Chapter Thirty-Seven—Ryan
Ryan knocked once on the door of the bedroom Johnnie directed him to.
“Come in.”
Opening the door, Ryan walked into the room.
“The glare is hurting my eyes. Close the door and have a seat.”
“I can’t see anything,” Ryan countered after he slammed the door shut and threw the room into total darkness. “It’s pitch black in here.”
Sheets rustled. A moment later, the bedside lamp flared to life, revealing Johnnie. Unkempt, unshaven, dark circles around his reddened eyes.
Ryan noted a folding chair next to the wrought iron double bed. The small room had a gray fringed chenille bedspread, white walls, and simple furnishing.
Johnnie lifted a washcloth from his forehead and pointed to a little corner door. “Can you wet the towel with cold water for me?”
Frowning, Ryan took the washcloth into a sterile white bathroom and followed Johnnie’s instructions. Back in the bedroom, Johnnie lay on the bed, his puffy eyes closed. His hands rested on his stomach, one bandaged and missing fingers and the other balled into a fist.
Ryan folded the cloth, then settled it back on Johnnie’s forehead.
“Are you sick?”
“Not physically.” Johnnie remained motionless. “Sick at heart. Devastated.”
“Logan’s video?”
“I thought it was a different video. About Big Joe. Bash once mentioned…” Unable to continue, he trailed his words off and his lips trembled, tears rolling down his cheeks. “I can’t believe…my grandfather…” His shoulders shook. “It’s all Kendall’s fault. If she didn’t stick her fucking nose in—”
“People knew of Great-Grandfather and Sharper’s relationship,” Ryan said.
Eyes wet and wild, Johnnie glared at Ryan. “You’re a fucking liar. You didn’t know Grandda as I did—”
“Something I’d lamented for a long time,” Ryan admitted. “But facts are facts. Bro was a flaming homo.”
Johnnie started sobbing again. “I don’t give a fuck who Logan fucked.” He turned a woeful gaze to Ryan. “But he was in a negligee. He wore lipstick. He called Sharper ‘Daddy’—”
At least ten fucking times.
“Cum leaked out of his ass!” Johnnie wailed. “That was the man I looked up to? My entire life feels like a lie.”
“I’m sorry you’re so upset,” he said, meaning it. “Put it into perspective, though. Logan’s dead, so—”
“So I can’t confront him! I can’t ask him why he tortured Christopher for so many years but was a simpering coward who got plowed in the ass. Why did he want perfection from me and Zoann while begging his d-d-d-daddy…?” Johnnie covered his face and sobbed louder. “Why, Grandda? WHY?”
Unsure what to do, Ryan sat in the folding chair next to the bed and waited for Johnnie’s tears to subside.
Fifteen minutes later, he shut up.
“Don’t you have a headache by now, dude?”
“What do you want?”
“I need your help. I…Molly…” He fumbled in his jacket pocket for his phone, then pulled up her most recent photographs, sent this morning.
She was nude, covered in blood, and blindfolded. They’d also sent a video with a timestamp. That was the only reason he believed she was still alive.
Johnnie studied the photo a moment, then shoved it back to Ryan. “I can’t help.”
If he didn’t fear a gruesome death and his mother’s hatred, he would go to Uncle Christopher. He’d hoped Johnnie had developed some compassion. “Please—”
“You should’ve told me it was about Molly. I would’ve saved you a trip.”
“You didn’t ask,” he said in frustration.
“I can’t help you. Don’t bring her up again.”
“If I go to Outlaw, he’ll end up figuring out my role in her disappearance.”
“I don’t care. About Molly. About anything—”
Ryan’s eyes widened. “Because of Logan?”
“He was my grandfather.”
His hope dwindling, Ryan stood and started to walk to the door, but he paused and turned back to his uncle. “I know you’re upset. I was, too. Logan’s dead. He can’t comeback to help you through this—”
“He would never,” Johnnie spat. “He was too cold for such kindness.”
“Then why are you mourning him?”
“Watch it before I cut your tongue out. I won’t allow you to blaspheme him.”
“He wasn’t God. Obviously, Logan had flaws, but you’re deserting your family for shit that happened decades ago.”
Clenching his jaw, Johnnie turned his head, dismissing Ryan.
Seeking Johnnie’s help had been a waste of time from the very start. For whatever reason, Johnnie wouldn’t negotiate Molly’s return. His rigid stance left Ryan no choice.
He headed to the door he remembered belonging to Mattie, pleased when he discovered his accuracy. Maybe Willard and Wally would finally capitulate and return Molly to Ryan if he surrendered and put the cameras in Mattie’s room.