Haisley and I snuck into the room where four laptops were set up and a wall was covered with photographs and sticky notes.

Two of the agents had just left, talking about the fight Josiah had started with Jude and going to make sure everything was okay. We didn't have much time before someone came looking for me or Haisley or back to the room.

"What are we even looking for?" Haisley asked, studying the wall as I took a seat at one of the laptops. I cracked my knuckles, opening the laptop.

"Anything that might lead us to Wayne."

"Wayne?" Haisley blurted. "Why?"

"I believe he has our mom."

"Do you really believe that?"

"I have no doubt in my mind." The evidence suggested that someone took her, I was willing to bed my entire life on it. "Search the papers. Anything that might resemble

"I have this - a photograph of Wayne entering a building, the Starlight Lounge."

I snatched it from his grip, swallowing at the image. A man, my biological father, was photographed walking into the lounge, wearing a black leather jacket and blue jeans, his black hair tousled. He had a phone to his ear, talking to someone. This was the first time I seen him outside my memory.

"Does this mean they know where he is?" My twin asked, breaking my thought.

"Hey, what are you two doing?" I froze at the voice of Skyler, glancing over my shoulder at his looming figure. "You're not allowed to be in here."

+++

"I told you not to get involved with this investigation," Carson said, his tone cold, "and you blatantly ignore me."

"I -"

"I don't know what to even say ... I am sick and tired of repeating myself, Tarryn." He slammed his hand down on the desk, a loud smack echoing across the library. I winced but didn't back down.

"And I'm sick and tired of sitting around while mom
is out there with a fucking psychopath," I hissed, taking a step forward. "I fucking hate it here, doing nothing."

"I don't care if you hate it here. We're not here for fun."

"It was my fault," Hailsey blurted beside me, his voice meek. "I asked her to-"

"It doesn't matter. You are both not to go in that room again or you will have agents babysitting you. Do I make myself clear?"

"Carson please-"

He rubbed his face. "Do I make myself clear?" He asked again, his eyes darkening. "If you do this again, you will have an agent following you everywhere you go."

I swallowed, nodding. "Yes."

+++

I entered the kitchen where Matthew buttered a bagel, licking the cream cheese off the knife. I studied him, guilt wracking my body. I had never said what I did to him, ever, and I hated myself for it.

"Matty."

He looked up and his eyes softened when he noticed me. "Bub. What are you doing up so late? You should be in bed, sleeping."

Why wasn't he ignoring me, giving me the cold shoulder? He should hate my guts. "I could say the same to you ..."

"I can't sleep."

I nodded, understanding. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have ever said what I did. You're not going to be miserable and lonely. It was out of line and I'm sorry."

"I forgive you, bub."

"I love you Matty."

"I love you too." He dropped the knife and came around the counter, opening his arms and I collided into his chest. "You really do know how to nail someone in the heart though. I cried myself to sleep."

I scoffed, pushing him away. "You did not. Don't you dare make me feel guiltier than I already do, you moron."

"I'm sorry you got caught going through the investigation."

I pushed his shoulder. "No you're not."

"You're right, I'm not. If you really wanted to find something out, you should have come to me."

"Like you would have helped."

"Believe it or not, I'm getting sick of being here too, cooped up with you all. It's driving me insane." I shoved his head to the side, narrowing my eyes. "You're driving me insane."

"Rude, Matty."

He laughed, going back to his bagel and taking a bite. "So did you find anything?"

"Nothing much besides a photograph of Wayne entering a place called the Starlight Lounge."

"Hmm. Maybe you could ask your friend, the girl."

"Huh?" I tilted my head before I caught on. "Oh, you mean Rhea? We're hardly friends. Besides she's not going to tell me anything."

Matthew smirked. "Maybe you should just ask her. See what she says. Besides, I don't think she's really committed to keeping things tight lipped as you might think."

"What do you mean?"

"I've heard her and Sam arguing. Maybe she doesn't agree either that we're being kept in the dark."

"Do you really think they'd risk her being around if she thought otherwise? These FBI agents are insanely secretive about everything."

+++

After another forty-five minutes of her and I going back and forth of the importance of participating in my mental health care, I was finally free.

Rhea knocked on the library door, where I lay on the window seat with Gilbert in my lap. I smiled as she entered, striding towards me with a bag.

"I got you something," she said, smiling and handed the bag out to me. I took it, curious. Opening the bag, I reached in and grabbed one, the smell of new book filling my senses. The smell of a bookstore, the brand new covers, smooth, unopened.

"No way. Thank you so much," I said, glancing open at her. Rhea grinned, seeming satisfied with my reaction.

"It's not a problem at all," she said with a shrug. "I figured since you're basically on watch, it'll be nice to have something to keep your mind occupied."

"Thank you again," I said and Gilbert meowed, yawned and jumped down from my lap, trotting out of the library. "Would you like to sit?"

"I don't want to interrupt you -"

I waved my hand. "Nonsense. I'm reading a book I've read twice before. In fact, you'd be doing me a favour by staying."

Rhea chuckled, her eyes glimmered with something I didn't quite recognize, and sat down beside me. "How is it having another brother?"

"Perfect. I am no longer the youngest."

Rhea laughed. "Being the youngest kinda sucks sometimes." This was my opportunity, I realized, Matthews words floating in my thoughts. Just ask her.

"Is Sam your only brother?"

She nodded. "He's three years older than me."

"Is it difficult with him in the FBI?"

"Nah. We've always stuck together. My father had dementia, so when Sam was eighteen, he filed for guardianship."

I licked my bottom lip. "Where's the Starlight Lounge?"

She twisted around to stare at me. "Tarryn - I can't tell you anything about the investigation."

"So you do know but you won't tell me?" I sighed, rubbing my face.

Rhea frowned. "Tarryn-"

"I'm sorry I asked," I mumbled, standing. "Thank you for the books." I moved towards the door, feeling dumb for asking.

"Waverley. Two hours from here," Rhea called out, making me stop. "He's getting closer."

+++

Thanks for reading, I'm sorry if this chapter sucked. I'm having trouble getting going again.
Please vote and comment - Charlie 🧡