“Okay, time for you to pull yourself together.” Addison yanked open the back passenger's side door of his Jeep and stared down at Ian. “Seriously. Cool it.”
Ian's eyes were nearly swollen shut from crying. He'd covered the back seat in snot and barf. The Jeep smelled like a dive bar bathroom after midnight.
“I-I-I c-c-can't help it,” he blubbered, making no attempt to stop the deep, gasping sobs that were leaving him struggling to breathe.
“You're going to have to help it,” Addy said flatly. “Unless you'd rather we all go to jail for murder.”
“B-b-but I thought David was-.”
“David is doing everything in his power to save your ass. We all are. But you've got to pull yourself together and meet us halfway. I need your help.”
“M-my help?” Ian's sobs slowed slightly. He couldn't cry and speak at the same time.
“Your help,” Addison confirmed. “David and Cal went to get the wrecker but I don't want to sit here any longer than we have to. I don't know what that girl was doing walking alone on management land, but there's always a chance someone knew where she went and will come looking for her.”
“Shit,” Ian cursed. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
“I need you to help me pull your truck back onto its wheels. I've already hooked the chains back up. All you have to do is watch the Dodge for me. Make sure its coming back over the way I need it to.”
“I-I-I can do that.” Ian took a deep breath and nodded uncertainly. “I just. I just don't want to see her again.”
“You won't. She's gone.”
“Gone?” Ian asked, looking suddenly and unexpectedly relieved.
“David's handling it.”
Ian managed a small smile. “David always takes care of everything. He'll make this okay. He'll make it right.”
Addison started to open his mouth to tell Ian that there was absolutely nothing David Breedlove would ever be able to do that could fix the accidental death of a young girl, but then he stopped himself. Ian looked calmer than he had all afternoon. The younger boy's eyes held the utter and absolute faith of a small child whose parent had never once failed to chase away the monsters before tucking him into bed.
Ian had always hero-worshiped David, even though the two of them were only a year apart in age. Who was Addison to take the comfort of absolute trust away from Ian in the time when he probably needed it the most?
“Yeah,” he told Ian. “Breedlove will fix it. Breedlove always fixes everything. It'll be like she never died.”
Ian nearly smiled. “David can fix anything.”
“Of course he can,” Addison lied. “Now come help me get your truck rolled back over.”
“Okay.” Ian got out of the truck with his shoulders straight. If he hadn't been covered in blood and vomit, Addison would have been hard pressed to tell that anything was wrong with him.