Page 19 of You are the Reason

Tanner - missed call

Tanner - I got the registration plates 676 AVC

Kinsley - Lou’s knackered out, we went for a run

I open Kinsley’s message first and there is a selfie along with her message, the photo is of them both sprawled out on my couch after their run. Kinsley’s face is red, her hair wild and sweaty. Laughing to myself, I send off a reply before I call Stanley.

“Jesse,” he greets. “How can I help you today?”

I decide to get straight to the point, knowing that Stanley has no care to indulge in small talk.

“I need you to run a registration check for me, can you do that?”

“Of course, fire away.”

“676 AVC, the plates were on a blacked-out SUV.”

The line goes quiet, all I can hear is the tapping of the keyboard. I was stupid to think we could just go on living in this bubble of contentment.

When Kinsley and I made our move closer to the city and started looking into her father’s disappearance, as well as the death of her brother, we knew the risks of drawing attention to ourselves; clearly we have become complacent.Twelve years of silence.My hand balls into a fist in my lap and a laugh bursts out of me from deep within my chest.What is this, a fucking psychotic episode? Pull yourself together, Jesse.

“Everything okay, Jesse?” Stanley questions. I almost forgot he was still on the end of the call.

“I have a fucking dog,” I blurt, without even thinking.

“Hmmm?” Stanley is still typing away.

“I have a dog, a townhouse in suburbia, my dream job … Why the fuck is this happening now?” Stanley doesn’t bite into my spiral, so I slip back to my thoughts.

Kinsley can hold her own, I know that, and I won’t keep this from her. But, I want to have some sort of idea who we are dealing with before I tell her. Unless Tanner already has, considering I’ve chosen to ignore the missed call and message from earlier. I glance over at the door to make sure I’m still alone before running my hand through my hair and swearing under my breath.

“Got it,” Stanley says moments later. “I’ll email you through what I found.”

“Thanks,” I mumble. I should be showing more gratitude to the man who picks up our calls night or day, but that’s what we pay him to do.

“Jesse —” he speaks with caution now and I know exactly what he’s going to say.

“I know what I’m doing,” I snap, letting my emotions get the best of me.

Twelve years earlier …

“Kyle? It’s one o’clock in the morning,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes.

“Jesse listen, I’ve been watching the house —”

“What the fuck man, where —”

He cuts me off, “Don’t you ever stop talking?” he says and I know he would be rolling his eyes. “Listen to me Jesse, this is important. I — I saw my Dad. I’m going in there.”

“Going in there? What do you mean? Kyle, c’mon this is ridiculous. Let’s call the police.”

There is a pause before he speaks again, and when he does he’s angry, “He was the fucking police!” I flinch at his words. “I know this sounds dumb, but I want you to promise me that you will look after Meadow. If something happens to me, you need to look after her; Mum’s a wreck and Kinsley needs someone in her corner.”

Kyle’s little sister follows us everywhere; sometimes he gets annoyed with her but little does he know I like having her around. Surely he knows I will always look out for her?

“I — uh, yeah. Of course Ky but —” most boys our age wouldn’t share our feelings, but Kyle and I, we tell each other everything —“I’m scared.”

“I know, but if it’s really my dad? I can’t not take this chance. It’s been two years and everyone else has given up on him.”

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