Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 229

CHAPTER 132

The newspaper clipping sat between us on the workbench, and nobody seemed willing to touch it.

I stared at the yellowed paper while Derek stood across from me, because his last statement had changed everything.

The man who owned the property where the money disappeared. The photograph of Uncle Will and Victor. The missing pages from five specific years. None of it felt like a collection of coincidences anymore and Jace leaned closer.

“Read the article again.” Jace said.

I nodded and carefully unfolded the clipping. The paper was fragile, so I held it by the edges while I read the faded print.

The headline had originally sounded more dramatic than the actual story, because the article focused on a warehouse fire that had happened decades earlier.

The fire had destroyed an old industrial building on the edge of town and several local businesses had apparently lost equipment and stored materials in the blaze.

“This says Uncle Will volunteered after the fire.” I said and Derek nodded.

“Keep reading.” He said as I continued.

Several local mechanics had volunteered their time to help recover motorcycles, repair damaged vehicles, and salvage whatever could be saved.

Uncle Will’s name appeared halfway down the article.

William Lawson, owner of Lawson Customs, joined local mechanics assisting families affected by the warehouse fire.

“He was there.” I said looking at Jace.

“Apparently.” Jace said and I read further.

The article listed several volunteers, and most of the names meant nothing to me. Then I saw one that made Jace go completely still as his eyes remained fixed on the page.

“What?” I asked as he pointed toward the clipping.

“Read that name.” He said and I looked where he was pointing.

James Mercer.

“Who is that?” I asked looking at him but Jace didn’t answer immediately.

“Jace?” Derek said.

“My father.” Jace said.

The words came quietly, and I felt my chest tighten.

7.3

CHAPTERJA

“Your father was there?” I asked and Jace nodded.

“That’s his name.” He said and I looked back at the article.

James Mercer. Volunteer mechanic and traced the faded letters with my eyes.

“You never told me he knew Uncle Will.” I said.

“I didn’t know.” He said.

“Maybe they didn’t know each other.” I said but Jace shook his head.

Clam

“My father worked around here for years, and he knew most of the mechanics.” Jace said as he took the clipping from me carefully.

“He would’ve known Will.” He added.

I watched his expression change as he read the article.

“What happened to the warehouse?” I asked.

“According to the article, investigators suspected arson.” Derek said and Jace looked up.

“Arson?” Jace said and I nodded.

“It says there wasn’t enough evidence to prove who started it.” I said as Derek folded his arms.

“That’s interesting.” Derek said.

“Why?” I asked.

“The timing.” He said and I looked at him.

“What about it?” I asked.

“The article is dated 2010.” He said and my stomach tightened.

The same year appeared throughout the missing journal pages and Jace stared at the clipping.

“That can’t be a coincidence.” Jace said.

“I don’t think it is.” Derek said.

I looked at the damaged edge of the newspaper and several paragraphs were missing. Someone had cut away part of the article.

“There’s something missing here.” I said and Derek nodded.

“Someone removed part of the story.” He said.

“Can we find the full article?” I asked.

“Probably.” He said.

“Then let’s find it.” I said as Jace looked at me.

23

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