Page 85 of Kade
Obviously I know where you were. But still, wherewereyou? You’re my conscience. I can’t handle this silence. I’ve already gotten into so much trouble. If you’d been talking to me, I would’ve stayed home and hung out with you. Mom and Dad would’ve been fine with me having you over, and you wouldn’t have wanted to go, so I never would’ve gone. That makes this your fault in my head. I need you.
It’s not your fault. Obviously it’s mine.
Why are you not answering me?
Oh. Wait. I forgot to hit send.
Send.
Me: OH. LOLOL
Max: What
Max: The
Max:FUCK?
Me: I think I’m still drunk.
33
MASON
Ihad to look again, but the reports weren’t wrong. My father’s business was doing just fine. Fuck. Fuck.Fuck!That meant he was fed a bunch of bullshit. He killed himself because of some bullshit fucking lie. I was inclined to believe Kai Bennett, which meant we had an enemy with no face and no name, and right now, I had no idea the reason for why this all happened.
I sent a text to my private investigator.
Me: I need you to pivot in whatever you’re finding or not finding on Kai Bennett. He came to me himself, told me he’s not trying to force his way into this company. I’m inclined to believe him.
Lael: What the hell???? You have time for a call?
Me: No. Send whatever you do or don’t have. I don’t want our time wasted looking one way when we should be looking somewhere else. My dad believed that Kai Bennett was coming after him. We need to find out why he believed that.
Lael: That means I’ll need to investigate your father.
Me: Do it.
Lael: Okay. I’ll send one of my colleagues with the Bennett file. What I do have, I only trust that it’ll get to you in person. I’ll change my focus.
Lael: Are you okay? I’ve seen Kai Bennett in person. He’s… Just, are you okay?
Me: I’m fine. I’ll be better when I know who killed my dad.
Lael: Got it. On it.
My phone buzzed a second later. It was the main lobby receptionist.
“A Zeke Allen is here to see you,” she said when I answered. “He does not have an appointment, but he’s insisting that you’ll see him. Should I send him up?”
I wasn’t even surprised. That’s what I would’ve done in his position. “Send him up.”
“Yes, Mr. Kade.”
Mr. Kade.I’d been called that a few times, mostly by Maddy’s friends. News reporters used my first name. Coaches called me Kade or Mason. Mr. Kade, though, that was my father.
I swallowed tightly at the memories.
Logan: Heads up, Taylor and I talked. It feels too chaotic for me to leave, so I’m staying. She postponed our flight. Sammy’s going to stay here since he’s attached to David’s hip. Taylor’s due a ton of vacation, so she’s going to take it early, extend it hopefully to when she’s due, and then she can switch to maternity leave. Hoping we’ll have things figured out by then on the home front.