Page 15 of Collin: Episodes 13-15
Collin bit his lip. It was a bit of change of subject, but from his sir’s perspective, it probably felt on topic moving from one family to another. “I didn’t have a grandfather who died when I was seven. I had a grandpa I only had for seven years. That’s who I was referring to before when I talked about losing people. My dad kind of adopted this old guy who lived one street over from us when I was a kid. He didn’t have any family, so we became his family. And he loved it. We all did. He did all the holidays we were in town for with us. Fourth of July. Thanksgiving. We always had a second Christmas on New Year’s at his place.”
“But that record’s not from him?”
“No. The record is from my mother’s father. He’s the one who disappeared.”
“I’m sorry you lost both of them.”
Collin shrugged. One had been a loss, the other… not so much. But that was a thought best not entertained.
His sir, however, was perceptive. “Was he not worth missing?”
Collin scrunched up his face in a scowl. “He’s better off gone, sir.”
“So, he chose to be gone. He’s not dead?”
Collin’s checked over all the garlic and picked up the knife to dice it. “We should all hope he’s dead, sir. It would be better for everyone.”
“I know I’m pressing, Collin, but, is there anything about this man Richard and I need to know?”
Collin bit his cheek. “If I ever tell you he’s around, it’s probably too late for the police. You’re going to need better.”
“What kind of man was he?”
“The kind of man who killed my dad. But my mom doesn’t know that.”
Mr. Moreau was very still for a short moment, then reached out, and put his hand gently on Collin’s arm. “You never said this before.”
“I usually don’t.” Collin grimaced. He continued chopping garlic. “It’s not the public story. And it took me a while to be sure. Not even my mom knows who killed Dad. She just thinks it was a certain group.”
“And your sister?”
Collin put down the knife. “My sister is the reason I made Grandfather go away.”
“So, the record is…”
“The record is insurance, sir. But no one knows that. Not even Alice. Not even him. When I took it, he went away. But he thinks someone else took it. My dad told me if I ever needed mom’s father to disappear to take the record and leave a mark behind. So that’s what I did.”
“What’s his name?”
“Mikhail. I don’t know his real last name. When you all ran background checks, you probably saw him as Michael Green.”
Mr. Moreau’s chest heaved. He grabbed Collin and pulled him against his chest. “What if he finds out?”
“We all know what happened to my dad, sir.”
Émeric pressed Collin against his chest. “You know I’m going to tell Richard, boy.”
“I know. It’s been years, sir. I’m pretty sure Mikhail isn’t even in the country anymore. My mom’s mom thought she saw him last week, but it was just a dream. He might even be dead by now.”
Mr. Moreau shook his head and let Collin go, visibly gathering himself. “I’m not losing you.”
“I’ll do everything I can to stay alive, sir.” Collin picked up his knife. “It’s been years. I’ve had that record since I as fourteen. Nothing is going to change today. It’s been nearly ten years.”
Mr. Moreau nodded and turned back to the red chilis. “If you’re done with the garlic, wash the coriander.”
For a while, Mr. Moreau was lost in thought and quiet, but the spices went into the blender, one after the other. He turned it on, adding oil bit by bit, then took off the lid, and motioned Collin close.
Collin leaned over the top and inhaled strong notes of fresh cumin, red chilis, garlic, and fresh coriander and shook his head in wonder. “It smells amazing now.”
