Page 85 (1/2)

We sat there for aeach other

“That’s pro,” admitted Noah, “but it still doesn’t narrow it down We need to knohere to look, or at least get in your uncle’s head Find out what made Travis think the way he did”

It was already late, and getting later As exciting as it was to think we could be standing a fewdiscovery, exhaustion inning out

“Well this is definitely soht now…”

“We need to check off the inspector’s list,” Noah finished

“Yeah”

It was overwhel so hard toward this near-unachievable goal At this point, part of it had to be personal Part of it, pride

But I also knew a good part of it was loyalty, and friendship, and love Especially the love part… because I felt it too

I hugged Chase, then Noah, then Julian Each of the in his own special way

“Well I, for one, a from my chair I could feel their eyes on my back — or more likely my ass — as I made my way out of the kitchen

“Is that an invitation?” I heard Chase say

I shrugged and smiled to myself I was tired, sure… but not dead

“It’s whatever you want it to be,” I called back coyly

Fifty-One

MADISON