Chapter 2 - I answered with four names
“Harold Pierce,” I said.
Silence.
Then:
“Christine’s father?”
“Yes.”
“Anyone else?”
“Brian Pierce. Scott Pierce.”
Another pause.
“And Christine?”
“I don’t know yet.”
The voice belonged to Marcus Bell.
I had not seen him in person in almost eight years.
He did not ask what I wanted done to them.
That mattered.
He asked:
“Is Jake safe now?”
“Yes.”
“Hospital?”
“Yes.”
“Police involved?”
“Hospital social worker already called.”
“Good.”
Then:
“What do you need from me?”
I leaned against the wall.
“I need to know what I’m looking at before somebody turns this into a family argument.”
Marcus said:
“Then don’t touch anything.”
“I know.”
“Don’t call Harold.”
“I know.”
“Don’t threaten anyone.”
I closed my eyes.
“I know.”
“You used to know. Different thing.”
That irritated me because he was right.
Then:
“Send me only what you can lawfully share. Names. Public records. Anything your lawyer gives permission for. I’ll help you organize questions. I’m not running an off-book investigation.”
That one sentence separated the real Marcus from the revenge fantasy my anger wanted.
“Understood.”
“And Nathan?”
“Yes.”
“Your son needs his father more than your old skill set.”
I looked through the glass again.
Jake had turned toward the window.
“I know.”
May you like
“Do you?”
I hung up without answering.
