“What is happening?”
The officer rubbed his forehead.
“Long story.”
Noah looked through the rear glass.
Victor removed his helmet.
Still there.
He had promised.
That night, Noah and Lily were placed together in an emergency foster home run by an older couple named the Martinez family.
Separate bedrooms.
Clean clothes.
Hot shower.
Food.
Noah hated all of it.
Not because it was bad.
Because safety felt temporary.
Temporary things hurt more when they ended.
Victor visited the next afternoon.
He brought no toys.
No giant gifts.
Just Noah’s backpack.
Repaired.
A new zipper sewn into the side.
Noah stared.
“You fixed it?”
Victor shrugged.
“Sam’s wife did.”
Noah opened it.
Everything inside remained exactly where he had left it.
Including the patch.
Victor had placed it in a clear protective sleeve.
Noah touched it.
“Did you find Dad?”
“Not yet.”
Noah’s face fell.
Victor sat across from him.
“But I found Bishop.”
Noah looked up.
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Prison.”
Noah blinked.
“What?”
“New Mexico.”
“For what?”
Victor hesitated.
“Extortion.”
“Assault.”
“Other things.”
“Dad went to see him?”
“We think so.”
“Why?”
Victor leaned forward.
“Your father discovered something.”
“What?”
“Twenty-two years ago, Road Saints had money disappear.”
Noah frowned.
“How much?”
“A lot.”
“We blamed the wrong man.”
“Who?”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“Your dad.”
Noah stood.
“You said he saved you.”
“He did.”
“And you blamed him?”
“I did.”
Noah backed away.
Victor did not move.
“You thought Dad stole from you?”
“Yes.”
“Did you hurt him?”
The question cut deeper than Victor expected.
“No.”
“Did anyone?”
Victor looked down.
“Some tried.”
Noah’s face hardened.
“Who?”
“Bishop.”
The room became quiet.
Victor continued.
“Your father left the club soon after.”
“I thought he left because of your mother.”
“That was part of it.”
“The rest…”
He exhaled.
“We made him feel like he had to.”
Noah clutched the patch.
“And now?”
“Now we know Bishop stole the money.”
“How?”
“Your dad found records.”
Noah remembered the maps.
Receipts.
Pictures.
Victor continued.
“He must've discovered Bishop was still moving money through old businesses.”
“He started digging.”
“Then he disappeared.”
Noah whispered:
“Bishop did something.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
Victor leaned forward.
“We don't guess when your father’s life is involved.”
Noah stared.
Victor continued.
“We find facts.”
That became the next two weeks.