Kong hugged her close and softened his voice. “We’ll take good care of her, Katherine. We’ll find out who she is and make sure she gets back to her people.”
She nodded against him, her fingers curling into his vest as she clung to him and let out a shaky breath. “That could have been me.” He heard a choked sob. “If you hadn’t come…”
Kong curled his big body around her. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you. I’m not ever going to let anything happen to you, Katherine.”
He held her close as she quietly cried, for a moment, releasing the horror of what she’d endured.
Back at Black Bay, Kong hadn’t wanted to leave Katherine’s side but the general wanted him at the interrogation and it couldn’t wait. Too much was riding on what Godwin knew. He’d left her in good hands though. Perrin, Lynx, Jayla, and Paige had all gathered around her, ready to ply her with wine, chocolate, and conversation to keep her mind off what had happened. He’d made them promise to call him if Katherine needed him and Paige had also promised to look Katherine over for other injuries before the women had shooed him out.
Outside interrogation, Lark told him, “As expected, the body in the trunk was Valerie Felix. She’d flown in for a business conference, and checked into her hotel room but never showed up for any of her scheduled meetings.”
Kong grimaced as he nodded. “Her family?”
“The police are notifying them.”
Another nod before Lark put her hand on Kong’s forearm. “How’s Katherine?”
He swallowed hard. “She’s holding her own.” He’d been a little concerned about the somewhat vacant look in her eyes when they got back to Black Bay as if Katherine had gone deep in her head, but Paige assured him it was to be expected after such a traumatic incident and that she’d keep an eye on her. Still, he checked his phone again just in case they’d called and he’d somehow missed it. If Katherine needed him, he’d be there for her.
“She’s strong.”
He nodded again, his jaw tightly clenched for a moment before he released it. “She is. But she shouldn’t have had to be.” He eyed the door to interrogation knowing his prey was behind it.
“Are we ready?” General Davies asked, joining them.
Game faces on, they entered the room. Plain, beige walls, a bare floor with a drain for easy cleanup, a two-way mirror for observation when needed, and a single metal chair where Godwin had been secured.
The bastard didn’t even look worried. He was grinning and Kong wanted desperately to lunge for him and wipe that smile off his face.
“Snake Girl and Monkey Boy! Wow! This is a treat.” His eyes went to General Davies and flared with recognition. “Hey, I remember you. It’s a party! Where are the snacks?”
The general took an at-ease stance in front of Godwin. “You’re going to answer some questions for us about August Cleary.”
Still smirking, Godwin slouched a bit in his chair, getting comfortable. “Sure, sure. I’ve got plenty on Cleary. But first, I want the deal spelled out, in writing. My freedom, safe transportation away from whatever hell hole this place is, and money. I want money.”
“You think you’re in a position to make demands?” Kong let out an aggressive rumble. “The deal is you tell us what we want to know or I get to beat you to death.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound fun.”
He was itching to strike that smug smile off Godwin’s face.
“You work for August Cleary,” General Davies said, completely unruffled by the prisoner’s attitude.
“Worked,” Godwin clarified. “I worked for him.” With a scowl, he uttered, “Worthless piece of shit.”
“Fine. When youworkedfor Mister Cleary, what did you do for him?”
Godwin suddenly started laughing. “That reminds me. Hey, Monkey Boy, Snake Girl, you remember Doc D?”
The general opened his mouth, probably intending to get the interrogation back on track but Kong halted him and narrowed his eyes at Godwin. “Doctor Anne Dietrich?”
All of them remembered her. She was their creator, the geneticist responsible for the experiments that brought them into this world. She was also, currently, a permanent resident of their brig, having received a less than hospitable welcome when she’d tracked them down here at Black Bay.
“That’s the one.”
“What about her?”
Godwin started laughing again, trying Kong’s patience. “Turns out Cleary was fucking her.” He snorted another laugh. “I found some pictures of her stashed in his office.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Wearing lingerie in some pretty suggestive poses. All saggy tits and cellulite thighs, but hey, maybe that’s Cleary’s thing.”
