A huge jolt of adrenaline goes through me. “But he was here?”
She says something but it’s impossible to hear through her crying.
“Did he hurt you?” I call through the door. “What did he do?”
Bill touches my shoulder. “We need to keep moving.”
I chew my lip. I want to comfort Margot, or even just let her out but she doesn’t seem to be in physical pain or danger.
“We’ll be back,” I tell my sister and lead Archie and Bill further up the hall.
“At least we know he was here,” Archie mutters. “Apologies, Nancy Drew.”
“That’s fine,” I say primly. We clear the second floor and go up another level. As soon as we hit the third floor there’s a rattle from my brother Harris’s old bedroom.
“Corinne?” I call as Archie and Bill raise their guns.
“No, you fucking asshole! It’s me.”
I start. It’s my brother, Harris. “What are you doing here?” I ask. “Why are you so angry?”
The doorknob shakes violently. “Because I’m locked in here with no bathroom, no water, no food, and if you’d married that asshole none of this would have happened. Let me the fuck out!”
I stare at the door, frantically trying to wrap my head around what’s happening. Harris wasn’t living at home when I was engaged to Mr. Parker, I have no idea why he’d be here.
“January, you useless slut.” Harris kicks his door. “Let me out now!”
I gasp, wounded by the words and Archie bangs on the door with his fist. “Pipe the fuck down or I’ll come in there and shoot you.”
“I… Who are you?” Harris asks in a completely different voice.
“None of your business, son.” Archie turns to me. “Is your whole family here?”
“I… Yes. Maybe,” I manage, still shocked by Harris’s insults. “I don’t know why.”
“I do,” Archie says grimly. “Lemme guess, son. Parker offered you money to show up here today? Maybe a cushy job? Maybe both?”
Silence from behind Harris’ door.
“Mystery solved.” Archie kicks the door. “You’re lucky you’re not dead, rich kid.” He turns to me. “Let’s keep moving, Kitten.”
“No,” Harris whines. “January, I didn’t mean it. Tell your boyfriend I’m sorry.”
I push a hand to my chest, the idea that Eli, Doc, Bobby, or Adriano is here is more painful than any of the insults.
“January,” Harris repeats. “You need to let me out. Parker came here. He hurt Corinne.”
“What do you mean, ‘hurt her?’” Archie asks. “She dead?”
“No. He…” Harris falls silent and the spiraling seconds that follow are scarier than anything he could have said. I watch the door, waiting for the answer.
Bill takes my arm. “We need to go. Come on.”
“Please let me out?” Harris begs.
Archie kicks the door again. “No chance dickhead. You’ll keep.” He points his gun up the hall. “Lead the way, Kitten. We’ve got your back.”
I cast my brother’s door one last look and we continue searching. We pass Lachlan’s room and as I try to reassure him that I’ll come back and let him out, he punches a wall and calls me a skank bitch.
