Weight of Silence(47)

Mama was sitting on the sofa with Detective Kramer, and they both looked up when he came in. “What’s wrong?” Gavin asked.

“I’m fine, mijo,” Mama said. “I let them in to search. It’s all right.”

“Search for what?”

“The item your father was looking for last night,” Kramer replied.

“Did he say what it was?”

“Yes. He’s trying to use its contents to negotiate a deal for himself, but we need to find it first and verify its authenticity.”

“So what is it?”

Kramer didn’t reply.

Gavin grunted. Mama stood and followed him into the kitchen, which looked like a small tornado had been through it. He grabbed a box of cereal and shoved it back into the pantry where it belonged.

“How’s Jace?” she asked in a whisper.

“Better. He’ll be okay, I think, it’ll just take some time.”

“His parents are fine people. They’ll find out he’s the same son they’ve always loved.”

Gavin hugged his mother tight, grateful for her in every way possible. She had never once made him feel unloved or wrong because he was gay. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve such unfaltering love and support.

They hung out with Detective Kramer for another hour while his officers searched the trailer. Gavin didn’t like the idea of them rifling through his private things—God only knew what they’d think of the lube and condoms in his night table drawer—and he’d have a hell of a mess to clean in the morning. But more than that dislike, he wanted to know what the sperm donor had hidden in their home.

A female officer he didn’t recognize came out of the hallway with a plastic baggie in one hand. Gavin squinted at its contents. Something slim and black. “Do either of you recognize this?” she asked.

Mama shook her head. Gavin took a closer look. It was a 4gb flash drive, but not one of his. He always bought 16gb drives.

“Not mine,” Gavin said.

“Where was it?” Kramer asked.

“In Ms. Perez’s closet, stuffed inside of a potpourri sachet,” the officer replied.

“Hell of a hiding place.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh my, I’d forgotten all about that sachet,” Mama said. She stared at the baggie, stricken.

Gavin’s stomach flipped. “What is it, Mama?”

“Kai gave it to me. I’d forgotten.”

“When was this?” Kramer asked.

“Late May. He came to the trailer a few days after the big fire in town. Gavin was working.” She gave Gavin an apologetic smile. “I never told you he was here, because I knew you’d be angry.”

“Why the hell was he here?” Gavin asked. He wasn’t angry at his mother, but he couldn’t seem to keep his voice below yelling levels. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, he didn’t. He seemed scared, which isn’t like him. It’s the only reason I allowed him inside.”

Gavin shuddered at the idea of Mama allowing that bastard in. He could have done any number of things to her without Gavin there to protect her.

“He said he was in some trouble,” Mama continued. “He never said what kind. I thought he wanted money, but he didn’t ask. He gave me a small gift. A scented candle and that sachet. I nearly threw them out after he left, but I love the smell of lilacs.”

“So he left the flash drive here for safe keeping without you knowing you had it,” Kramer said. “Clever.”

“He’s lucky she didn’t throw it away,” the officer said.

“Us too.”

“Why?” Gavin asked. “What’s on it?”

“We’ll take it to our tech people and find out.”

Gavin glared at the detective, positive the man knew a lot more than he was sharing. The police wouldn’t be taking it seriously if Kai hadn’t thrown them some kind of bone, some clue as to the flash drive’s contents. And if the bastard used it to get off—no. He wouldn’t entertain that what if right now, or he’d go around and around with it all night.

After the police left, he sat down on the couch next to Mama, who wouldn’t look directly at him. “You should have told me he was here,” Gavin said.

“I couldn’t tell you,” she said. She wasn’t crying, but her eyes were shiny and tears thickened her voice. “You hate him so much.”

“For good reason.” Then he knew—in the way she plucked at the sleeve of her shirt and wouldn’t meet his eyes. He knew. “Oh, Mama, tell me you didn’t sleep with him.”

She ducked her head.

“Mama! Have you forgotten everything he did to us?”