“If you get your story into the news, how long will it take The Society to kill Hayden?”
“He’s as good as dead either way, and I’d rather take you down with him.”
“You’re playing with fire.”
“I have nothing else left to play with.”
He remained quiet for a long time. I expected him to hang up, but he eventually said, “I’ll help you get hold of his aunt, Tammy.”
I opened my mouth to say that wasn’t enough, but Hayden’s aunt was my best chance at reaching the FBI, as Hayden had planned on doing. I couldn’t help but feel this might be a trap, but I was desperate.
“Okay,” I said. “Where can I find her?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Even with a strong pill, my sleep was restless. I woke up feeling like I hadn’t slept a minute. Sitting at my kitchen table, I gulped down a strong, bitter coffee, refreshing all the major local news websites. When Hayden’s name finally appeared on my screen, it felt as if I’d been electrified.
‘Local detective, Hayden Scott, has gone missing in what is believed to be a drug-related incident.’
I read on, barely stomaching the lies the police had fed the press.
‘The police are asking anyone with possible leads to come forward.’
A troubling thought surfaced in my mind. Had the police just made it easier for The Society to kill Hayden? They had practically given them a cover story, so what stopped them from killing him and dumping his body for the police to find? Case closed.
I snapped my laptop shut, almost hitting my fingers. I couldn’t let such thoughts set roots, not when every minute was crucial.
The Chief hadn’t given me Tammy’s phone number, just her address. When I searched for it online, it didn’t seem as if anyone lived on Cotharin Road in Malibu—at least not on the section of the road where Tammy allegedly lived.
I was about to get ready to leave when Jenny called. I picked up, and she immediately exclaimed, “Oh my God, I just saw the news! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I—”
“Oh no! Don’t tell me you haven’t heard yet. Am I breaking it down to you right now? Please don’t say that I’m doing that!”
“Calm down; I know already.”
She let out a breath. “Good—I meanbad! This is very bad. Do you know more than what they’re saying on the news?”
I itched to share the truth with her and unload some of this burden, but I couldn’t put her in danger. “I don’t know anything else. The police… they’re investigating.”
“They better! Are you coming to the studio?”
“No, I have things to take care of.”
“You shouldn’t be alone, Jonah. I can come over to your place.”
“Thanks, Jen, but I’m okay. I’ll speak with you later.”
“I’ll be waiting for your call. You’re not alone in this, okay, hon?”
That one got to me, making my eyes sting with gratitude. But like it or not, Iwasalone in this, unless I’d get Hayden’s mysterious aunt to help. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thank you.”
*
For someone who had spent years mostly driving from his house to his studio, I’ve been seeing more of California lately than I have in ages. And if it meant I might catch the attention of TheSociety, so be it. It could end up being my fastest way to their estate—or to a bullet in my head.
I didn’t know whether Tammy would be home. The woman was an enigma, and even Hayden had been vague about her story. LA’s wide roads grew narrower the farther I drove. When I reached Cotharin Road, I slowed down so I wouldn’t miss the address, though I didn’t notice any houses around. It was the kind of road you drove along to reach somewhere else.Was that why Tammy chose this place?
