“No, not for a minute,” Tad said. “I was the baby, remember? The youngest of the group. All I wanted was for you guys to like me, especially Bay. I thought the guy was the coolest motherfucker I’d ever met, and even though I didn’t believe in any of that garbage, I wanted it to be real.”
“We all did. But the difference between us and him is we all have a conscience. Bay? He’s not even capable. The guy lacks an emotional grid. So while our guilt is eating us alive, he’s smiling like a snake. He’d do the same thing while watching the world burn.”
“I called you down because I wanted to tell you that I’ve been thinking about your theory. You said someone could be fucking with us.”
“Right, did you think of someone who might have that kind of agenda, other than Bay on some power trip?”
“No, but I did think of a way that an outsider would know things; like which order we joined. What our signs are. Other shit like that.”
“You think one of us talked?” Darek asked.
“Not one of us. All of us. Remember when Bay wanted us all to keep in touch? We joined that web forum, and he had Corey Farrow make us a private page?”
“Yeah, but that was years ago.”
“You never heard that saying, the internet is forever?” Tad asked. “Cause you can still access that shit. Someone with great computer skills like Corey had, they could find it, stumble upon it, even. I kept thinking about what you’d said, and so I went to the public library before it closed. Sure enough, it’s all still there. I remembered my password to log in, but there are people who could do that. This Victor guy could be related to that homeless man.” He shrugged, and Darek thought it was a possibility.
“They could have been friends,” Darek said. “Or it could be some old boyfriend, obsessed with the case. A copycat. Anything is possible, and the bad thing is, if they already accessed the page, then they know everything they need to know.” He let out a growl. “I never talked much there. My parents wouldn’t keep the internet because it was too expensive. The old man was a penny pincher, among other things.”
Tad reached into his pocket and passed him a slip of paper. It was his login information. “I was there a bit. We really didn’t talk much about that night because Bay forbade it, but there were certain things said in roundabout ways. Someone who knew what was going on could piece it together. Plus, there was a list of our bylaws, members, and when we joined. You know how kids are with clubs. We wanted to look official, like real men. Man, we were young and stupid. Yet, somehow, we got away with it.” Tad closed his eyes and then wiped his face. “Anyway, I just thought you’d want to contact Corey and tell him to take that shit down.”
Darek held out his hand, and Tad shook it. “Thanks for talking to me. I’m sorry for being so defensive last night. I shouldn’t have dragged you guys down when I was only pissed at Bay. You take care, man. Stay clean, and make a good life for yourself and your sister.” He got to his feet and took out his keys.
Tad rose from his chair. “That’s my plan. Take it easy, and good luck with that FBI gig.” He turned and went to the front counter, and he made it just in time to greet the first guests.
Darek needed to find a way to log in to the old forum. He didn’t have access to his own computer since Megan wouldn’t let him in the house. Accessing the website at from his computer at work was entirely too risky. The library might be his only opportunity.
He headed to the public library and went inside. He had always loved the smell of libraries and had fond memories of his mother taking him down to check out mystery books. He didn’t read all the time, but when he needed an escape from the old man, he’d hole up in his room and bury his nose in one. It sometimes worked, too.
He approached the desk after silencing his phone. The woman behind the counter looked like she’d recently licked a stamp. Her face was squished up, and her lips were pursed as if she were ready to kiss a frog.
“May I help you?” she asked. Her inside voice was a little lower than necessary, but it encouraged Darek to keep his low.
“I need to use a computer.”
“They’re in the back, and we have a time limit of an hour and a half per visit.” She unscrewed her face long enough for a quick smile and then went back to her work.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
He kept his head down and his feet moving, trying not to look too conspicuous as he sat behind the computer and took out the slip of paper. Tad doing this for him was a shock, and he wondered what made the guy go against Bay. Unless Bay knew about it all along, which wouldn’t shock him, either. He went to the site, logged on, and found exactly what Tad was talking about in a matter of seconds. Having a list of all their names together was not Darek’s idea of smart, and he had a feeling Bay didn’t know this still existed. He read through a few of the conversations, and although nothing was glaringly obvious from the first few threads, he didn’t have all day and night to go through them all.
Now, he had even more of a reason to contact Bay, and he still hadn’t decided if he was ready to make a deal with the devil. He logged off and headed out to his car, where he decided to call.
Bay answered with his usual irritated tone. “Jesus Christ, at your service.” It was a bad time for jokes.
Darek knew if he didn’t get the best attorney, he could kiss his house goodbye. He loved that house, and he didn’t want to see Megan win. “You’re going to have to put your money where your mouth is on that one, my friend.”
“Oh, so now we’re friends?” Bay laughed. “If you think our little rendezvous meant you could call me up out of the blue, you’re wrong.”
“Nah, it’s all business.” Darek got in his car and started it.
“Are you arresting me?”
“No, I’m hiring you, if you’re interested. I’m in need of legal services.”
The soft, yet wicked sound of his laugh sent chills down Darek’s spine. “I’ve been waiting for this day. Let me guess, your wife’s tiara a bit tight for her big head?”
“Yeah, she’s trying to take my house.”
“And how do you know that I can stop her?” Bay asked.
“Because you’re Jesus Christ, aren’t you? But seriously, I had something else I needed to talk to you about while I have you on the phone. I remembered there used to be a web forum with our group information. I just checked, and that’s still on the internet along with a list of names.”
Bay was eerily silent. “Are you shitting me?”
“I’d never lie to my lawyer.” Darek heard the quiet curse beneath Bay’s breath.
“I’ll take you on, and when I’m done, she’ll be paying you. I’ll call Corey and pick his bones. He should have taken that shit down years ago when I asked him to.”
“Do you think there’s a reason he didn’t take it down? Maybe he’s hoping to use it in some way? Maybe a revenge scheme?”
“I don’t think the guy has it in him. He’s a coward. To think he suddenly grew some balls, I wouldn’t put my money on it. He probably was being lazy. I’ll be glad when I don’t have to wipe your asses.”
“Right, but then what would you do with all your spare time?”