Page 78 of Serial Burn

Yes, I’ll let you know when I’m on the way.

It was time to get to the bottom of whatever was going on with Eli. But he’d go to Eli. If things went south, he didn’t want to have to kick his brother out of his house. He wanted to be able to walk away.

Where are you?

Mom and Dad’s.

Fine. See you in a bit.

It just dawned on him that he might have Jesslyn with him. Well, he’d just have to leave her with his parents while he and Eli had a chat. Because this whole thing was getting ridiculous.

“Everything okay?” Jesslyn asked him.

He just noted she’d stopped talking and everyone was looking at him. “Fine. Sort of. I can explain later. Right now, I’m thinking we need to figure out who your father’s friends were, people he may have confided in, and see if they recognize these pieces.”

She nodded. “I’ll talk to my aunt about that.” She rubbed her head and winced.

“What is it?” Kenzie asked.

“Nothing. Just where I got conked. It’s still sensitive.”

He frowned, wishing she would take it easy, but was quite sure his suggestion wouldn’t be welcomed. Not that she would ignore him, but after a moment of consideration, she’d politely decline.

So he kept his mouth shut. At least she wasn’t coughing and her hands didn’t seem to be bothering her. If her leg was, it didn’t show. Maybe she wasn’t as uncomfortable as he would have thought.

Or she was just good at hiding that kind of thing. Probably that. “So, the next steps are for Jesslyn to talk to her aunt about her father’s friends and see if she actually knows any of the women he might have been seeing. I need to go see my brother and take a moment to deal with some family stuff.”

“Brad’s funeral is Wednesday,” Cole said. “I think we should plan to attend and see who else is there.”

“Agreed,” Jesslyn said and Kenzie nodded. Jesslyn’s phone rang and she grabbed it. “Hello?” She listened without expression, then said, “Thanks,” and hung up. “Well, all of the investigations into my past cases have turned up empty. Every single person has some kind of alibi. Either they’re dead, in prison, or have witnesses who are willing to testify where they were. And no, it’s not just family willing to say so.”

“Okay,” Kenzie said, “that’s not a bad thing. It saves us time chasing a dead end. Knowing your father bought this jewelry allows us to turn our focus in a different direction.”

Nathan nodded. “Now, I’ve got two places I need to hit. The hospital to see Mr. Christie, then my parents’ home to talk to Eli. Jesslyn, you want to come with me? If you feel like it. Or Kenzie and Cole can take you home.”

Kenzie’s phone went off.

And so did Cole’s. “Got a call,” he said. “We’ve got to go.”

Jesslyn looked at Nathan. “I guess that answers that question. I just have to change the bandage on my leg and the Band-Aids on my hands and I’ll be ready. I’ll be very interested in what Mr. Christie has to say.”

“You and me both.”

Cole and Kenzie left, and after she emerged from the bathroom, Nathan escorted Jesslyn to the car, noting she did favor her leg slightly. “I can take you home if you want and fill you in on what Mr. Christie tells me. Could be a wasted trip.”

She shook her head. “I want to see him. My leg is just sore because of me cleaning it and changing the bandage. It’ll be fine. I’ll just go with you, unless you don’t want me to.”

“Wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want you with me.” It was much easier to keep an eye on her when she was within reach. Obviously. “I won’t worry about you if I can see you.”

She snorted, then huffed a laugh. “Wow. Okay then. How can I refuse?” Just as quickly, her humor faded and she lasered him with a narrow-eyed look. “But when you need to talk to your brother, I’m vanishing, okay?”

“Unless you want to run interference.”

“Um. I think James said something to that effect to Lainie a while back. He wanted her presence while he faced off with his father. Thought she would have a calming influence on him.”

“Did it work?”

“Yes.”

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