Page 50 of You are the Reason

I open the envelope and take out the letter. “How old was she when her mum died?” I ask.

“Eighteen,” he answers without missing a beat.

I read over the same sentence three times, there is something cryptic in this message.

Sometimes when you know too much, you need to be silenced. It’s my turn to be silenced. Listen carefully now, be silent, Meadow. Be silent or be silenced.

I let my forearms rest on my knees as I stare at the paper, the longer I stare the more my stomach twists with unease.

“You need to read this, Jesse. At the very least, just this part here.” I hold the letter up to him pointing out the words which have me in a chokehold. There is something not right about the way in which it is written.

Jesse’s pupils dilate as he takes in the information. His reaction telling me this is new, something he wasn’t already privy to. As quickly as the emotions flicker across his face, they’re gone again and he gives a poor attempt at smiling; his facade faltering.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking B2?”

Inwardly I roll my eyes, but I play along. When the fuck did I fall onto his wavelength? “Why do you get to be B1?”

Jesse throws his head back in laughter. “I need a beer if we are going to keep doing this,” he says, standing. “Do you want one?”

Nodding in response, I pick the letter back up. Maybe the words will explain themselves to me if I stare at them long enough.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Jesse

Tanner is still reading over the letter from Kinsley’s mum when I return with beers in hand. I hold one out in offering and he takes it, flicking the cap off and downing at least half before lifting his eyes from the paper.

“She had to have known something,” he says with a pained look in his eyes. “Why didn’t Kins ever mention this to you?”

I know why, but it’s not going to help us now. Kinsley wanted to keep me as far away from this as possible. Not knowing that I was already far deeper involved than she ever thought possible.

“It’s a warning, but from what? Kyle’s death? Warren’s disappearance?” He continues, questioning me now.

“I don’t know, I really don’t.” Rubbing the back of my neck, I sink back into the couch. “We need to focus on the here and now, use the new information Stanley has given us. If Kyle was right and Kinsley’s dad is alive — if Lance Harding is the key to all the mystery, we need to find him.”

“I know some people, I could —”

“No.” I interrupt, but before I can finish my phone rings. It’s Kinsley, I look at Tanner and he acknowledges as I answer.

“Hey Meadow, everything okay?”

“Hey Jess, yeah everything is fine. I was thinking, you should stay at your place tonight — get some real rest.” She pauses briefly before continuing, “I’m fine, really, and I thought I might ask Soph to come over. She can stay with me, give you a night off from babysitting duties.”

A quick look at Tanner and I can see his discomfort, even if he doesn’t want to admit it, walking away from her was the hardest thing he has ever done. I can see through his shield, he loves her.Well, the feeling is mutual.

“Will she stay the night? Have you already asked her?”

“Jeez Jess, lighten up. I’ll speak with her and report back, but you don’t need to be on constant watch. I need to learn to walk this road on my own, and when I do — in a few more days, we can get back into planning how to tackle Lance.” Her voice gets louder, more determined. “I think we just go in guns blazing. I’m not scared, what do we have to lose?” She laughs, I glance sideways and Tanner smirks, these two are more alike than they know.

“Let’s just take it one day at a time hey? You’ve only just started leaving the bedroom. Message me once you’ve spoken with Soph.” I can almost hear her rolling her eyes, if that were possible.

“Yeah, yeah. Okay, I’ll let you know.”

With that, I end the call, tossing my phone aside. I finish my beer and let it fall to the floor. “I’m going to the address Stanley gave us. Tonight.”

“Are you fucking crazy?” Tanner retorts.

“Me? You’re the one pacing the room, sit the fuck down.” I wave him off, dropping my head into my hands. “I just want to go for a drive, sus it all out. I won’t let myself be seen.”

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