.”
“This is bullshit,” Gibson grumbled.
“Simmer down, Gibs,” Scarlett said.
“No, you simmer down,” Gibson said. “The whole thing was going away until knucklehead over there had to go and start dating some reality TV tramp.”
I stood and lunged at Gibson. Got an inch from his face before Bowie and Jonah’s strong grips on my arms held me back.
“You watch your fucking mouth,” I said.
Gibson’s eye twitched. “This is on you, Jameson. There are pictures of you two all over the place. You were dumb enough to let it happen.”
I strained against Jonah and Bowie, but the two of them together were strong enough to keep me away from Gibson. Barely.
“I swear, if you say one more word about her, I’ll break your fucking nose, you hear me?” I growled.
“Outside, then,” Gibson said, standing.