So school was rough? School was rough for every teen and a mature kid like Seth could handle it, Hunter felt certain.
His father was dead? All the more reason to stick around and see justice done. Seth had made it clear that he didn’t believe the general was guilty. He would want Frank’s name cleared and the real culprit found.
Remembering himself at fifteen, Hunter knew that if he were in Seth’s place, he’d be snooping around on his own for answers. Unless he already knew something.
It was the only scenario that made sense. Hunter wasn’t sure what information Seth had about the killing, but his trusty gut told him they were at a turning point in the murder case.
Whatever Seth knew could change the dynamics of this family forever.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
MOLLY THOUGHT she’d gotten used to being around a teenager, but every time she was in Jessie’s room, it was an otherworldly experience. The walls were papered with white-and-black swirls and hot-pink stickered decals for color. There was a corkboard with photos of her friends and framed posters of bands and movies. A mirror sat on the desk surrounded by more makeup than even Edna had used in her lifetime and her iPod blasted from the corner of her room. And Jessie lay on her bed, facing the wall.
She hadn’t even realized she had a visitor.
Molly chose the chair by the desk so as not to invade the teenager’s personal space by sitting on the bed, and pulled it over to the edge of the mattress. She made herself comfortable, drew a deep breath and tapped Jessie on the shoulder.
“Ack!” The teen yelped and rolled over to face Molly. “Geez, I didn’t even hear you come in.”
“I’m not surprised. Can I lower it?” Molly gestured to the iPod speakers.
Jessie nodded. “I guess. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to talk about Seth.”
“What makes you think I’m going to ask you about him?” She wasn’t a psychologist any more than Hunter was but she wasn’t above trying some reverse psychology, either.
Jessie wiggled back against the pillows and sat up higher, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Then what are you doing here?”
“Your best friend’s missing. I’m sure you’re worried and I wanted to check on you, that’s all. It’s something sisters do for each other, like sharing clothes.” Molly drew a deep breath. “I thought we’d reached that point. Or am I wrong?”
Jessie shook her head. “I kind of like you now.”
Molly warmed at Jessie’s words. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
“I think I do. I met your mother, remember?”
Despite herself, Molly laughed. “So how are you?”
Jessie leaned her chin on a bent knee. “Worried. Scared.”
“Let me ask you this. You’re Seth’s best friend. You have to know more than you’re letting on. So just tell me one thing. Is he somewhere safe?”
Jessie nodded slowly.
“Well, that’s good.”
“Now let me ask you something.”
“Go for it,” Molly said.
“If you knew something that could hurt someone you loved but could help someone else you also loved, would you tell and hurt the one person but help the other?” Jessie stared at Molly through solemn eyes.
“That was the most convoluted question I’ve ever heard, but I think I understand.”
“You do?” Jessie blinked back tears.
Molly leaned toward her sister. “You know something and if you tell me, you’re going to betray your best friend’s confidence.”
“It’s worse than that. If I tell you, Seth could really get hurt.” The teenager bit her bottom lip. “But if I don’t tell you, someone else could get hurt. How much do you trust Hunter?”
Molly shook her head. “This wasn’t just a teenage change of subjects. I’m confused. You need to tell me, Jess. Everything. If you don’t, Seth’s out there alone and nobody can help him.”
“I didn’t think of it that way. So I can tell you and not feel bad because it’s in his best interests?” Jessie pulled a pillow onto her lap and hugged it.
“Listen, there was something I didn’t tell Hunter and I should have and he blew up at me. It took a while for him to forgive me.” And sometimes she caught Hunter looking at her in a way that led Molly to believe he still didn’t quite trust her completely.
Jessie scrunched her nose in thought. “And you’re sorry you didn’t tell him?”
Molly nodded. “I am.”
“What if I tell you, and Seth never forgives me?”
Good question, Molly thought. “It’s a risk you’d be taking. But you’re doing it because you care about him. I didn’t tell Hunter because I didn’t trust him enough. I was wrong. You wouldn’t be.”
“Why are you so nice to me?” Jessie asked out of the blue.
“Because I like pint-size brats?” Molly shook her head and smiled. “No, seriously. Because you’re family. And I’ve never had a family before.” Molly shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious in front of her half sister. “I just want you to like and trust me.”
“No shit?” Jessie scurried to her knees. “You really care what I think of you?”
Suddenly, when Molly looked at her half sister, she saw herself, insecurities, fears and all. No wonder Jessie had acted out when she first arrived. For all that Molly thought she’d understood Jessie’s feelings, she realized that she’d had no clue. But now, not only did she get Jessie, Molly liked her. A lot.
“Talk to me, Jess.”
“Do you promise you won’t repeat it unless I say it’s okay?”
Eyes wide, Jessie took a deep breath and said, “Seth said he killed his father by accident. He was just protecting his mom and he counted on Hunter getting Dad off, and then we heard Hunter say it’s going to be tough, and the hearing got moved up and Seth must have panicked and run away.” She expelled the words on a rush of air.
Molly tried but couldn’t swallow. “Say that again? No, wait, do not repeat it. Not at all.” She held up a hand and tried to catch her breath. “I need a minute to take this in. I really do.” She dragged in a long gulp of air.
Seth killed his father? Oh. My. God. “We have to talk to Hunter. Not just for Dad’s sake, but for Seth’s.” She didn’t question her words as they tumbled out of her mouth.