Chapter 17. Walt's Lessons

Rae POV

Eli went back inside without another word. The shop door clicked shut behind him.

I didn't let go of Wade's hand. But I didn't squeeze it either.

"You knew," I said. "Three years ago, your brother told you somebody cut that line. And a week ago I sat on your bed and showed you a tow ticket dispatched thirty-nine minutes before your 911 call, and you didn't say a word."

He didn't deny it. That was the first thing I noticed. He didn't reach for an excuse.

"Eli came to me on the fifth anniversary," he said slowly. "He'd been drinking for a week. He had a flashlight and a theory and a look in his eyes I'd only ever seen once before, in the fire. And I knew if I believed him, I had to believe somebody killed my parents on purpose and was still walking around Copper Fork buying gro