Page 131 of Badges

“It did.” Libby nods emphatically. “Family first, right?”

The room erupts in agreement.

“So, speaking of family—” Sawyer drops his elbows onto the counter in the kitchen, a wad of food stuffed into the corner of his cheek. “—I saw a guy the other day that was a dead ringer for Dad.”

Hazel’s amber eyes widen as she turns to look at her grandson.

Mason stills, tilting his head. “You did?”

Sawyer chews, nodding. “Yep. Thought it was you in a different get-up. When I went to ask his order, he took one look at me and left.” He pushes another forkful of pie into his mouth, then pauses. “Crazy thing is, when he looked back, his face was all messed up on one side. Kinda freaked me out for a second.” He shakes his head and looks down to cut off another piece. Stepping carefully through the array of chairs, he plops on the couch next to Devon.

“Sounds like Cade,” Clyde says hoarsely.

His voice says he’s been a two-pack a day guy for most of his life.

“But if he’s in town, why didn’t he stop by?” Hazel looks at her husband, then the rest of the room.

“‘Cause he ain’t welcome here,” Mason grunts.

“Wait.” I get a chill running down my spine. “He has scars?”

Dixon nods slowly. “Yep. From the, um, accident.”

The room falls quiet.

“Dixon—” I’m struggling to keep my temper under control. “—you knew that picture could have been Cade and didn’t say anything?”

“Doesn’t matter.” His lips thin beneath his mustache. “You got the guy.”

I glance at Elena, then Dixon, then Mason. “Maybe? But he keeps denying it.”

Max is going to stay in prison for a long time regardless.

Except now there’s a seed of doubt.