It hurts to tell him. I can see the flickers of pain in his eyes, the way he flinches when I say the word kissing, like I just hit him. It sucks, having to say it, but he needs to hear the words. He deserves to know the truth.
“Did they see you see them?” he asks.
“Yes, and they both demanded I keep quiet and not tell anyone, especially you. Then they go off and make a big deal about Jensen working at City Lights, calling her a stripper that night during Addie’s party. It was such bullshit and their lies could’ve blown up in their faces if they didn’t watch it, but it was like they didn’t care.” I study him closely. “You knew Jensen worked there, right? I’m sure Diane told you.”
“Before the investigator brought me that information, yes. Diane mentioned it to me. I always wondered how she found out,” Dad murmurs.
“Through Uncle Craig.” At my father’s confused look, I continue, “Or maybe Diane found out on her own at first. Supposedly she keeps tabs on me and Park to make sure we don’t do anything awful to mess up the family name.” Isn’t that ironic? Everyone in my family is messed up. Definitely more messed up than I am—save again, for Addie. “Diane sent Craig to the club one night to scare Jensen, and he paid ten thousand dollars to meet with her privately. Then he tried to rape her.”
“Are you serious?” Dad’s expression is horrified. “Craig paid ten grand to spend time with Jensen and then tried to rape her?” He reminds me of a parrot, but I’m guessing he’s trying to absorb all the crazy.
I nod. “Jensen admitted everything to me, about how this man named Greg attacked her at City Lights. When we were leaving Addie’s birthday party, we got separated, and when I went out to the car, she was waiting for me, in near hysterics. Telling me how she saw Greg inside your house. When she described him, and where exactly she saw him in the house, I knew who she was talking about.”
I pause. This is the part I don’t like admitting. “She was referring to Craig. I—I didn’t believe her. Not at first. I didn’t want to believe her, didn’t want to think my uncle, a man I’m related to, someone I looked up to my whole life, could do something so fucking awful.” Now it’s my turn to hang my head in shame. “But she wasn’t lying, Dad. It’s true. All of it. And now it’s all a complete mess.”
“Good Lord.” I glance up just as Dad rises to his feet, kicking the chair back. “I should go.”
I stand as well. “Where?”
“I need to talk to Diane. To Park. To Craig.” He starts to laugh, but the sound lacks humor. “I don’t know who I should start with first.”
“I’d go with Diane,” I suggest quietly.
We walk together to the front door, and he turns to face me before he leaves. “You should go find Jensen.”
“You told me only a few minutes ago I needed to cut her off.”
“I changed my mind. Talk to her. Find out the truth. That girl lacks the sophistication to pull off a giant revenge scheme, and you know it. If anyone is out to screw me over, it’s my wife. And quite possibly my oldest son.”
With that, he walks out of my house, shutting the door behind him.
Chad came home soon after my dad left and he let me borrow his car. I drove aimlessly through town for a while, cruising Savannah’s apartment complex looking for my car in the lot, then parking and marching up to their door so I could knock on it.
No answer.
No surprise.
I call and text Jensen, but she won’t respond. I drive around campus, hoping I can spot her, but it’s like I’m searching for a needle in a haystack. I always thought that old cliché was stupid, but now it’s apt.
Jensen is nowhere to be found. But I don’t know where to look for her, so that’s part of my problem.
It’s just past five and the sky is dark when I pull into the City Lights parking lot. There, parked near a light post, is my BM
W.
Triumph surges through me and I park Chad’s car, then head for the entrance. I push through the double doors and burst inside, the bouncer appearing directly in front of me, his thick arms crossed in front of his massive chest.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” he asks.
“I’m looking for Jensen.”
He frowns. “Jen? She doesn’t work here anymore.”
“Her car’s right outside.” I don’t bother explaining it’s actually my car.
He turns to one of the topless cocktail waitresses who just happens to walk past. “Is Jensen here tonight?”
“She came in with Savannah,” the woman says before heading for the bar.