"Water is fine." Elizabeth slid her leg beneath her as she sat on his couch. "Did Marty kill my father?"
"What do you think?"
Elizabeth sipped her water. "No. Forgive me, I've been lied to in the past. Did he kill my father?"
"No."
Elizabeth nodded. "I assume, if he did not kill my father, you did not fire him either?" Kieran's expression remained neutral. "Kieran, my father was an evil man. Even before I found out about his betrayal of me and my relationship with Martin, he betrayed my mother with his infidelities. I grew up hearing rumors of money for favors.
"Marty and I talked a lot. He told me about the trust my father created. I think Tibby's daughters are my half-sisters. Since my father didn't have a spark of decency, I also think he stole my prescription pads for one of his deals. Or he stole them to further destroy my reputation? One thing I can be sure of, my father was a creature of habit.” Elizabeth took a long drink. Tilting her head, she said, “Marty trusts you. Can I?" Her amethyst eyes begged for an answer.
"On my life. If you don't believe for you, then believe it for Lola. Before we go further, for your safety and Lola’s, Martin assigned me temporary guardianship of Lola.”
“I understand.” Her voice was thick with emotion.
"My father never did anything without a back-up plan. I removed this from my father's den today." She passed Kieran the camera. "The police did a lousy search. I would like to go back there tomorrow. I'm sure his collection goes back for years."
"I believe your father underestimated you, Beth." Kieran walked over to the desk to open his laptop.
"Is that a compliment?" She met him at the table.
"Turning your back on Martin and the tears. It was quite a performance."
"The tears were real. But not because I thought Marty murdered my father and Hal." Elizabeth took a deep breath. "I promised to trust him, us. I didn't do it twenty years ago. I won't make that mistake again. I need Marty like I need my next breath. He had a plan.
"I think this whole mess is connected to my patient, Royce Mills. I believe Royce is Troy or Greece, the same SEAL Martin carried off a mountain with kidney stones. I think he holds the key to this, but his condition is grave; he can't help." Her eyes filled with tears. "I promise, I will keep fighting for him. I fear it’s not enough."
"Did you do your best work?"
"Yes, but..."
"But nothing. No one can ask more from you than your best." Kieran's lips curved up. "Beth, you’re an impressive woman. I will remind my chief executive officer of that when we bring him home. Troy "Greece" Bremen works for us. Before Austin was shot, Chase Security was asked to investigate issues at the Silverton Jail. Troy was placed there undercover after Austin and Lissa were found."
Elizabeth turned gray.
"Beth?" Kieran moved to her side.
"Prisoner abuse. I was right. I’m sure the guards hurt Troy. Marty's life is in danger," her voice shook.
"We’re aware, and Martin is aware. He's in protective custody. We have a team in the jail."
Elizabeth pursed her lips. "When Troy regains consciousness, what can I say to win his trust?"
"An operator working undercover uses three code words or phrases. One for the mission—dinner and a show. One for duress—Greece is burning. And one between his mission control and him to be used to gain rapid trust. Martin is his control. The secret is between them."
Kieran grabbed a file from the table. "Elizabeth, I would like to discuss the letters you sent to the Department of Corrections." Her explanations were contained and guarded. "This is Alden McAllister?"
"He isn't familiar." None of the guards were familiar to Elizabeth either. She flipped through the stack of police pictures. Elizabeth identified Trip Mathias. "He used to work for Daddy. He was at the hospital when...when I lost Marty's and my Grace."
"I'm sorry." Kieran put a photo of Thibodaux Spooner on the table.
Elizabeth chuckled. "When he was Cicely Moody, Marty said she looked like Ichabod Crane. She worked as Daddy's assistant. When I called about the abuse, Tibby sounded happy to hear from me." She shook her head.
The last picture was of Clay Jenner. It was clearer than the one Martin showed her. Elizabeth ran a finger over it. "Oh, God. This can't be true." Elizabeth stood. "Clay Jenner. Tell me. No..." She ran deeper into the suite, seeking the bathroom.
Kieran ran after finding her in the bathroom vomiting. "Beth?" She was shaking. "I need a medic."
As senior staff piled into the room, Pete Walter pushed through the group. "Give me some space. Beth, talk to me." He dampened a hand towel and placed it on the back of her neck. "Let me help you." Her eyes were empty and distant as Pete walked her to the second bedroom.
