Page 107 of The Big Fix

“You—or your people—made a grab for Suwan’s cryptocurrency. Owen created a worm and hid it where no one would think to look. All I had to do was sit back and wait for the money to move.”

“How clever of dear little Owen,” she said, ice in her voice.

“But you knew Suwan was cutting you out, hence your comment about him being a thief.”

“I did. Yes.”

I took a deep breath. “I’ve made a lot of enemies over the years, but no one’s ever made it personal like you did.”

She smiled ruefully. “Other people have looked, I’m sure. Trying to strike back at you through your family only to find there is none.”

“Yes.”

“And the men you call friends, they’re all as lethal as you. No chance to hurt you through them.”

“No,” I agreed.

“The only way to hurt you was through Owen Moss,” she said flatly, a faint smile twisting her lips. “He is the only place you’re vulnerable.”

“No one knew about him.”

“Yes, Colonel, I’m aware.”

“How did you?”

“You’re a smart man. It will come to you.”

I leaned forward, staring at her. “Have we met before this?”

She shook her head. “I knew of you, but no. Our paths never crossed.”

“Please, tell me who you are.”

Her smile was bittersweet. “I knew Ronan.”

She knew…

It was like rewinding a tape in my head.

I’d been asked to recount the story the other day from the beginning. Why were Ronan and Sara killed? Why was Owen kidnapped? What was the nexus of it all, the impetus for the decimation of that family?

All the air left my body at once.

Her expression didn’t change. She didn’t gloat or smile. She was resigned.

“It was you,” I barely got out.

She nodded. “It was me.”

“You slept with Ronan.”

“I did. I recorded our encounters and—”

“He said it was only once,” I said defensively, still angry, it seemed, that he’d betrayed his marriage vows. I felt stupid for showing her it could hurt me.

She scoffed. “He was addicted to me, Colonel, and the heroin helped.”

I could only stare.