Page 77 of Dear Debbie

It’s empty. Just as I feared.

I stare down at the empty gun safe, realizing that my worst nightmares are true. I wasn’t sure what was going on until this minute, but I know now.

Ken Bryant and I had an argument, and I quit in a fit of anger.

There is a lot of money missing from the company, and all signs point to it being an inside job.

Ken has been murdered. He was shot in the head.

The murder weapon is almost certainly my gun, registered in my name.

The gun is now missing, but I suspect that it will eventually resurface, covered in my fingerprints. Not to mention all the fingerprints I surely left behind at Ken’s house.

Holy shit. Debbie is framing me for the murder of my boss.

“Dad?”

I look up, quickly closing the lid of the gun safe. Izzy is standing at the doorway of the garage, a troubled expression on her pale face. She steps into the garage hesitantly.

If I go to prison for murder, how often will I see my daughter? Not very much. It’s not like Debbie will bring her to see me.

“Hey, Iz,” I say around a lump forming in my throat.

“Dad,” she says. “What’s going on? I’m really worried about Mom.”

“Yeah.” I don’t know what to say to reassure her, but I know that’s what I need to do. That’s my job as her dad. I’m supposed to make her feel safe. “She’s going to be okay.”

“Where is she?”

I can only shake my head. “I’m sorry, honey. I’m trying my best to find her.”

“I know,” she says quietly.

The two of us just stand there for a moment in the garage. I’m trying to think of the right thing to say, but my mind is blank. I’m so bad at this. If Debbie were here, she’d know the right thing to say.

“Izzy?”

“Yeah, Dad?”

I try to smile, but I know it’s crooked. “I don’t want you to worry, Iz. I love you very much.”

She frowns, because that isn’t something I say very often. I do love her very much, but I just don’t think to say it. But I need to say it right now.

In case it’s my last chance.

Her face crumples slightly. “Mom is going to be okay, right?”

She is so worried about Debbie. I feel like I’ve been a good father—or at least done the best I could—but she’s been their whole world. I don’t want to lose her. If it comes down to me or Debbie…well, they should have her. Even if she’s a little off right now, their lives would be destroyed without her.

“Mom is going to be fine.” I grab my phone from my pocket and look at the screen one last time. “I have to run out again. I need to… I might know where to find your mother.” I shove my phone back in my pocket. “Will you and Lexi be able to get some food in the house?”

Izzy nods slowly. “Yeah. Mom went to the grocery store yesterday. There’s lots of food.”

Of course she did. Debbie always makes sure our household functions like a well-oiled machine.

“I’ll be back soon,” I promise her.

I hope I don’t have to break that promise.