“Yeah. I recently had a troubling phone call myself. That Ms. Lane was being held against her will at the Southeast Environmental Commission office. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you? I know your contacts are much more adept at finding sensitive information than mine.”
She’s silent for a few moments. “I’ll look into it. But as far as I know, Tessa was staying on Knox’s boat.”
“Looked there. She was nowhere in sight.”
“Where are you now? I’m in town, but I only have about twenty minutes before I need to make my flight.”
She’s here?
“Actually, it doesn’t matter. I’m headed to Zane’s mother’s house to ask her some questions. Meet me there.”
Without waiting for Jack’s response, she ends the call. Before I can even open my mouth to speak, a black SUV pulls up outside of my mom’s house. “Get in the back,” I tell everyone.
“She’s going to expect me to be here,” my mom insists.
I shake my head. My gut is screaming at me that Brenda is behind this, and the last thing I’m willing to do is put my mom and sister right in her crosshairs. “It’s too risky.”
“If you don’t want Brenda to know you’re alive, you all need to go. Now.” Jack unholsters his pistol and checks it before sliding it back into his shoulder holster.
“I’m not leaving my mother and sister unprotected,” I say, hands clenching into fists.
“I will keep them safe. You have my word. But if you don’t get back there now, she’s going to know you are all alive. Something you said you didn’t want, right?” When I don’t move, he continues, “Look, we need to know where Tessa is. Let me distract her, and you and your team come back around the front. We’ll flank her. Then I’ll leave the room so you can do whatever it is you do to extract information.”
I arch a brow. “Whatever it is?”
He shrugs. “I imagine there’s a good reason you were brought on to do whatever it is you do for her. I told you, I’m here to solve a murder. Now I can add another body and a disappearance to that. You help me do that, and I’ll go to bat for you.”
Garrison and Tessa. That’s who he’s talking about. “Thanks.”
“No problem. Go.”
“Give me your cell,” I tell Anastasia. She reaches into her pocket and hands it to me without argument. After shoving it into my own, I give her and my mother hugs, then slip down the back hall and prop the window open. “We’re heading out, and we’re going to circle back around front. It’s well past time Brenda starts answering some of our questions,” I tell the team.
I withdraw the cell phone and text Bradyn.
Me: Brenda is here. Backup may be needed.
As soon as the text is sent, I shove the phone back into my pocket and wait.
A series of rapid knocks, loud enough to be heard even from back here, sends my heart racing. If I'm wrong about Brenda and she’s not involved, what we’re about to do will land us in the type of prison no one knows exists.
I know I’m not wrong.
A few moments later, I can hear the door open. “Can I help you?” Anastasia asks.
“I’m Brenda Leroy, your brother’s boss? I was wondering if—what are you doing here?”
“You knew I was in Stormwatch Landing,” Jack replies smoothly. “And you asked me to meet you here.”
“How are you here already?” All of the friendliness is gone from Brenda’s voice. Replaced only with stern anger and clear suspicion.
“Jack and I are dating,” Anastasia blurts. “He was here when you called.”
Beside me, Sawyer stiffens. It’s subtle but there.
“Oh?” Brenda questions.
“Yeah, it’s new,” Jack says smoothly. “But Anastasia told me she hadn’t heard from Zane, and since the call at Southeast Environmental Commission was a bust, I hopped on the first plane out here.”
