Garrett’s confusion twists into irritation. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He acts like he’s going to dismiss me as he flicks his wrist. Fuck that.
I grab him by the collar, slamming him back against the wall. Papers flutter to the floor and the whiskey tumbles, flooding the room with the sharp smell of oak.
“Don’t lie to me. You’ve been sniffing around Maddie for months, trying to get your claws on Nathan’s research. You’re out of time, Garrett. Don’t play games.”
He struggles in my grip, his voice strained. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.” He tries in vain to get loose. After I put one hand around his neck and squeeze, all his bravado disappears, replaced by cold fear.
“All right. Stop, please.” I ease off the pressure. “I used Wes to get close to Maddie so I could find out what she knows aboutNathan’s research.” I release his neck. “I didn’t take her. Let me go.”
“Why should we believe you?” Wes steps closer.
Garrett’s eyes narrow at him. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here, Harrington. You’re the one who screwed this all up. I told you to use your charm to get me Nathan’s maps and notes. But no, you couldn’t do it before someone else jumped in and took them. So much for a ladies’ man. I guess Rickter has the bigger dick.”
Dropping him, I punch his face, holding back only enough to avoid killing him before I get the information I need from him.
Grabbing his collar, I pull him back up off the floor. His smug face grates against every nerve I have left. “So you’ve been after Nathan’s things all along?”
“Of course,” Garrett snaps, his arrogance cracking under the weight of his fear. His nose and lips are bleeding.
Good.
“Do you know what’s down there? What those caves could hold? But I didn’t take Maddie. I need her alive, cooperating. Not… whatever this is.”
His words ring hollow, but my gut tells me he’s not lying. “If you’re telling the truth…” I drop him and step back. “Then Mark has her. If I find out you’re lying…” My words hang in the air, heavy with promise.
Garrett straightens his collar. “I have no idea what Mark wants from Maddie. I like her. She’s a sweet girl.” Glaring at Wes, he scoffs at him. “You’re done, Harrington. Pack your bags. They’re going to love you in prison.”
Wes bristles.
Without another word, I leave.
Mark has to have Maddie. It’s the worst kind of threat. We’ve got no idea why he’d do it, and if he also killed Elaine, what’s the connection? Did he want what Nathan was looking for in thecaves? He’s shown no interest in it before. None of this makes any damn sense. My phone buzzes. It’s Michaels.
“Yeah,” I bark into the phone.
“Scott—we have the name of the boat captain who was with Nathan when he disappeared.” Michael’s voice is strained, like he can’t believe what he’s about to tell me.
“Yes? Who?”
“It was Mark. Mark Glassier.” All the blood leaves my body. Wes is staring at me as I pocket my phone.
“What is it?”
“Mark Glassier killed Nathan,” I state numbly, frozen, as I feel my world cave in.
Wes inhales sharply and closes his eyes.
In the living room, Ding is wandering around, looking for Maddie. He rushes to me, jumping on my leg.
“It’s okay, boy. We’ll get her back.”
Ms. Connor is on the couch. Her eyes are red. Hannah must have called her. Beside her sits a young blond woman. At first, I don’t recognize her, but then I do. It’s Mark’s wife.
“Scott. This is Crystal Glassier. She has information about Maddie.”
Chapter 35
Maddie
