Bullseye Read Free Page B

opened his mouth, those were the words his brain instructed his
tongue to speak. Instead, out came a sarcastic quip, fueled by the stirring of
unwelcome feelings. “I had nothing important planned for the next few days
anyway.”
    The tears dried in an instant. Those soft lips tightened, and
her shoulders stiffened. “Meaning Alex and I are not important?” Anger made her
voice sharp.
    Oops. Not what he meant at all. Why in the world did he always
speak before he thought? On the other hand, what did she expect? An open-armed
reception, as if the past four years had never happened? As if Margie had never
happened?
    But that wasn’t her fault.
    He softened his tone. “I’m sorry. It’s just that there are a
lot of memories here, you know?”
    The anger melted off her face, replaced with a gentle gaze that
was much harder to take. “I know.”
    The tenderness in her tone stirred up uncomfortable feelings in
him. The only way he could handle returning to the place where Margie died was
by donning a thick layer of sarcasm and indifference. But the one person who
could always cut through that armor was standing in front of him.
    He glanced at the escalator. The ticket counters were one floor
up. All he had to do was whip out a credit card and blow this place. Coming here
was a bad idea yesterday, and it was still a bad idea today. No matter what
Caleb said, sometimes it was best to leave the ghosts in their graves.
    Karina followed his gaze and her arms rose to wrap around her
middle. He recognized the gesture from years ago. Whenever she was upset, or
insecure, or frightened, that’s what she did.
    An emotion he preferred to ignore stirred him at the sight.
With a final glance toward the escalator, he shouldered his carry-on bag.
    “How soon can you get me in to talk to Alex?”
    * * *
    When they brought Alex into the visitation room at the
juvenile justice center, Mason got his second shock of the day. The ten-year-old
kid had grown into his oversized teeth. Alex was a hulking teenager, a couple of
inches taller than Mason’s five-ten and a good ten pounds heavier than him. It
was almost impossible to see the skinny kid in this slightly chunky young man,
except for a strong resemblance to his petite older sister.
    “Alex, you’ve grown up,” Mason managed as they shook hands.
    “Yes, sir.”
    He stooped to hug Karina, who embraced her brother with obvious
emotion. “How are you, baby? Are you eating? Is the food good here?”
    Alex held on to her for a long moment, then released her. “It’s
okay.”
    He dropped into a molded plastic orange chair, one of four in
an otherwise empty visiting room. Karina scooted another one near, so she could
sit close. Mason dragged a third chair away from the wall and positioned it so
he could face both of them. On the other side of the long glass half-wall a
guard sat behind a high counter watching with a dispassionate expression. When
Alex reached over and grabbed his sister’s hand, Mason’s heart warmed. The kid
who adored his big sister was still in there.
    “Alex, Mason flew here from Atlanta to help us.” Karina flashed
a hopeful smile toward Mason. “He’s a private investigator now, so he knows how
to find proof that you didn’t kill José.”
    The news had a surprising impact on the kid. His eyes widened
for a moment as he looked at Mason, then his brows dropped into a frown. He
released his sister’s hand, folded his arms across his chest and scooted down in
his seat, the picture of a sullen teenager.
    “I don’t need anybody’s help. I told you, I’ll be fine.”
    Interesting. Mason studied his body
language. Closed up tight, just like his sister. Probably for the same reason,
to protect himself from vulnerability. Only Mason detected a hint of something
else in the way the kid’s chin dropped and his shoulders hunched forward. He
knew enough about body language to recognize that Alex was afraid of something.
But what?
    “Yes, you do.” Karina slipped a