Reap The Whirlwind
Book 2 of the Killian Kendall Mysteries
By Josh Aterovis
Copyright 2026
Chapter 15
Having a real plan and knowing my friends were behind me filled me with a sense of purpose and renewed energy. With the art show out of the way, I could finally fully focus on figuring out what really happened to Joey.
Naturally, I waited until Monday to start my very first assignment. Nothing says "dedicated" like procrastinating all weekend. All I had to do was get the medical examiner's report from Detective Grafton. Easy, right?
I spent so long marinating in the police station lobby that I half-expected to receive my AARP card before Grafton finally emerged to get me.
"Back again?" he said, skipping over the whole "hello" thing. Charming as ever.
"Yeah, thanks for seeing me," I said, practically jogging to keep up with his long strides.
He didn't bother with small talk. Or any talk, really. We walked in silence to his office, where he sat down and stared at me like I was a particularly disappointing sandwich. Once again, Detective Hammett was conspicuously not present.
I sat without being asked, because apparently we were skipping all the pleasantries again. "So, um, how is Detective Hammett?"
I knew polite chit-chat wasn’t his thing, but I figured I’d try it anyway. Rookie mistake.
His eyebrows contorted into a V-shaped scowl. I resisted the urge to comment on how that couldn’t be good for his already-wrinkled forehead.
"Detective Hammett is fine. I’ll be sure to let her know you asked after her," he said, in a tone that suggested he absolutely wouldn't be doing that.
"It’s just that she hasn’t been around the last couple of times I stopped by."
"I'm sure if you called ahead, she’d happily clear her schedule just for you."
I blinked, unsure if that was sarcasm or a threat. Either way, I decided not to respond.
"What exactly are you doing here, kid? If you're here to gossip, I’ve got better things to do. If you’ve got a point — which, frankly, I doubt — get to it."
Such a warm, nurturing presence. I took a breath and asked the question that brought me there in the first place. "Can I get a copy of the medical examiner’s report for Joey Taylor’s death?"
He looked at me like I’d asked for the nuclear codes.
"What?"
"Can I get a copy of—"
"I heard you. What I don't understand is why in God’s name would you want that?"
Great question. Too bad I didn’t have a good answer ready. Luckily, he didn’t really need one.
"Never mind. I can guess. You still think your friend was murdered, and now you’re cosplaying as a detective. Look, kid, this isn’t some true-crime podcast. I’ve told you, he got drunk, fell in a pool, and drowned. Tragic? Sure. Murder? No. Time to let it go. This obsession of yours is not healthy."
Wow, thanks, Doc. Diagnosis: crushing grief and an overactive imagination. Very professional.
"About that report..." I pressed.
He leaned back and sighed like I was the one wasting his time. "Autopsy reports are public record. If you’re so determined to get one, go fill out a form at the medical examiner’s office. It’ll cost you. But I’m telling you one last time — he died in an accident. Move on. Go live your life. Stop chasing ghosts."
"I wish I could," I said. "But I don’t think it was an accident. And I’m going to find out who did it, with or without your help."
I stood up and stormed out, which would’ve felt a lot more dramatic if I didn't trip over the chair leg on my way out.
"Stay out of police business, kid," he yelled after me.
So far, I was zero for two. My big detective debut was off to a stunning start. Maybe I wasn’t cut out for this whole amateur sleuth thing after all.
Later that night, Laura called to let me know that Joey's mom had gone home with one of her sisters for Thanksgiving so we wouldn't be able to talk to her until she got back. I'd be lying if I said I was even slightly disappointed. That was one task I'd gladly put off as long as possible. On the other hand, I was dying to know if Gabe or Caitlin had fared any better, but I'd have to wait for their report.
The next few days crawled by, the way time always seems to stretch and drag just before a holiday. When I got home from work Wednesday evening, however, Aidan met me at the door, blocking my entrance and wearing a grin so smug he might as well have been twirling a villainous mustache.
"What’s going on?" I asked, eyeing him warily.
"I have a surprise for you," he said, practically vibrating with excitement.
"A surprise?" I repeated, eyes narrowing.
"Yeah. Go check the living room," he said, gesturing grandly.
I hesitated, half-expecting someone to jump out at me, but I stepped into the living room, Aidan eagerly following close on my heels.
As soon as I rounded the corner, I stopped dead in my tracks.
There, right in the center of the once-empty wall, hung a painting. My painting. The frog. The one I’d poured my heart into. The one I thought I’d said goodbye to forever.
I turned to look at him, blinking in disbelief. "I...I thought it sold."
"It did," he said, smiling. "I bought it."
"You...? But...why?"
"Because I knew how much it meant to you."
My throat closed up. Tears welled in my eyes before I could stop them. "Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise," he said softly.
And that was it. The dam burst and I launched myself into his arms, crying — but this time, out of something that felt like joy. Relief. Gratitude.
"Thank you," I blubbered into his chest, my words muffled by his pecs.
He wrapped his arms around me without hesitation, holding me tightly, and pressed a kiss against the top of my head. And for the first time in ages, the ache in my chest loosened. Just a little.
At last, Thanksgiving arrived.
After one of Aidan's special breakfasts, we spent the morning being lazy, curled up on the couch watching the Macy’s parade pass by, all B-list celebrities and and giant balloons, followed by the dog show, naturally. After that, we switched to video games, killing time until it was time to head out.
Caitlin met us at the apartment, and the three of us piled into my car.
Killian lived about forty minutes away in Ocean City, but it felt like a lot longer since the car ride was a little on the tense side. Aidan was still keeping Caitlin at arm’s length, and she seemed perfectly fine with letting the silence do most of the talking. I spent most of the counting the minutes.
I was deeply relieved when we finally pulled up to a charming, two-story beach house, its cedar shingles weathered just enough to feel lived-in, not old. As we walked toward the front door, the ocean came into view — cold and steel-gray in the late November light, but shimmering faintly with the distant, stubborn promise of summer.
We were a little early, but an enthusiastic Killian and Asher greeted us at the door, completely unbothered. They pulled us into the warm hum of the kitchen, where Adam and another man — dark-haired, mustachioed, and movie-star handsome — were orchestrating what looked like a full-on masterpiece of a feast. A stocky teenager with a mop of shaggy ginger hair was on veggie duty, chopping away like a pro.
"Adam, Steve," Killian called over the clatter of pans. "This is Will, Aidan’s roommate, and his friend Caitlin. You’ve all met Adam, but this is his boyfriend Steve, and the gremlin over there is my little brother Kane."
Kane paused just long enough to flip Killian the bird, then flashed us a grin bright enough to rival the kitchen lights. His eyes were deep green and full of mischief.
"Hey," he said with a wink. "Ignore Killian. He’s just bitter I got all the looks in the family."
Adam groaned. "They’re not even related," he stage-whispered. "Can you imagine if they were?" Then, turning to us, "Anyway, we’re glad you’re here. Really."
"Yes, welcome," Steve added warmly, slipping an arm around Adam’s waist. They both wore matching aprons embroidered with the word HIS in bold script.
They were the first adult gay couple I’d ever met. And only the second gay couple at all — Killian and Asher being the first.
"Thank you so much for inviting us," I said. "I would have been sitting alone in the apartment otherwise."
"Not on our watch," Adam said.
The doorbell rang just then, and Killian and Asher raced off to answer it. They returned quickly with a striking couple, friends of Adam and Steve named Ilana and Lysander. Ilana was carrying a tiny bundle that turned out to be their brand-new baby, Melody, causing Adam and Steve to absolutely lose their minds.
Another round of introductions was somehow managed in between rounds of cooing and babbling at the impassive infant. All the commotion brought a petite woman with shoulder-length blonde hair from somewhere else in the house. I knew she had to be related to Killian as soon as I saw her. They had the same blue eyes.
"Oh my gosh! You guys made it. And with the baby!" she exclaimed. "I was setting the table and thought I heard baby talk!"
"This is my mom," Killian said to us, drawing her attention away from the baby, long enough to say hello.
His mother? She looked far too young to have a son Killian's age. I was growing more confused with every introduction of a new family member. What was up with Killian's family dynamic? He called his dad Adam, Adam was gay with a very handsome boyfriend, he had a brother that he wasn't related to, and a beautiful, young mother. I'd have to pull Aidan aside at some point to get the whole story.
"You can call me Meg," she said with a warm smile, before turning back to Ilana and Lysander. "Where's that other daughter of yours?"
"Nila can't make it this year. She's taking a turn with Heather's family this year."
By that point, the kitchen was so packed with people that Adam shooed everyone out so he and Steve could finish preparing dinner.
Meg led us all out to the back deck overlooking the beach. It was cool, but not too chilly, and the waves breaking against the shore made a gorgeous backdrop. Killian and Asher went back in to get drinks for everyone.
We were chatting over cups of spiced cider when the last of the guests arrived, yet another gay couple, named Bryant and Calvin. Bryant was around the same age as Adam and Steve, tall, with skin tanned to a warm glow, wavy dark hair, and muscles that rippled under his tight sweater. Calvin was his opposite in nearly every way — thin and fragile-looking, with skin so pale it was nearly translucent. His white-blond hair was neatly tucked behind his ears, and his icy blue eyes were so light they seemed almost colorless.
"Sorry we're late," Bryant boomed. "It takes time to look this good."
Everyone chuckled.
"You're not late," Aidan said. "We're just early birds."
After another round of introductions, conversation flowed easily until Adam called us to dinner. We gathered around two large tables crammed into a room barely big enough to hold all of us. The seating was intimate, to say the least — we were elbow to elbow — but everyone was in high spirits.
Once everyone was settled, Adam stood, wine glass in hand.
"Before we dive in," he began, "I just want to say how honored Steve and I are to have all of you here today. Some of you are familiar faces, and it’s wonderful to see you again. And some are new. Welcome."
He paused for a moment, staring thoughtfully into the ruby-red contents of his glass. "Thanksgiving is traditionally a time to spend with family. But for a lot of us, for a lot of reasons, that doesn’t always mean the families we were born into. What I’ve learned — what many of us have learned — is that family can be the people we choose. The ones who show up. The ones who love us as we are. The ones who stay."
He glanced around the table, gratitude filling his eyes.
"Today, you’re our family. All of you. And we’re so thankful to share this day with you."
He raised his glass, and the rest of us followed suit.
"To family," he said.
"To family," we echoed.
"But if the family grows any bigger, we may have to rent a venue next year," Steve added wryly, and everyone laughed.
"If that's what it takes, then we'll do it!" Adam declared. "Now, let's eat!"
Dinner was incredible. I'd never seen so much food. The turkey was so big I thought someone must have shot Big Bird; plus there was ham, candied yams, green beans, mountains of fluffy mashed potatoes, gallons of gravy, two kinds of stuffing, warm yeast rolls, coleslaw, artichokes, Brussels sprouts, homemade cranberry sauce, and six different kinds of homemade pies for dessert. Steve and Adam must have been cooking for days. The atmosphere was festive as food was passed around and conversation flowed as freely as the wine.
When everyone had eaten their fill — and then some — Adam and Steve went around the table with an after-dinner wine and coffee. Even Kane was allowed a small glass of the sweet red wine. Only Caitlin refused, covering her glass with her hand and smiling with a shake of the head.
When everyone was finished, Adam stood up. "And now it's time for phase two of our new annual tradition. If everyone would follow me..." We managed to waddle into the living room where we sat in a loose circle on chairs, the sofa, and the floor.
Once everyone was settled, Adam once again spoke up. "Last year Aidan came up with this little gem, and we're going to continue the practice if everyone is game. We'll go around the room, one person at a time, and say one thing that you are thankful for. If you absolutely can't keep it to one thing, a panel of judges will evaluate the merit of each request on an individual basis."
The others laughed and looked at Bryant, who tried to look innocent but failed miserably.
"Who'd like to go first?" Adam asked.
"I will," said Lysander. "I'm thankful that we now have a happy, healthy baby girl. For those of you who were here last year, you'll remember that it was one year ago tonight that we made the big announcement."
Ilana smiled down at the sleeping bundle in her arms. "What can I add to that?" she said.
"That's it?" Adam said.
"Sandy said it all," Ilana said.
"Okay, new rule," Adam said. "You have to come up with your own thing to be thankful for."
Ilana laughed. "Then I'm glad Melody is finally sleeping through the night."
"Amen to that," Lysander said and threw back the rest of his drink as everyone laughed.
Bryant reacted quickly to refill Lysander's glass.
"Good thing I'm driving," Ilana said with a wink.
Next was Calvin, who raised his glass in yet another toast. "Here's to Adam and Steve. Thank you for opening your home to us strays year after year."
Bryant clinked his glass to his partner's. "I'll drink to that!"
"That doesn't count as your turn!" Adam said quickly.
Bryant rolled his eyes. "Just for that, I'll say I'm thankful for anal retentive friends who can't resist micromanaging every second of the holidays. Emphasis on the anal."
Adam threw his head back and laughed loud and long. "Hey! I resemble that remark! And somebody has to make sure you all get fed."
"And you do a great job of it," Steve said with genuine appreciation.
"Oh stop. I wasn't fishing for compliments. Anyway, it's my turn, so I'm thankful that it's been almost a year since anyone in my family has been threatened, held at knifepoint, or nearly burned alive. In fact, no one has had anything worse than a cold. It's been deliciously dull. And for that, I am thankful."
Steve nodded. "Same here." Adam gave him a pointed look, and he quickly added, "I mean, I have my own, don’t worry. I just really agree with what you said." He took a breath and continued, more sincerely now. "I’m thankful that I’ve been lucky enough to find my soulmate — and even luckier to love his family like my own, and to be welcomed by them in return. I’m genuinely happy and content with where I am in life." He turned to the next person with a smile. "Your turn, Meg."
"Well, I'm thankful most of all to get to see my handsome son again and see how happy and well-adjusted he is these days. Now, I would like to petition the judges for a second item, if it pleases your honor."
Adam gave an exaggerated sigh. "You're pushing the limits, Meg, but I suppose we'll allow it."
"Thanks, you're a dear. I'm also thankful that things have been going well for me up in Pennsylvania. The divorce is now final, and I've managed to get back into school. I'm excited about my future for the first time in a long time. Now I'm done. You're next, Kane."
"Um..." Kane thought for a moment. "I'm thankful that my mom is talking to me again, and things are better between us, so now I get to see my mom and my dad, which, of course, means more presents at Christmas." He waggled his eyebrows, and everyone chuckled.
I made a mental note to add that to the list to ask Aidan about later.
"My turn," announced Killian. "I'm thankful for two things. Is that okay?"
"Go ahead," Adam said with exaggerated weariness. "We already set a precedent with your mother."
"'K, well, I'm thankful that my real dad remains behind bars where he belongs and where he can't hurt anyone else."
"Here, here," Meg muttered under her breath.
Real dad? Behind bars? I added that to the ever-growing list to ask Aidan.
Killian continued, "I'm also thankful that I found my soulmate, too, but to make mine different from Steve's, I'm glad my soulmate found me."
Asher smiled goofily at Killian while the chorus of aw's died down. "I'm thankful that Killian and I have decided to go to college together so we won't have to date long distance next year," he said. "Hey, we're applying to Pemberton so maybe we'll be going to school with you, Aidan."
"And Caitlin, too," Aidan said. "My turn? Well, mine is a multiple part thanks but it's technically all part of one big package."
"I'll be the judge of that," Adam said jokingly.
"If not, I'll throw myself on the mercy of the court. I'm thankful that Aunt Meg brought me down here with her last year because that one trip changed my life in so many ways. I was able to accept that I was gay with a little help from my not-so-little cousin, Killian, it solidified my decision to transfer to Pemberton, and, this is the part I'm most thankful for, I made the best friend I've ever had in my whole life. As a bonus, he's also my roommate. I'm thankful for you, Will."
I flushed crimson and stared down at my feet, but it was my turn and every eye in the room was on me. I cleared my throat and spoke up, "I guess it's my turn, huh? Most of you don't know me, so a little background may be in order, if that's okay?"
"Motion granted," Adam said gleefully. He was clearly enjoying his role as Thanksgiving mediator. And the bottomless glass of wine.
“Thanks. Um... well, only Aidan knows this, but about a month ago, I went through...I guess you could call it a crisis.” I paused, the weight of it all suddenly a little heavier in the quiet. “I had to finally face the fact that I’m also gay.”
“Welcome to the club!” Bryant called out, and a wave of warm, supportive voices followed—welcomes and affirmations from everyone around the table. Everyone except Aidan, who already knew, and Caitlin, who sat silently.
I managed a small smile. “Thanks. But, uh... it wasn’t easy. My dad disowned me. And my best friend didn’t exactly handle it well—actually, he handled it pretty terribly. I had a complete breakdown and...I ended up trying to take my own life.”
The room went completely still. Mouths dropped open, expressions frozen in collective shock. It was such a perfectly timed moment of stunned silence that I almost laughed. Almost.
“There were a lot of things that pushed me to that edge," I continued quietly, "but the biggest mistake I made was trying to run from everything instead of facing it. I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn't be alive, if it weren’t for Aidan.”
I turned to him then, the emotion rising in my throat. “He didn’t just save my life once—he saved it twice. And I mean that literally. He’s been there for me through everything. Even when I was a complete mess, he never gave up on me. He’s been the kind of friend I never expected to find, let alone deserve. He's taught me what true friendship looks like. He pushed me to get help, to keep going, to fight for myself when I didn’t think I could.”
I swallowed hard, then lifted my glass. “So, yeah...I’m thankful for Aidan. And I’m thankful that I’m still here. That I got a second chance.”
I suddenly realized that everyone in the room was staring at me, most with tears in their eyes, and I felt a blush creep up again.
Aidan pulled me into a hug. "And I'd do it all over again," he whispered into my ear.
"Ahem," Caitlin cleared her throat, and the attention shifted to her. "It figures I'd have to follow that."
Everyone chuckled, including me.
"I don't know any of you, really — I've only known Will for a few weeks — so don't expect anything that deep from me. But you've all made me feel so welcome, like I was part of a family, which isn't something I'm used to, if I'm being honest, so thank you all. And thank you, Adam, for inviting me."
"Of course! You're stuck with us now," Adam said. "We'll expect both you and Will again next year."
"Be careful what you wish for," Caitlin said with a smirk.
We lingered for a while, talking and laughing as the evening wound down, until Lysander and Ilana stood up, saying it was time to get Melody to bed. Their departure was the cue for everyone else to start gathering their things, which was fine by me — we still had to drive home and meet with Laura and Gabe.
Killian and Asher were driving separately, so Caitlin, Aidan and I headed out after thanking Adam and Steve again for having us.
As soon as we climbed into the car, I texted Laura to let her know we were on our way. Then I turned to Aidan, unable to hold back my questions any longer.
"Okay, so...what’s the deal with Killian’s family?" I asked.
Aidan laughed. "Ha! Yeah, I probably should’ve filled you in before we got there."
"I mean, maybe it’s none of my business, but I'm confused. There's Adam and Steve, a brother he’s not actually related to, his mom Meg, a dad in prison..." I trailed off, trying to piece it all together.
Aidan snorted. "Yeah, I get it. It’s a lot. Basically, Killian’s biological father was a huge asshole. Didn’t handle Killian coming out very well. Beat him, kicked him out of the house, then started taking it out on Aunt Meg. That’s when she packed up and moved in with us. His dad ended up in prison on some political charges or something. I don’t know the full story."
"Wow," I said, stunned. "And I thought my dad was bad. But what about Adam and Steve?"
"Adam’s oldest son, Seth, is the boy who was murdered. He and Killian were friends. When Uncle Gary kicked Killian out, Adam took him in. Kane is Adam’s youngest kid, and Steve’s just Adam’s boyfriend."
"So...wait. Adam’s not even related to Killian?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around it. "He just...took him in?"
"Yeah," Aidan said, nodding. "At first it was supposed to be temporary, but it ended up becoming...well, family."
From the back seat, Caitlin’s voice chimed in, a little quiet but clear: "Chosen family."
"Exactly," Aidan said, glancing at her in the rearview mirror with a small smile.
"Like...choosing your own family?" I asked.
"Pretty much," Aidan said. "It’s when people build real, lasting bonds with each other — not because they have to, but because they choose to. It’s about love, trust, and showing up for each other, no matter what."
"We learned about it in class," Caitlin added. "Our professor said chosen families are especially important for people who get rejected by their biological families, like a lot of queer folks. But really, anyone can build one. It’s about finding the people who actually see you, and stay."
As they spoke, something clicked into place in my mind. Adam’s toast about family being the ones who choose you, the ones who love you no matter what, that wasn’t just a sweet sentiment. It was their reality. It was their survival.
I thought about Aidan and how he'd become such an integral part of my life. He was family now. And Laura, of course. And after that Thanksgiving dinner, it seemed like Adam and Steve had adopted me into their little chosen family, as well.
Then I thought about Joey. He'd been part of my family, for sure. Losing him felt like losing a piece of myself. I couldn’t change what had happened between us, couldn’t undo the mistakes, but maybe I could still do right by him.
I owed him that much.
I owed it to our family — chosen or not — to find the person who had taken him away.
Laura and Gabe were waiting for us in their car when we pulled up. We all took the elevator up to the apartment, where we made small talk until Killian and Asher arrived. Asher's mood seemed to have darkened considerably since we left them, and I wondered if they'd fought on the drive over or something.
Killian quickly brought things to order once everyone was seated in the living room. "We've had a week to start looking into things," he said, looking around our little group expectantly. "Has anybody come up with anything?"
Nobody jumped to answer.
"Will? Why don't you start," he voluntold me.
"I don't have much to report," I admitted, then walked them through my disappointing run-ins with the psycho at the delivery office and Detective Grafton.
"He did say we could fill out a form to request the autopsy report from the ME's office, but I checked their website and it's like a hundred bucks. It costs a lot less for the family, though. I wonder if Mrs. Taylor got one."
"We can ask when she gets back," Laura suggested.
With my failures out in the open, it seemed to break the ice for everyone else to share theirs, and since Laura had already mentioned Mrs. Taylor, she went next, explaining how Joey's mom was out of town for the holidays. She hadn't had any luck with Keiyara Parker either. Keiyara had missed class on Monday, Wednesday’s class got canceled, and Friday was Thanksgiving break, so she hadn't seen her.
Gabe reported that none of the frat brothers he spoke to had noticed anything strange or out of the ordinary until Joey's body was discovered, and nobody knew anything about the necklace.
Caitlin went next, but, apparently, Mckenzie hadn't even been at the party, and claimed she didn't know anything. She was sad that Joey was dead, but they hadn't spoken since she dumped him for cheating.
"So she says," Killian pointed out. "Did she say where she was? Does she have an alibi?"
Caitlin gave him a look. "I don't know. I'm not a fucking cop. I wasn't taking witness statements."
"What about any other exes?" Gabe asked.
"More like one-night stands," Caitlin said. "I talked to a few who I knew of, but they all said basically the same thing. It was casual, they barely knew him, it's all so sad, blah blah blah."
Killian frowned. "So, basically, we learned nothing and got nowhere."
"Maybe this was a bad idea," I said quietly.
"You think?" Asher spat.
"I just mean...none of us really know what we're doing," I continued. "We're just fumbling around in the dark."
"Don't get discouraged," Killian said. "We're just getting started."
"Yeah, and it's already been almost a month since he was killed," Caitlin pointed out. "Talk about a cold trail. Why are we even doing this?"
"Because he was our friend," Laura snapped. "Because we loved him. Maybe you don't give a damn about him, but we do. If you’re so ready to give up, maybe you shouldn’t be here."
The room went quiet, tension crackling.
Finally, Killian spoke. "Look, I know it’s frustrating. I feel it too. But we’re not done. Not even close. We still have people we haven’t talked to. Joey’s mom isn’t even back yet. And there's Keiyara." He looked around at all of us. "If she saw anything, anything at all, that could be the lead we’ve been waiting for."
"And if she didn't see anything?" Caitlin asked. "What do we do then?"
"Give up?" Asher said hopefully, earning himself a warning look from Killian.
"It's way too early to give up," Gabe said firmly. "How about I try to get my hands on the autopsy report? I’ll talk to my cousin, explain that Joey was a close friend of my girlfriend’s, maybe play the sympathy card a little. Even if she can’t give me a copy, maybe she’ll at least tell me what it says."
"Why is this report so important?" Caitlin asked.
"It might...tell us something we don't know," Gabe said, though he didn't sound fully convinced.
"Well, that wouldn't be hard," Aidan said under his breath, earning him a sharp look from Laura.
"I think I have some mutual friends with Keiyara," Laura said, still glaring at Aidan. "I'll ask around, see if I can find out where she lives, and hopefully go talk to her."
"I'll go with you," I offered. "We can ask her about the necklace, too. Maybe seeing it will jog her memory."
"Do you think there's any way we could get a look at the backyard of the frat house?"
"What for?" Caitlin asked.
"Just to poke around. Maybe something the cops missed. It’s a long shot, but we don't have a lot else right now."
"Wouldn’t the police have already found anything important?" Aidan pointed out.
"Probably," Killian admitted. "But it doesn’t hurt to double-check. Besides, we're not even sure what we're looking for yet."
"I can do it," Gabe volunteered. "What exactly am I supposed to be looking for?"
"Anything that feels wrong," Killian said. "Trash, something hidden, damage to the fence, disturbed ground — anything that seems out of place."
Gabe nodded, but still looked unsure.
"Okay," Killian said, clapping his hands together lightly. "Sounds like everyone’s got a task. Let's plan to meet back here one week from tonight and share what we find."
He looked almost optimistic. The rest of us, not so much. But even if it wasn’t much, at least it was a plan. As everyone started gathering their stuff to leave, I understood better than ever what Adam had meant: when your real family was gone or had let you down, you found a new one — the ones who stayed.
And whether we liked it or not, we were in this together.
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