“Y-yes. Go inside. It feels good inside. There’s rainbows inside.”
I slid two fingers into her, twitching them until her eyes rolled back. She rocked her hips back and forth on my fingers, moaning and groping her breasts. The bed squeaked.
“If you don’t tell me where the motel is, I’ll stop.”
“No, no. Don’t stop. Touch my rainbow.”
I slid my fingers deeper. “Tell me.”
Between breathless moans and groans, she finally did.
*
Despite my latest heated conversation with the Chief, I hoped to change his mind with what I’d discovered. I called him on my way back from the hospital, but he didn’t answer. I called him again once I was back home, and it went straight to voicemail. I knew he was ignoring me, but he was a fool to think I’d give up. I’d march straight to the station if needed.
I took a long shower, scrubbing Amanda off of my skin. The second she’d given me the location of the motel, I left her spread-eagled and pleading on the bed. Discovering the motel’s location wasn’t like finding the estate itself, but it was a whole lot better than what I had before.
After I’d eaten, I tried again to call the Chief, and this time he answered.
“Yes, Jonah?” He didn’t try to hide his impatience.
“I spoke with Amanda. I know where the motel is; where The Society picks up the employees from.”
He stalled before saying, “Can you be sure they still use the same place?”
“Eliot said they don’t change it frequently. It’s the best lead we have. Can you set up a team to survey the place? It’s in Tecopa, close to Vegas. The motel is called Delight's Hot Springs Resort.”
“A team?”
“Yes. I can’t do it by myself.”
“Wasn’t I clear this morning when I told you I was done with this?”
I dug my nails into the table. “I know what you’ve said, but I got the information we needed. If we can just track down those people at the motel, we’ll find the estate and Hayden.”
“Jonah, I’m not sending a team to the desert because you talked to a crazy woman.”
I hated how he dismissed my efforts. “I believe her, and if we end up wasting our time, no harm done.”
“No harm done? Do you think I have extra manpower lying around?”
“I don’t need ten people. One or two should be enough.”
“The answer’s still no.”
My leg began to bounce, my heart beating faster. “I know you’re trying to bury this, but I won’t let you.”
“It’s not up to you.” He drew a breath, and my body tensed before he dropped the bomb. “Hayden was abducted in relation to a drug investigation. We don’t have any further leads at the moment.”
My mouth went dry. “What?”
“This will be the statement the department sends out tomorrow. It’s over, Jonah.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I’ll reach out to every news outlet in LA and tell them the truth.”
“They won’t—”
“Most would think I’m crazy, but this is LA, and people herelovea good scandal. I just need one reporter to believe me, and then your delicate house of cards will start tumbling down.”
