Inhaling as deep a breath as my aching body allows, I hook my elbow with his when he offers. Whatever’s hiding in my mind is what will keep me alive.
I need to figure outwhatandwherethe evidence is so I can use it to get out.
10
CARTER
Foley only had one question on the ride back to my loft.
“How did you sway the cleanest cop in the country?”
How indeed. Many before me tried to buy Vaughn offering more money than he could ever spend. And they’re all wearing orange jumpsuits behind steel bars, serving twenty-five to life.
“Everyone has a weakness, Michael. You should know that better than anyone. Vaughn’s weakness is his family. Or what’s left of it. He’s stubborn, but not stupid. He knows I’m his best chance at getting Hailey back in one piece.”
That seemed to satisfy his curiosity and he remained silent until a rehearsed“It’s always a pleasure”once he stopped his beloved Merc outside my building.
I exit the car, taking care not to slam the door and send the usually composed Foley into a fit.
Broadway’s custom, bulletproof Range Rover is haphazardly parked by the curb, the owner notably missing, which means he already let himself into my place. When I collected my phone, onmy way out of the precinct, there were three missed calls from him waiting on the screen.
As soon as I enter the elevator, the urgency in my veins forces me to dial Rhett’s number, the phone weighing down my hand. The line connects almost as if he were waiting for my call, and Rhett’s gruff voice fills my ear.
“That didn’t take long,” he says. “I expected Vaughn to put up more of a fight.”
I guess Dante already told him Vaughn took me in for questioning. Either that, or Rhett’s keeping tabs on Vaughn.
It wouldn’t surprise me.
“He’s out of bargaining chips,” I say, watching the elevator doors slide shut. It’s a short ride to the third floor, so the signal never cuts off. “Hailey’s not with him and—”
“She’s not?” he cuts in. “Are you certain he’s not leading you by the nose?”
He’s not you.
“I’m certain. He thought I had her.”
“You don’t,” he states the obvious, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. “So if we don’t have Hailey, and he doesn’t have Hailey... who does?”
“The evidence could make a lot of people very rich and very powerful, but Matthews was found in Tappan Lake, so one name stands out on your long list of enemies.”
“Fuck... you’re thinking Noretto.”
“I—” I trip over the word, correcting myself quickly. “Wecan’t afford to lose any more time. Her memories started rushing back before she ran. If she remembers where the evidence is while she’s away, she might not be able to protect the information.”
I don’t mention that she no longer trusts me, or that she’s most likely made the connection between me and Rhett, or that she saw the old fool perform an execution. He can’t know. If hefinds out, he’ll pay Noretto Hailey’s weight in fucking rubies to get her back and kill her himself.
“You had one fucking job,” Rhett mutters under his breath.
So did he: keeping the cops a long way away from his business dealings. We wouldn’t be in this predicament if he were more careful.
Then again, I would’ve never met Hailey...
“I’ll make some calls, see what I can dig up,” he adds, frustration edging his tone. “We should’ve considered this sooner. You were too certain she was with Vaughn.”
“It’s a little late forwe should’ve, Rhett.”
“I suppose it is. One–one, son. We both fucked up. Stay put for now. I’ll handle this.”
