“I thought I did, but Merc said…” Again I have to swallow, my voice fading. “Merc said that was a lie. This Jeff told me he was staying at old Mr. Collins’s house, but apparently Mr. Collins still lives there, so…” I struggle to collect my thoughts. “It doesn’t really mean anything, he could—”
“If this is Jeff Adams, the brother of Mr. Hansen’s ex-girlfriend and the link to all this mess, I’d think it means something,” John says curtly. “You’re Octavia Watson, right? Mercury Watson is your brother?”
“Yeah. He’s in jail—”
“—for brawling in a public place with Ross Jones. The café. Made a mess of the place.” He turns slightly away to talk into the phone. “Bessy? Put me through to Mercury Watson. There’s something I need to ask him.”
“This isn’t like him,” I say in a small voice. “He just…”
“Mr. Watson.” John’s voice deepens. He looks really young, but suddenly he seems older, experienced. “I’m here with your sister and… Yes, she is fine. Yes, you can talk to her, but please answer one question for me.” He presses his thumbs between his brows, as if to suppress a headache. “Yes, you have the right to remain silent, Mr. Watson, but this is for your sister’s safety, so I hope you will comply.”
God, Merc. Despite everything, I want to laugh. That kid’s crazy.
“I need to ask if you know where Adam Cash lives.” John sighs, rolls his eyes. “Sure, I’ll pass you Octavia. Anything else? No, don’t answer that.”
He offers me his cell phone, and I take it carefully, my hand shaking. “Thanks. Um… Merc?”
“Hey, Sis.” He sounds upbeat. Maybe a bit too much.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine. Me and Ross, we’re hanging out until they release us.”
I frown. “Hanging out? After you went and beat the ever-loving shit out of him?”
Matt tugs me closer to his side, laughter rumbling in his chest.
“Listen,” Merc says. “I have Adam’s real address. It’s a motel right out of town.”
“What? I mean… oh my God.” Matt opens his mouth to ask me what is going on, but I shake my head. “Who told you?”
“I beat it out of Ross.”
“I thought you beat him up for being our brother.”
“No, I beat him up because he’s a dickless piece of shit, always raining crap on us. On you, Tati. So I went apeshit on him, and he started babbling about this guy, Adam or Jeff or whatever, telling me there’s something off about him, and by the way his name isn’t Adam, and he lives in a motel, and only pays cash. So…”
“So?” I close my eyes, absorbing the warmth of Matt’s body, his arm around me.
“So I think Ross is right. And now your cop friend is asking about him. What’s going on?”
I chew on my lower lip. “I’ll tell you later. Do you know the name of the motel, Merc?” He does. I repeat it to John after I disconnect the call. “What now?”
“You stay put,” John says. “I have posted police around your mother’s house, too. Stay safe until we catch this guy and take him in for questioning.”
“Good call,” Matt says quietly. “You stay here with me, Tay.”
“Yes,” I whisper.
Besides, where else would I ever want to be?
We return to the kids’ side. We curl up together on the armchair, just breathing each other in watching TV on mute and guarding the kids’ sleep.
Waiting for news.
My head is buzzing. I can’t believe I almost went out with that creep, that I talked to him, considered dating him. That I was taken in by his good looks and easy manners.
A charmer, but cruel inside.