Trey knew she’d had a valid reason based on how her face had looked that night.
“Speaking of the husband,” Brantley prompted, “what’s your beef with him?”
Magnus’s gaze shifted to Trey, those hazel eyes burning with what appeared to be banked fury, then back to Brantley. “If Ava’s missin’, he’s the reason.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because she’s been tryin’ to get away from him for years.”
Brantley’s tone was empathetic, not accusatory, when he said, “Has she been having an affair?”
“No. Doesn’t stop him from accusing her, though.”
“Does he hit her?” Brantley asked.
Trey listened intently, wanting an official confirmation that her husband’s fist had been what damaged her beautiful face that night.
“Hits her, beats her, talks down to her. He’s a bastard.”
“Why’s she still with him if it’s a volatile situation?” Brantley asked.
Magnus sighed. “Her mother. She’s not … well. Harrison holds that over Ava.”
“Not well? In what way?” Trey asked because, based on Magnus’s tone, he seriously doubted she had a cold.
Magnus tapped his temple. “She was diagnosed with bipolar depression years ago. Every few months, she’ll be put in a mental health facility under suicide watch.”
“Ava’s close to her mother?” Brantley inquired.
“Her mother lives with her. Ava takes care of her physically, Harrison financially.” Magnus’s brow lowered. “Which is why I don’t buy that she was out with friends. That’s not something he lets her do.”
“When you say physically,” Brantley prompted. “Is there something that keeps her from takin’ care of herself?”
“The drugs.” Magnus exhaled roughly. “Harrison keeps her doped up. Says it’s the only way to protect her from herself.”
Trey already didn’t like the fucker, now he downright detested him.
“Okay. Say she snuck out, as you said. Is there anywhere she might go?” Brantley asked. “Somewhere she usually goes to get a break from it all?”
“My house,” Magnus admitted, glancing between them. “It’s her safe haven. She used to show up to talk. Sometimes, she’d stay the night.”
Trey knew the unsettled feeling wasn’t normal. Odd thing was, it wasn’t jealousy. Well, maybe it was. A little. However, it was something else, something … he didn’t know how to classify it.
“Anywhere else?” Trey asked in an effort to ensure he didn’t ask another stupid question, likewhere does she sleep when she’s there?Or worse:where doyousleep?
“Friends? Co-workers?” Brantley prompted.
Magnus took a sip of his coffee. “I wish I knew.”
“You’re not close?” Brantley asked.
“Not really, no. We were before Harrison put a leash on her.” Magnus exhaled and leaned back in his chair. “I’ve known Ava all her life. She was my little sister’s best friend. They were close, always at our house. Ava would spend the night with Tabby, hang out, watch movies. Seemed she was always around.”
“Before they moved?”
Magnus was quiet for a moment, his eyes taking on that faraway look as though he was attempting to search the past. He finally shrugged, said, “Before my sister died.”
Neither Trey nor Brantley spoke, but all eyes remained on Magnus as they waited.
