Page 40 of Heal For Me

“We will discuss that later. I called to let you know I need to stay here for a few extra days.”

“Yeah?” I wonder if he notices my voice perk up.

“Don’t act so happy.” He did. “My guys caught onto Fred’s trail. They think he is somewhere in California.”

Whatever happiness I was feeling for Payson staying a few extra days is gone and replaced with the anger hearing his name brings. “Where?”

“I don’t know, but he was a marine back in the day, and there is a base here, so we are going to ask around.”

“Seems obvious.”

“I agree, but maybe that’s just it.”

“He’s hiding in plain sight,” I mutter.

“We’ve been assuming he left the country after not finding a trace of him anywhere, so if he is here, people are going to lose their jobs. We underestimated him, most would hide out, change their name, and flee the country after murdering someone, but he stuck around.”

“Either he has balls or assumes no one will come for him.”

“Or he doesn’t care if we do. He knows there is no real proof besides his disappearance after and absence at the funeral. They don’t look great, but they are circumstantial. Payson’s word and trial will mean something, but he probably doesn’t think she will talk.”

“Do you?”

A long pause answers for him. “I don’t need her to talk because when I find him, I’m killing him on the spot.”

After everything he’s done to my girl, to her family, and probably more, I feel nothing when he says that. “Make it hurt.”

Jethro fills me in on the care center and how Janelle said she would call Payson and chat up California, then slip the center into the conversation. I’m not exactly on board for the sneaking around, but if it will get her help, I’ll leave it alone. Jet and I agreed we are not sending Payson to California unless we know Fred is not there.

We hang up, and I drop my head between my shoulders and sigh. What a fucking headache this is. The only good thing about Fred possibly being in California is that is a long way from here, meaning he probably isn’t coming after Payson like I have spent nights awake worrying about. Whether he comes after Payson or not, it doesn’t matter because there’s not a chance in hell I’m letting him get anywhere near her.

18

Payson

“We need to discuss your schooling.”

Ash slides a plate of eggs and toast, no beans, across the island to me.

“It’s eight a.m., can’t it wait?”

He shakes his head and shoves a bite of his toast—with beans, into his mouth. “No, I just dropped Parker off and I was thinking about how much time you’ve missed. Have any of your teachers been in touch?”

I stare at him in disbelief. “No. Clay brought me my work, remember?”

“You should get it done and turned in.”

I blink and blink again, not understanding what his deal is and why this is important to discuss first thing this morning.

“Why are you hounding me during breakfast about schoolwork? Who cares if I miss a few assignments? I’ll make them up when I go back.” I don’t know when that is exactly, but the cuts on my arms are healed and I’m getting around better on crutches. I probably could have gone today, but he didn’t mention it, and neither have I. Not like I’m in a rush to sit in class for eight hours a day again.

“You graduate next year, Payson. If you aren’t caught up, you will not graduate.”

“Obviously, but I have over a year to worry about it. If I’m too behind this year, which I know I’m not because I’ve been ahead of schedule my entire school career, a few weeks of missing work won’t matter, but if I am, then I can also take summer classes.”

He drags a heavy hand down his face. “Just please email them about it.”

I hate that he is treating me like a child. So maybe the first thing I did after waking up from a freaking coma wasn’t email the school about missing assignments, but like I said, I have never been behind or even gotten less than a B minus in any class, ever. I have never needed anyone on my back about finishing my work, and I don’t need it now.

---