Page 44 (1/2)

"Randy"

"Are you sure that’s his name?" Shane presses

"Yes," I confirm "I repeated it to him It was Randy Maybe it was a nickname?"

"What did he look like?" Seth asks

"Tall with dark hair, early forties, I think, and muscular"

"What nationality?" Shane asks

I consider a ht have had a slight accent"

Neither Shane nor Seth look at each other, nor do their expressions change, but there is a subtle thickening in the air that tells me this news does not please theives a quick nod, and walks ahile Shane leans forward, one hand pressed to the wall just aboveour little private spot "What’s the real reason you didn’t call me?"

I aive e by phone or text, and I know you know that I would want to hear this news Why didn’t you do one of those things?"

"I needed some time to convince myself not to cry over a brother who doesn’t deserve my tears and had I heard your voice, I would have"

Understanding fills his eyes "The anger co after, acceptance"

"Are you at acceptance?"

"Every tiain"

"Maybe they aren’t exclusive"

"Maybe they aren’t, but anger is dangerous So perhaps my brother--and yours--needs to reone before they’re fully realized, but I still recognize thehosts of what once was, turned to monsters "Call me next time Give er"