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A grim lift of his mouth tells me he understands I won’t e, ave his na

He scans the property and he has that expression like he’s trying to understand why someone would live in a house so small The place is a vinyl box Two bedroo rooe

Dad said this was Moh for us to live in She never desired large, but she craved land When I was younger, she used to hug ht and explain it was more important to be free than to be rich I sure as hell hope Mom feels free now

An ache ripples throughI pray every damn day she found some peace

“I drove a long way to see you,” he says

Don’t care “Could have called”

“I did No one answered”

I hike one shoulder in a “you’ve got shit luck” Dad and I aren’t the type to answer calls froers Especially ones with numbers labeled Police There are some law enforcement officers who are cool, but e a man with a cut on his back as a psychotic felon

I don’t have time for stupidity

“I’m here about your mother” The asshole knows he has me when my eyes snap to his

“She’s dead” Like the other ti with her

This guy has green eyes and they soften like he’s apologetic “I know I’m sorry I’ve received some new evidence that may help us discover what caused her death”

Anger curls withinsense of insanity is what I fight daily For years, I’ve heard the whispers froossips in town, felt the stares of the kids in class, and I’ve sensed the pity of the n of Terror I clai doubt in my soul

Suicide

It’s what everyone in town says happened It’s in every hushed conversation people have the moment I turn ive two shits about, but the people who I consider family

I shove away those thoughts and focus on what my father and the club have told me—what I have chosen to believe “My mother’s death was an accident”

He’s shaking his head and I’ this Not with him Not with anyone “I’m not interested”

I push off the railing and dig out the keys to my motorcycle as I bound down the steps The detective’s behind me He has a slow, steady stride and it irritatesas I swingover my bike

“What if I told you I don’t think it was an accident,” he says

Odds are it wasn’t Odds are every whispered taunt in my direction is true That h of a reason for her to choose life

To drown hiuy must be as suicidal as people say Mo I won’t run him down