“I hired these detectives because I didn’t think the Army was telling me the truth about my dad.”
“I know you were upset about what they told you. But why in the world would you think they’d lie about that?”
“Because at first they told me he was shot. Then they said he was blown up and that there was nothing left of him and there was no need to go to Dover. I’m not really sure how the Army could have gotten that so wrong.”
“Well, maybe they did. Mistakes happen, even in the military. The stories my mom could tell you.”
“Yeah, well, they shouldn’t make mistakes about stuff like this,” Tyler replied, his voice sounding hoarse.
Kathy put a hand on his shoulder. “No, you’re right, they shouldn’t.”
“But then some more men from the Army came to see us. And also guys in suits who they said were with another agency, only I don’t know which one.”
“Why did they come to see you?”
“To tell me to fire King and Maxwell.”
“Why?”
“I don’t think they wanted them digging around into my dad’s case.” He looked over at Kathy. “Something is going on here that’s really weird.”
“Like what?”
He pulled the truck off to the side of the road and put it in park. He turned to her. “I got an email from my dad.”
“When?”
“After he died.”
Kathy stared at him, her face growing pale. “How could that be?”
“It was date-stamped. They told me when my dad was supposed to have been killed. The email was sent days after that.”
“Maybe somebody else sent it.”
“Couldn’t have. It was in the code only my dad and I would know how to read.”
Kathy looked out the window and shivered. “This is really creepy, Tyler.” She glanced back at him. “Do you… do you really think your dad might be alive?”
Tyler didn’t answer right away. He was afraid that if he said what he believed, it would not come true. “Yeah, I do.”
“But your dad was a sergeant in the reserves. Nothing against him but why would this be such a big deal for the Army? It wasn’t like he was a general.”
“I think my dad was a bigger deal than people knew.”
“What do you mean?”
“He left the Army right before his twenty years was up. Who does that? He blew his pension.”
“That lady detective said the same thing.”
“You met with Michelle?” he said, surprised.
“And Sean. Earlier today. They knew we were friends.”
“So that means they’re still working the case,” he said thoughtfully.
“The Army might not like that, Tyler.”