Sweet Liar (Candy #2)(10)

Jonah had no reaction. “That was probably by design, especially considering what they were doing.”

“So you think they’re both traitors?” Even the word traitor coming from my mouth sounded ridiculous.

“They are.” He bent down to gather the papers I’d dropped and shoved them back into the folder.

I wanted to tell him it was crazy, that it was completely impossible, but I couldn’t defend my father with much conviction because I knew he was capable of almost anything.

What I didn’t know and neither did they, was why. I didn’t think he would turn on them without a reason. The fact that Mr. Hoyt was also involved was another bombshell, but they kept falling so fast, I couldn’t process them. I only sat there, unmoving, my body unable to cope with my racing thoughts.

“You were raised differently from most of us.” Jonah sat down again and looked up at me. “Your father kept you isolated. Like I said, families usually live close together and socialize with each other. The work itself is secret, but nothing else is. You never knew about Drew’s father, but he knew about yours. I’m guessing your father asked them not to say anything to you.”

“Why?” I managed to ask, picturing Drew and me sharing our first kiss in the field behind our school. It was hard to imagine him keeping this secret so well.

“Your father would probably say he was protecting you, but I’d say that’s only an excuse. What he was doing was wrong, and he didn’t want you to know. But I have a feeling Drew knows.”

I eyed him more sharply.

“That’s why Drew’s so closed off, and why I couldn’t make any headway with him. He was suspicious of me from the start. But he’s different with you. That’s how my father thinks you can help. He wants you to get close to Drew.”

Before I could say anything, Jonah kept going.

“You’ve already been invited to his house for dinner. Sam overheard him invite you at the diner. My father wants you to accept the invitation.”

I made a sound of disgust. “I find all of this really hard to believe. Even if I agreed to go to dinner, do you think they’re just going to spill their secrets to me after saying nothing all this time?”

Jonah didn’t let my sarcasm bother him. “Things are different now. Your father’s been taken. It’s likely they’ll know that. It would make sense for you to talk about it at dinner with them. But you can’t say anything about me or my father being involved. Once the conversation starts, it would be interesting to see where they take it.”

I looked at Jonah, fascinated for a moment because he wasn’t talking about football, and he wasn’t playing on his phone or tossing out sarcastic remarks like he had in school so often. He was serious and focused. He was working. This was who he really was.

“If you’re all in the organization together, why doesn’t Drew know who you really are?”

“His family knows my father, but I’d never met them or Drew. That fact, and my boyish good looks, made me perfect for this assignment.” He smirked.

I rolled my eyes. Not so perfect, actually, since he’d made no headway with Drew. The truth was now that I knew about the Hoyts’ connection to my father, I wanted to talk to them, not to help Jonah or Victor but to help my own family. I wished I could ask my father what to do. He’d know how to handle things.

“Before I decide anything, I’d like to see my father.”

Jonah’s gaze shifted from me to the floor, hinting at his response. “You can’t see him. You can’t know where he is.” He sighed and glanced up at me again. “But maybe you could talk to him on the phone. I can ask for you.”

It wasn’t what I wanted, but I supposed talking to him was better than nothing. I considered what Jonah was asking me to do. “If I help you, how will it help my father?”

“There’s no way to know that yet. We need information, and your father isn’t cooperating. It will depend on what you find out.”

I laughed bitterly. “That’s reassuring.”

“We’re not the police. We don’t have to follow the same rules. Your father could stay locked up forever while we try to figure out what information he leaked. Knowing would be better. It would give us proof, something we could work with. If we had proof, and you helped us get it, your father could bargain with it, maybe make his situation better.”

The lump in my throat grew. “Sounds like bullshit to me.”

Jonah’s lips formed a tight line. “It could also help us figure out why your father did it. Wouldn’t you like to know that?”

Yes, but I wasn’t going to answer his question and give him the satisfaction. “Can I think about it?”

“About helping us? Sure,” he said with a curt nod. “Take your time.”

My eyes narrowed. “You don’t want me to do this?”

Jonah sighed. “If it means you spending time with Drew? No. But it’s not up to me.”

I recalled our conversation from a few weeks ago, when Jonah said Drew was bad news. I’d disagreed, and I still found it hard to believe, even with this new information I had about him.

After glancing at his watch, Jonah looked at me before he turned and walked into the kitchen. A moment later, I heard pots and pans banging around.