Jeremy realizes his mistake.
Too late.
Whiskey glances down at his phone, thumbs moving fast.
Jeremy tries to recover. “She has had an obsession with finding Mike Welles for years. Her mother filled her head with stories. It’s unhealthy.”
Legend’s voice is very soft now. “How did you know she came here?”
Jeremy hesitates.
Not long.
Long enough.
Whiskey says, “He tracked the old phone ping until it died. Probably called someone after that.”
“I was trying to make sure my family was safe,” Jeremy says.
“Your family left you,” I tell him.
His eyes snap to mine. “You don’t know anything about my family.”
“I know your son asks if doors lock.”
That lands like a bullet.
Amelia makes a broken sound.
Jeremy’s face empties for one second.
Not guilt.
Calculation.
That scares me more than rage would.
“You people have no idea what you’re getting involved in,” he says.
Legend steps closer. “Then educate us.”
“I have friends.”
“So do we.”
“Respectable friends.”
Royal smiles. “Our condolences.”
Jeremy’s mask finally starts to slip in earnest. The rain is getting to him. The gate is getting to him. Amelia standing beside me is getting to him. The fact that nobody here bows to his nice shoes and courtroom voice is getting to him.
He looks at Amelia one last time. “This will get ugly.”
Her voice shakes. “It already was.”
For one second, I think he might lunge for the gate.
I almost hope he does.