“There’s a recording. It has everything I need on it. If we can get to it, we might have a chance.”
“A recording?”
“Yes, it implicates my husband and Gregory, and I think it’s why he took Gracie. He probably found out I know and that I have it.”
Luke looked at me, confused. I knew he wanted more. Heck, he deserved more, but it was something I could not give to him right now.
We were back in the motel, sipping coffee, sitting on either side of a couch that had seen better days. I expected him to run for the hills after hearing my story, but here he was, listening attentively.
“I can imagine you were shaken, but there were ways to get a protection order for Gracie, at least while you were in there.”
“It isn’t that simple. Truthfully, I was someone else back then, and for a while, I lost all reason. I didn’t know what to do, and to make matters worse, I knew the kind of contacts my husband, his father, and Gregory had. I didn’t know who to trust. Burdening Meredith with all of this was out of the question because she was the only one I could turn to take care of my daughter. She didn’t need all that too.”
He nodded but seemed to retreat into thought.
“Can we talk about this again? I’d like to get some air if that’s okay,” I said, sighing.
“We could grab some lunch?” he asked tentatively.
I nodded. It was just lunch.
ChapterTwenty-Five
Luke
There was a part of me that was angry with her. I’d put myself out there for her, wasn’t that reason enough to believe I had her best interest at heart? I sighed. Whatever she had on her husband and his friend was possibly what we needed to ensure Alyssa was set free and Gracie would be safe. I couldn’t understand why she was adamant about keeping it a secret. I was here now. She was not alone. I knew she was afraid for her daughter, but the more help we had, the faster we’d be able to find Gracie.
“I know you needed a breather, but you’re kind of out of options, Alyssa, and I think we need to get that flash drive and take it to the authorities.”
She swallowed nervously, and despite her reluctance, I could tell I’d gotten through to her. “It’s still at the house,” she said as we finished up our meal.
“Then let’s go get it,” I stated while looking out the window at the dull day. We’d been lucky that the justice system had been slow in trying to find her. Well, I didn’t expect them to do that for other criminals, but Alyssa was not a killer, she was a savior, and I would do whatever it took to prove that.
As the days passed, she grew more and more worried about her daughter. She’d lost more weight, her shoulders constantly sagged, and she barely slept.
“In fact, before we take it to the authorities, I have an idea, but it’s going to require a copy.”
“What are you thinking?” she said, suddenly hanging on my every word.
“Bargaining. Gracie’s return for the recording because from the sounds of it, that is about the only thing incriminating.”
“That and me, I have no doubt he sent Nurse Jones or whoever she was to spy on me. A sane me is a threat to him. This isn’t a movie, Luke, where we just use my daughter as a bargaining chip. These men are ruthless. They have no regard for women, no matter their age. Trust me on that.”
I took a deep breath. There was something more to what she said, and I hated thinking she’d ever been hurt by any of them. But there had to be a way to get Gracie and justice for Alyssa.
If only we knew where Gracie was. But at this point, we were drawing a blank.
“I’m with you.” I reached across the table and took her hand. She didn’t pull it away.
“Why’re you doing this?”
I held her gaze and didn’t miss the flush that crept across her cheeks.
“Because you need a friend, and so do I.”
She smiled, and it felt like my fucking heart was bursting.
I cleared my throat, glancing at my wristwatch. “We should get going.”
