22
Paul held his phone, the handset slick with sweat. “Is Russell Webster there?”
“Speaking.”
“This is Paul—” His voice shook and he gripped the phone harder. “You gave me your phone number to call.”
Russ’ sharp intake of breath could be clearly heard. “P-Paul, I hoped you’d call.”
“I was too curious not to. I’ve spent the last weeks searching the death registers for your name.”
“Death registers? Why would you do that?”
“Mother told me you died years ago.”
There was another whistling breath. “I guessed she’d be angry but didn’t think she’d go that far.” Russ paused for a long moment. “If you thought I died so long ago, why did you only start looking now?”
A smothering numbness settled on Paul. Where should he even start? He took a deep breath. “Because I knew nothing about you, no
