Page 87 of Rafe: Sins of the Father

“Find anything?” I ask.

She points at the screen. “That is not Rafe, Daddy. He’s not even the same size. And Rafe doesn’t wear a helmet like that.”

“He could have borrowed one,” I say, easing closer to Tori, leaning to look at the screen. “Show me again.”

Raymond rewinds the footage and replays it.

“What time is this?” I ask.

Raymond leans to see the timestamp. “Just before 5am.”

“Daddy, that’s not his motorcycle.”

Raymond leans back. “How would you know? Have you been on that damn deathtrap?”

“I have,” she says stubbornly, then points at the screen. “And it’s not that one.”

“Doesn’t mean it’s not him, Tori. And you are never to see him again. I forbid it.”

“You forbid it?” Her voice raises three octaves.

“Okay, whoa. Calm down, you two,” I say. “Perhaps she’s right, Raymond. Perhaps it’s someone else.”

“I think it could be Connor,” Tori says.

“Who is Connor?” her father and I both ask at the same time.

“A boy from school who’s been harassing me. I thought he was done with that, but I think this is exactly the kind of thing he’d do. Violence isn’t above him. He’s mean when he doesn’t get what he wants.”

“And what he wants is you?” I snap, rage filling me.

“Yes. I’ve tried telling him I’m not interested. I’ve tried avoiding him. It all just makes him even more determined.” She turns to her father. “He scares me, Daddy.”

“Who is he?”

“Connor Waters.”

“Waters? As in Governor Waters?”

“Yes.”

“You mean to tell me the son of the Governor scares you, but that… that biker,” Raymond points toward the window and down the hill beyond. “That biker makes you feel safe?”

“Yes. I’m telling you, it’s not Rafe. It’s Connor.”

“Enough, Tori. It’s done.” Her father puts his head in his hands. “I’m ruined.”

I take her into hall. “Come, my dear. Let’s give him a minute.”

She’s trying frantically to call and text Rafe. “He won’t answer my calls. Why won’t he answer? And it doesn’t say he’s read my texts. It says they’re delivered, though.”

I pull the phone from her hand. “He left, Tori. He up and quit and walked out on your father,and you, apparently.”

“What?”

“Maybe the fire and the cops… maybe it was more than he wanted to sign up for.”

“He just… left?” She turns and moves to the window.

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