Audrey rose abruptly, pacing across the shining floor. The room was too clean and too bright. There was nowhere to hide. “How can I believe anything you say anymore?”
“Because I’m telling you what matters,” he said. “You don’t get everything yet.”
She could feel his stare burning into the back of her neck. He continued. “She surfaced right before your hearing. She probably knew you were alive the whole time. And for some reason, she wanted you in that prison.”
Audrey’s chest constricted. If her mother resurfaced before the hearing, that meant she’d been watching Audrey all this time. Even as a teenager, Audrey had sensed her mother was hiding something larger than affairs or secrets—something explosive, and far beyond their small house.
Alex confirmed it. “She’s been tracking you since your release,” he said. “ButSaraimakes you hard to pin down.”
So, the only reason her mother hadn’t found her sooner was the strange protection of her transient life.Sarairotated locations and left almost no trail.
“What does my mother want with me exactly?”
Alex didn’t respond.
Audrey crossed the room slowly, stopping near the tall windows. The streetlights reflected in the glass, turning her image into a ghost beside the skyline. Someone who wasn’t her mother wanted Audrey free, too—the man from the backyard. The voice. He’d said something about opening doors.
“Doesn’t matter,” she said. “I want her to find me.”
Alex leaned against the counter. “That’s exactly why I’m telling you now.”
She put her finger to the bridge of her nose. “Explain.”
“They’re closing in,” he said.
“Who?”
“The people around your mother.” Scrubbing a hand down his face, Alex forged on. “I spent months confirming what I could without exposing you,” he said. “But someone else is already moving. Your mother isn’t hiding anymore.”
His emotions came to her clearly this time. “You’re scared,” she said.
“I’m strategic,” he replied, loosening his tie for a second time.
“And the strategy now is what?”
“We leave Tolusa. As soon as possible.”
Audrey laughed.
“You don’t get to disappear again and drag me with you.”
“Audrey—”
“No.” A cold rage took hold of her bones, and her fist smashed into the tabletop. The glass shook. “I want everything you have on her before agreeing to anything.”
Alex faltered.
Then—“No.” The words held an air of conclusiveness, and her composure snapped. She pushed.
Alex’s thoughts burst open. In his mind, there were files upon files and photographs, mostly satellite images and a grainy surveillance capture of her mother, standing outside a warehouse. The warehouse was whereSaraihad been last week.
Audrey shuddered and noticed Alex was watching her carefully. His dark eyes showed the flame in a way that didn’t feel entirely human.
“You went digging,” he murmured. There wasn’t a trace of surprise from him. He’d been waiting to see if she would.
His thoughts closed again, and guilt ate at her. She sank into the chair beside the fireplace and poured a glass of whiskey with shaking hands. The warm liquid burned down her throat.
Alex came closer and placed a hand gently on the back of her neck. Their foreheads touched. “I can’t blame you for going into my head,” he whispered. “You’re right. I’ve kept too much from you.”
