Wes runs a hand through his hair, his face pale. “Who did this?”
I round on him, fury boiling over. “Don’t you have an answer, Harrington? What the hell have you been doing, creeping around Maddie for months like a spider? You know something.”
Wes’s eyes flicker to the ground. “I… I don’t know where she is. I swear it.”
“Bullshit.” I take a step closer, anger surging within me. “Spill it. Now.”
Wes raises his hands in a mix of guilt and desperation. “All right. I think Garrett might be involved.”
“Garrett? What the hell does he have to do with this?”
Wes exhales, his shoulders slumped. “He’s been pressuring me to bring him information about Nathan’s research. He’s been blackmailing me.”
“Explain.”
“He’s got a video, one that implicates me in a caver’s death in the Yucatán.”
“Where did he get a video like that—are you guilty?”
“It’s doctored. Actual footage, altered.”
“I don’t really give a shit about your problems. What’s this got to do with Maddie?”
Hannah’s eyes widen. She starts to get up to confront Wes, but stays crouched by Denver, holding his wound. “Wes! How could you? Did you steal Nathan’s things?”
“No. I’d never do that to her. She’s my friend,” Wes snaps, his voice hoarse and cracking. “I strung Garrett along, trying to buy time. But I never gave him anything real. I swear on my life that I’d never let anyone hurt Maddie.”
My fist connects with his jaw. He stumbles back, clutching his face, but he doesn’t retaliate.
“You son of a bitch. I’m going to kill you.”
“I deserve that. I know I do,” Wes says, his voice thick with guilt. “But I didn’t take her and don’t know what’s going on.” His chin drops. “Garrett might be behind this, but I swear I’ve been trying to protect her.”
I pace, running my hands through my hair, barely holding my fury in check. Stopping, I glare at him. “How the hell does Mark Glassier fit into this?”
Wes frowns, confused. “Mark? The Coast Guard guy? I’ve got no idea.”
My thoughts are scattered, pieces of a fragmented puzzle refusing to fit together. I turn to Hannah, my voice sharp but steady. “Stay here with Denver until help gets here. Talk to the police and tell them everything. Don’t stop until they listen.”
Hannah nods, her hands shaking as she comforts Denver, still applying pressure to his wound and talking to the emergency operator. She looks up. “They’re sending a vet from Naples, so we don’t have to move him. They’re on their way. It should be less than thirty minutes.”
I crouch, running my fingers through his fur. “Thank you, boy. I know you tried to save her. You’re going to be okay. Help is coming.” He lets out a soft sound and licks my hand. I take a deep breath and take off my tags. I put them around his neck and pet him once more.
My eyes are stinging when I turn back to Wes. “You’re coming with me. We’re going to Garrett’s. If he knows anything, I’ll make him talk.”
“Let’s go.”
The air between Wes and me is thick as we approach Garrett’s room at the inn. We haven’t said a word since we left my house. My fists clench, fury radiating off me in waves. I sense Maddie doesn’t have much time. Wes follows a step behind, his jaw already turning an ugly shade of blue.
I don’t knock. Instead, I slam the door open, rattling the frame. Garrett springs to his feet, his desk stacked with papers with a tumbler of whiskey now teetering on the edge.
“What is this?” Garrett demands, his eyes darting between Wes and me.
“Where is she?” My voice is low but sharp enough to cut through steel.
Garrett blinks, confusion flashing across his face. “Who?”
“Maddie.” I step closer. “She’s missing. Taken. Start talking now.”
