LITMIR.BIZ

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a well-earned vacation.”

      “That’s ridiculous. You’ll go crazy sitting around.”

      “I picked up something to while away the hours between your torture sessions.” Kaden dug in the bag, grinning. “I mean your physical therapy sessions.”

      He set a chessboard on a rolling table. Aligning the pieces, he took a white and black pawn and mixed them behind his back. He held out his closed hands. “Your choice.”

      Granddad tapped one. White.

      “You open.” Kaden set down the pawns. “How many hours do you think we’ve played chess?”

      “At first you couldn’t sit for more than fifteen minutes. What a squirmy seven-year-old you were.” His grandfather advanced his pawn. “But hundreds of hours, I guess. Maybe thousands?”

      Kaden answered by advancing his own pawn and the game was on. The only sound was the felt of the pieces on the cardboard and the muffled echoes of voices in the hallway.

      “When you were young, you never looked ahead more than one move.” Granddad moved his knight, threatening Kaden’s bishop.

      Kaden could sacrifice the piece for his longer strategy. He moved his queen.

      A big smile broke over his grandfather’s face. He pointed a long elegant finger at Kaden’s side of the board. “You’re getting trickier.”

      “I learned from the best.” Kaden swallowed back emotions bubbling up into his throat. He’d learned everything from this man. His grandfather had shown him how to live with honor. He’d never learned that from his worthless parents. “Why did my mother turn out so...bad?”

      Granddad sank into the pillows, pushing back his thick white hair. “You’ve never asked me that question.”

      “Because I was so relieved to be saved from that...life.” Kaden got out of the chair and walked to the window that overlooked a small garden. “I was afraid you would send me back to them.”

      “Never.” Granddad’s voice was low. “When your grandmother died, I was...lost. Your mother was thirteen. She needed me and I wasn’t there.”

      “She knew right from wrong. She knew drugs were bad.”

      “I should have helped her.” His grandfather inhaled. “I didn’t push through my grief. By the time she was eighteen and pregnant with you, she wouldn’t listen to anything I said.”

      “But you tried.” He remembered that much. Whenever Granddad called, his mother would throw the phone, or pots, or whatever was at hand.

      “Too late. If I’d done more, maybe Kaleb would still be alive. I should have saved both of you.” Sadness filled his grandfather’s intense blue eyes. Eyes that had barely faded over the years.

      “It wasn’t your fault,” Kaden choked out. He was responsible for his brother’s death, not Nigel.

      “You were seven.” Granddad shook his head. “Thank God your mother called me, even though all she wanted was bail. At least I rescued you from that Florida hovel.”

      “You made me the man I am today.” Kaden would have said more, but his phone buzzed in his pocket.

      Checking the caller ID, he said, “It’s my boss.”

      “Go ahead.” Granddad closed his eyes, looking twenty years older. “I need to rest.”

      Kaden’s heart took another hit. Walking to the opposite corner of the room, he answered, “Farrell.”

      “Heather Bole’s kid was dropped off in Savannah.” Roger’s words were clipped.

      “She’s here?” He clenched the phone. “In Savannah?”

      “She was. Back in May.” Papers shifted on Roger’s side of the conversation. “The father is filing for full custody and wants to find Bole. He contacted the Savannah police a couple of weeks ago.”

      “Is this guy involved with one of the gangs?”

      “Nothing we can find,” Roger said. “The detective said this Forester guy was suspected of dealing in high school, but either he’s kept a low profile or he’s out of the life. Savannah cop thinks he’s clean, but I’d rather you make your own assessment.”

      Kaden straightened. “This might be the break we need.”

      “I know you’re helping your grandfather, but could you talk to the dad? I want the interview to come from my team. From you.”

      And Kaden knew why. Roger’s ex-wife ran the FBI office in Savannah, Roger the Atlanta office. The Bureau was hard on marriages. Kaden had never had any problems with Margaret, Roger’s ex, but Roger carried a grudge.

      He glanced at his sleeping grandfather. He could take an hour to talk to this man. “Sure.”

      Roger rattled off the Savannah detective’s contact information. Kaden moved into the hall. When the man answered, he explained why he was calling.

      “The father’s name is Nathan Forester.” Detective Gillespie gave Kaden a quick recap and Forester’s phone number.

      Kaden peeked into his grandfather’s room, but he hadn’t moved. One more call.

      “Forester,” the man answered. A saw squealed in the background.

      Kaden introduced himself. “I’d like to talk to you about Heather Bole.”

      “Do you know where she is?” The background noise faded.

      “No. But we’re looking for her, too. I’d like to ask you a few questions. When would be convenient?”

      They set up a time to meet and Forester gave him an address. “I’m in the carriage house in the back. Second floor. If you have trouble finding the apartment, just call or text.”

      After hanging up, Kaden stared at the address. Why was it so familiar?

      He searched the location and jerked when it came up. Couldn’t be. He was heading to Fitzgerald House.

      * * *

      “COURTNEY?” GRAY BLOCKED the doorway, not letting her inside. “What are you doing here?”

      “Surprise!” Courtney faked a smile. “I’m here to visit you.”

      “What?” Gray crossed his arms. “You never wanted to before.”

      Why wasn’t he inviting her into his house? She forced a smile. “I’m here now.”

      “Here? Staying at Fitzgerald House?” Gray’s words were as much a barricade as his body.

      “I was hoping I could stay with you. With my family.” Courtney didn’t want to beg.

      He hesitated, finally pulling her into a hug. His shirt was unbuttoned and his hair was damp. “No one told me you were coming to Savannah.”

      “That’s why it’s called a surprise.” She poked him in the belly. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”

      “I was in Boston two weeks ago.” Gray frowned. “You were too busy to have dinner with me.”

      “I’m making up for it now.” She went for perky, but her voice wobbled.

      What if Gray wouldn’t let her stay in his carriage house? Last night, she’d splurged on a nice Charleston hotel. She wouldn’t have enough money on her credit card to pay for another hotel. Being short of money sucked.

      “You want to stay here?” Cynicism filled his voice. “With Abby and I?”

      “I want to spend time with you.” She wrapped an arm around her brother’s waist, hoping she didn’t sound desperate. She hated the panic that had crept into her voice over the last few days. “I thought it would be...fun.”

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