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That surprised Kaj. “I thought your mother was very sympathetic to you.”
Sylvi’s smile was wry. “She’d make you think so. Reality is a different thing. Mom doesn’t let me forget how Van died. Ever.”
“It must have been hard to keep that secret for so long.”
Sylvi’s eyes grew pained. “You have no idea. At least Ingrid knows now. Go take care of her. She looked like she’d had another shock. Let her know that I’m here if she needs me.”
“I will.” Pulling her door closed, he went to check on Elijah. His son was sleeping deeply, Czar cozied up next to him. Between Val and Czar, his son felt safe.
We’re going to have to get a dog of our own when Val leaves. Because even if he and Val continued whatever it was that they’d started once this was all over, she wouldn’t move in. She wouldn’t be a constant presence in their home like she’d been for the past few days. And Czar would go home with her.
Kaj hated the very thought of it.
He leaned over Elijah, pressing a gentle kiss to his son’s bright white-blond head before giving Czar a stroke down his back. “Thanks, big guy.”
Czar let out a doggy sigh, lowering his head to Elijah’s pillow.
23
Lake Cataouatche, Louisiana
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 9:30 P.M.
SHE LOOKS SKINNIER on TV,” Bobby grumbled as he carried Noni Feldman from the boat to the camp. “I thought the camera added ten pounds. Hers must be hiding fifty.”
“Fuck off,” Noni snapped, then whimpered when Bobby punched her in the kidney.
“You’d be wise not to provoke us,” Corey said. She’d been like this since they’d pulled her from the Volvo’s trunk—refusing to answer questions and cursing them at every opportunity.
Breaking Noni Feldman’s spirit was going to be a real treat.
A shadow passed in front of the window. Ed had waited up.
“Bobby, dump her in the room we’re using,” Corey told him. “We’ll let her stew while we take care of business.”
“But I want her,” Bobby whined.
“Bobby,” Corey warned.
Bobby huffed. “You never let me have any fun.”
Ed took a step toward them when they entered, then stopped. “Is that... Noni Feldman? What the hell are you doing with her?”
“She was in Allyson’s house.” Corey dropped into one of the folding chairs at the small table. His arm was killing him. “Allyson will come to us if we have Noni. She had a key to Allyson’s house, so they’re either friends or related. Maybe even lovers. Do we have any ice?”
“No,” Ed said. “This is insane. Everyone will be looking for Noni Feldman. What were you thinking?”
“That we can’t let Allyson’s betrayal go unpunished,” Corey snapped. “And that she might know where Bella’s hiding. So what if anyone knows she’s gone? They can’t track her here. I got rid of her car and her phone. Goddammit, Ed. If we don’t have any ice, do we have any Advil?” He wasn’t going to take any more of the opioid that Bobby had stolen from his old girlfriend, but his arm hurt.
He was never going to become an addict like Aaron. Aaron was weak and now everything he’d built was destroyed. Corey was better than that. He’d figure this out without any drugs.
Ed produced a bottle of Advil, his gaze falling on Corey’s bandaged arm. “What happened to you?”
Bobby returned, joining Corey at the table. “First things first,” Corey said. “Where’s Dianne?”
Ed took the other chair. “Asleep in the bedroom where she’s been all this time. I put a few of the pills in her whiskey bottle. She drank it all. She’ll be out for hours, at least. So what happened tonight? I’ve been on pins and needles, waiting for word from you two. All you told me was that Allyson found the tracker, moved it to another car, and hit the road, and that you were going to check out her roommate.”
Corey downed the Advil with some water. “We missed Cardozo. His bodyguard got off a lucky shot. Got me in the arm.”
