Page 112 of Wicked Promises

Caleb is pale by the time we get back to my house.

I reach over and stroke his cheek, frowning. It does the trick. He shakes his head and comes out of whatever trance he was in.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

He frowns. “I was just remembering…”

Ah. If he had to relive finding his dad, that’s on me. I’m the one who brought it up. I put my hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.”

He meets my gaze. “It’s not your fault. And besides… I realized a few things.”

I lift my eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“Masters was the detective’s partner on my dad’s case,” he says.

I jerk back. “What?”

“It only just occurred to me.” He grimaces. “Masters knew Theo’s mom. I wonder if he went to school with our dads.”

Our dads. It’s so weird to hear him say it like that. Up until this year, we had no idea they were anything beyond acquaintances. Two men burned by Amber.

“The police made the arrest quickly, right? Within the day?”

“An open-and-shut case,” he answers. “So they thought.”

“I just wish I could remember what happened after.” I grind my teeth. “There’s still the blank wall that I can’t get through. I go back home and then what? My memories skip to being at the park.”

His expression borders on sympathetic. “I don’t think your memory alone will free your dad. We need proof.”

My stomach twists. “What would the implication be if hedidgo to school with them?”

“He wasn’t in charge, so I don’t know how much he could’ve swayed. And it would depend on their relationship, you know? People didn’t really like my dad. He was known as the developer.”

Real estate. Insurance. His dad did it all, and happily—until he sold his company to the highest bidder.

Caleb snaps his fingers. “Yearbook!”

“What?”

“I know Mom kept her old yearbook from high school. And your dad might’ve kept his from their year. Maybe we can go back to your house?—”

I grab his hand before he can put the car in reverse. “It’s no use, Caleb. Everything is gone.”

He pauses. “Huh?”

Oh shit. Did I not tell him?

“My house. It was completely cleared out except for my parents’ bedroom.” A giggle bubbles out of me. “All this time, I thought you did it just to keep it away from me. That you had everything in a storage room somewhere—I put it out of my mind because I didn’t want you to see it got to me.”

“Margo, no,” Caleb murmurs. His hand slides around my neck, into my hair. “I had no idea.”

His hand is grounding.

“It’s your house,” I remind him. “Who else would do that?”

“I have a few guesses.” He puts the car in park, killing the engine. “Unfortunately, none of them will be forthcoming unless we’re sneakier about it. Let’s go inside.”

I zip my jacket tighter and follow him to my front door. Robert and Lenora are both on the couch, curled up together, when we come in.