Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
I felt hungover when I woke at five in the morning. Late last night, Seamus sent word that he got him. I’d never been this reluctant to torture someone for information as I was today. I dreaded the truth for various reasons.
Aislinn was still asleep when I left, and I was glad.
I found Desmond chained to the ceiling of a shipping container, in a part of the harbor we didn’t frequently use. When we had to torture people, especially people of interest, we made sure to change venues.
“This is a big mistake,” he muttered when I stepped inside followed by Seamus.
“You shouldn’t have spied on me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I chuckled and grabbed Rody. Seamus had already leaned it against a corner to intimidate Desmond. He and his colleagues had found more than one badly beaten body in the past and knew my trademark style.
The rage that I hadn’t allowed myself with Aislinn last night bubbled up inside of me now, hot and hungry.
“I think to get us started I’ll introduce you to Rody first, and then you can decide if you’re ready for an honest conversation.”
Before he could utter a word, I struck out with the steel rod and hit his elbow. It broke and his arm twisted at an odd angle. He screamed. Hanging by a chain wasn’t making this any more pleasant. I turned my back on him while he kept screaming.
Seamus watched everything with a stoic calmness. Even if he’d been hesitant to grab a police officer, now he was all in. I knew he was always on my side.
Eventually, Desmond’s screaming quieted to a less annoying whimpering and I finally faced him again. His skin was sweaty and pasty. “So, are you ready to talk now?”
He shuddered.
“I need an answer,” I said. “Or Rody will look at your other elbow.”
“No,” he grunted. “I’m talking.”
With Rody’s help, which led to a smashed kneecap and broken ankle, Desmond sang like a canary, and my worst assumptions were proven right.
Aislinn had planted the bugs in my car and apartment.
She had done it because the police promised to help her find her sister. They had showed her photos of Imogen and me. I could imagine how compromising photos taken from a certain angle while I talked to Imogen in Miami might have looked. Aislinn had seen it as confirmation of her worst suspicions, and she’d acted accordingly.
We could have been a good team. She trusted the wrong people. She betrayed me. She was ready to throw me to the wolves.
Seamus and I stepped out of the shipping container. “Do you think he told the truth?”
I nodded. I had no doubt.
“What are you going to do?”
“I want you to bring Aislinn here. Tell Maeve she needs to watch Finn.”
“Okay,” Seamus said slowly. “Do you want me to get Gulliver?”
“No.”
Seamus nodded then turned and left.
I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to kill Desmond or not.
He could be useful if we kept him in check with threats and bribes. Aislinn on the other hand …I gritted my teeth.
She’d chosen her side and sealed her fate.
The bell rang. Since I wasn’t expecting anyone, I was hesitant opening the door but was relieved when I saw Seamus. My relief soon turned to confusion and worry when I took in his cold expression.
“Seamus, has anything happened?”
He gave me a tight smile. “Lorcan needs to see you. It’s urgent.”
I glanced back at Finn, who was doing a puzzle.
“Maeve will watch him.”
I nodded, but something wasn’t right. The little hairs on my neck stood on end. Lorcan had been a bit odd last night too. What if they suspected me? But would Lorcan have sent Seamus to pick me up if that were the case?
“I’ll just put on shoes and tell Finn.”
I went inside but Seamus followed me, which only made me more anxious. I told Finn about the change in plans, trying not to let him see or feel my worry. Maybe I was just overreacting. In the first few days after hiding the bugs, I’d constantly been on edge and terrified that Lorcan would find them. While Seamus was busy with Finn, I quickly felt under the kitchen table. The bug was still where I’d left it. If Lorcan had found it, he would have removed it and confronted me right away. Unless he’d only found the bug in his car. I shook my head. I was driving myself insane.
I put on shoes then helped Finn into his before we headed down to Seamus’ car. He kept telling jokes to Finn, which made me feel much better.
I waved at Maeve when she came outside to take Finn from the car, then we headed toward the harbor. Seamus became very quiet now that we were alone. I regarded him closely, trying to find out what was wrong.