“Clancy is.”
“Hm.”
“What?”
“Do you think that maybe it is drugs?”
“Really?”
“I’m speculating. It could be any number of things. For all we know, Jackson could have been taking Clancy to the doctor. What are they doing now?”
“Clancy is pulling out. Oh shit.” I tuck my chin into my collar and slump down behind the wheel.
“What is it? Did they see you?”
I wait until Clancy has driven past before bracing my hands on the wheel and raising myself upright, my eyes locked on the rearview mirror. “I’m pretty sure they didn’t.”
“You should go check it out.”
“Check what out?”
“The doctor’s clinic they came out of. That’ll give you a clue as to what type of doctor they went to.”
My chest fills with disappointment. “No, man. If Jackson doesn’t want to tell me what the hell is going on, I’m not going to snoop around like some C-rate private eye to find out. I should get going.”
“Maverick?”
“What?”
“You don’t sound too great. Let’s keep talking.”
“Actually, I need some time to think. I’ll call you later.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah…I promise.”
I take off, my mind racing a million miles an hour, but my speedometer never reaches more than fifty. I assume Jackson and Clancy are heading back to the rescue center since Jackson only requested the morning off. I don’t want them to see me driving behind them on the only road into Silverstone and think I’m stalking them like some deranged psycho.
As I turn onto the highway, my imagination runs wild. Maybe I should have taken a look at the name of the doctor’s clinic they came out of. It would have at least given me a clue. Not knowing anything is driving me nuts.
Why was Jackson at a doctor’s clinic, and more importantly—why did he lie about it?
My first thought is that maybe he’s in recovery, too, and he went to the doctor as part of his treatment plan. But then, why wouldn’t he say anything after I told him my story?
Maybe he and Clancy are in therapy. Who knows what messed-up family dynamics they still haven’t told me about.
Maybe he needed to get some diagnostic work done. But why would he make up the dentist story if it was something so routine? Why wouldn’t he just tell me he had a medical appointment and leave it at that? It’s not like I would have demanded to know the specific details.
Or maybe it’s as Ollie suggested, and Clancy is the one with the medical issue. Given his age, that makes sense. What doesn’t make sense is why Jackson was the one needing Clancy’s help getting to the car.
My cheeks puff out as I push out a long, weary breath. Not knowingsucks. I pass the “Silverstone - 2 mi” marker, but I’m not ready to go back to the sanctuary and face Jackson just yet.
I pull over by the side of the road, cancel my scheduled meetings for this afternoon, then take a turn onto Main Street.
Ten minutes later, I’m sitting on a barstool at Bunny’s, cradling a whiskey in my hands.
30
