“He had me in handcuffs because I allowed it. I wanted him to tell me you were okay.”
“And he wanted Carter for the exact same reason,” Ryder adds, collecting the empty plates. We’re done eating, but Hailey’s taking much longer to force the food down. “We’ve been hunting for you since day one. Just not in the right place.”
“Once your dad made it clear he didn’t have you, it took us no time to pinpoint your location,” Broadway explains.
“How did you convince him to let you go?” Hailey asks.
Koby finishes his angry chopping and sets a bowl of fruit in front of her. “Dessert,” he says, stuffing his mouth with eggs, long gone cold. “Later, I’ll get you some chocolate.”
“That’s sweet. Thank you.”
“Your dad’s a smart man,” I cut in. “He knew I’d find you and get you back faster than he could.”
She bites her lips, twiddling her fingers. “Did you... did you tell him about us?”
“I did. He’s not pleased.”
“Yeah, I can imagine.” She doesn’t elaborate, pouring all her concentration into the bowl of fruit.
It takes another half an hour before we’re done in the kitchen. We move into the living room, where Broadway takes it upon himself to light the wood stove.
Hailey settles on a plush, white carpet by the fire, picking out strawberries from the bowl. “How long do I have to stay here?”
“Until you remember where the evidence is. Do you still have your diary?”
She shakes her head. “My bag was in Matthews’ car.”
“Which means it’s probably with the police,” Ryder says, peering over his laptop. “Want me to check?”
“The car spent a week underwater. There won’t be much left of the diary even if the cops have it,” I counter. “Next time you go out, grab a journal and a supply of colorful fine liners.” My attention swings back to Hailey. “What did you remember at Noretto’s?”
“I didn’t think Alex ever mentioned your sister’s name, but he did... Blaze told me she was calledAalyiah, and I saw Alex.” A hint of dread colors her voice as she fills us in on the details. “Do you know anything about Alex’s past?” she segues, halfway through the story.
“Nothing interesting, why?”
“When I suggested he should quit the case, he said he couldn’t because there was a life sentence hanging over his head. It was either jail or death at your father’s hand.”
“A life sentence suggests murder,” Ryder mutters, head dipping back behind his laptop.
I’m not sure what he’s looking for or where. He and Jackson already X-rayed Alex ten different ways and found nothing. It’s almost as if he was born, then lived his whole life off-grid before showing up in Ohio to infiltrate Rhett’s operation. His record’s clean, but Ryder’s must’ve thought of something else.
“It sounds like blackmail,” Koby says. “And Rhett had nothing to blackmail him with and no reason to do it, which leaves Vaughn.”
That’s exactly what’s been bouncing around my head, but it doesn’t fit the profile. “Vaughn doesn’t play dirty.”
“As proven by the forged arrest warrant he flung in your face atDelta.”
I can’t argue with that.
21
HAILEY
The black hole at the center of my mind refuses to spit out any new memories. I keep waiting, feeding off the calmness in Carter’s eyes whenever I bring it up. We can’t stay here forever. We need my brain to unlock, but Carter doesn’t seem fazed by the lack of new information.
I thought that once I calmed down, my brain would recommence replacing my lost memories, but days pass and nothing happens.
I’m calm now. I feel safe. I’m used to Nash being Carter, seeing guns in holsters, the security measures put in place at the safe house, and the daily routine.
