Abby went to remove Darnell’s mask, but Vaughn told her to keep it on. With each chest compression, the foam in Darnell’s nose bubbled. When he stopped, it went still.
“Breathe, you fat fuck!”
This time, Vaughn pushed with all of his waning strength. Darnell coughed. Vaughn pushed again.
Again.
When Darnell bucked, Vaughn finally got off him. Collapsed on the ground. Took a full breath of his own. Sputtered a little.
Darnell rolled over and Abby undid the tape from his wrists. As soon as he was free, Darnell took the mask off, tore the tape from his mouth. Hissed in pain.
“Jesus Christ, it I think you broke my ribs!”
Vaughn ignored him, caught his bearings.
Gene had also regained consciousness and was just lying there. Stunned. Seemingly unaffected by the fact that he’d nearly died.
That they’dallnearly died.
“Some asshole hit me on the head—”
“Tristan took Ivy!” Abby repeated.
Vaughn got on his phone. His eyes were watering so badly from the gas that he could barely see the screen. Didn’t need to see all that well to dial 911.
“This is Detective Ryan with the PPD! I need EMS and police—”
“Badge number?”
“Fuck the badge number. I need EMS and police, now!”
Vaughn screamed the address, hung up. He swiped tears from his eyes. Found Bowes’s number.
“Bowes, I need to know if Tristan owns any other properties.”
“More—”
“Properties! Houses, apartments, anything! Him or his father!”
“I—I only found the one—I gave it to you earlier.”
“Fuck. Put out an APB—” Vaughn stopped speaking as an image of the murder board flashed in his mind. Zeke was on that board. Devon Godfrey, too. “Impact Investing! Devon Godfrey’s company... do they own any properties? Anything residential in Jersey?”
“Hold on... hold on...”
Vaughn gritted his teeth as he waited. He was shaking all over. Adrenaline or H2S gas?
“Hurry, Bowes!”
“I’m fucking trying! I’m fucking—okay, I’ve got something! Impact Investing has a place in Sea Bright. Want the address?”
“Yes! Fuckingyes!Give me the addressnow!”?
?Chapter 76
Ivy was inthe trunk of a car. She could feel the vehicle rolling, could hear the engine thrumming.
But she couldn’t see anything.
