She couldn't really blame AJ. It wasn't like he had a smoking gun, either, just a theory that, like other theories could be wrong. But it was something to look into.
"Do you have any idea where Landon might have kept his research files?" Matt asked. "I understand that his computer and phone were missing."
"That was another reason I didn't believe it was an accident," she said, looking to AJ for his answer to Matt's question.
"I didn't know they were missing, but he was always writing stuff in black notebooks. He had at least six of them. He kept all the information on his algorithm there," AJ replied. "You cleaned out his apartment. You probably have them."
She shook her head. "I don't remember any black notebooks."
"Do you still have his things?" Matt asked.
"Yes. I have his boxes in a storage unit in my building. But there weren't any black notebooks." She frowned. "This is why you should have talked to me back then, AJ. No one else mentioned notebooks to me."
"Like I said, I went to the police, and they weren't interested in what I had to say. And Sabrina told me the same thing when I went to the legal aid center. I started to think I was the crazy one."
She couldn't really blame AJ, but she still wished they'd had this conversation six years ago.
"Look, I'm sorry," AJ continued. "I really am. I liked Landon. I respected him. But I don't want to get dragged into this. Does anyone know about me?"
"As far as I know, just Alanna. But Alanna said she didn't know where you were. I don't think you need to be worried."
"Except you're both here now, and I'm going to be in an FBI file." He turned to Matt. "Can you keep me out of this? I don't want to end up like Landon and Sabrina, especially when I don't know anything."
"I understand," Matt said. "I'll do my best to keep your name out of it."
"How good is your best?" AJ challenged.
"Very good," Matt returned. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt, especially not someone who's trying to help. We appreciate your candor, Mr. Patel."
"I wish you'd never come here. Someone might have followed you."
"No one followed us," Matt said firmly.
"You need to go," AJ said. "Do whatever you need to do, just keep me out of it."
"Thank you for sharing," she said. "Thank you for being my brother's friend. It's nice to know someone cared about him."
"I wish I could go back in time and do things differently."
"So do I," she said heavily. "We'll go. We don't have to escape again, do we? Because that was a little harrowing."
He smiled. "No. There's an exit next to the bar. I'm surprised you didn't enjoy the entrance. Landon loved escape rooms. We'd travel miles to try out a new one. He liked the challenge. Not that any of them were much of a challenge for his big brain, but they were always fun."
Something else she hadn't known about her brother.
"Stay safe," AJ added as he opened the door. "Landon wouldn't want you to die looking into his death."
"I need to get justice."
"Justice won't bring him back. Maybe you should let this go."
"I can't let it go until I know what happened to my brother, until I make whoever took his life pay for what they did."
"Then I'll just say good luck."
When they left the club, the cool night air was instantly refreshing, and she sucked in several welcome breaths before turning to Matt. "AJ gave us a few things to think about."
"He did," Matt agreed. "I'd like to take a look at Landon's boxes."
