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When he opened his eyes, Corey’s jaw was tight. “I thought so. You should have told me when I first asked. I get that you were trying to protect Rick, but you can’t lie to me.”
Jace tried to be brave, but he was trembling and couldn’t stop. “I’m sorry.”
“Who else was involved in the idea of taking the prosecutor’s son?”
“Nobody,” Jace said desperately. “I promise. Rick showed me an email that he said was from you. I guess it wasn’t.”
“It was not. What was in the email?”
Jace grimaced, not wanting to admit that he hadn’t been able to read it. “It talked about using the kid to get Aaron back.”
“You didn’t read a word of it, did you?” Corey asked mildly.
Jace swallowed. “I tried,” he whispered. “I’m sorry. I just... can’t.”
“I figured as much.” Corey stood, casting a shadow over Jace. “Not everybody is smart, Jace. You’re good with your hands. It’ll have to be enough.”
Jace squinted up at him, not trusting this gentler side of his older brother. “You’re not... you’re not gonna beat me, too?”
“No.” Corey smiled, but Jace didn’t think it was real. “I will need you to do something for me, though.”
“What?” Jace asked warily.
“Drive me somewhere.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all. We’ll leave at four. Meet me at my boat. Don’t be late.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“Good. Keep your hand dry and take some Advil. It’s going to throb like a bitch.”
It already was. And so was Jace’s head. Something was up, but he wasn’t sure what it was. “What about Rick?”
Corey’s smile disappeared and Jace shrank back, closing his eyes. Expecting a blow. When none came, he opened his eyes to see Corey staring down at him. “Get back to Dewey’s workshop, Jace. And don’t cut yourself again.”
“Yes, Corey.” Legs shaking, he made his way back to the workshop, but it was empty. “Dewey?”
But nobody answered. Nothing but silence.
Jace checked Dewey’s desk, finding his wallet and keys. There was no sign of the mechanic, so Jace went back to working on the boat starter. His stomach growled, but he wasn’t about to go back to Corey’s little house and get food until he got permission.
He was in enough trouble for one day.
6
Bayou des Allemands, Louisiana
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2:20 P.M.
COREY LOOKED OVER his shoulder, pausing in front of his quarters until he saw Jace enter Dewey’s workshop. Slipping in through his front door, he made his way back to the comm room, where Bobby and Ed waited with the instigators of last night’s botched abduction attempt.
Dewey Talley was handcuffed to the high-backed chair Jace had been using. The drug-dealing mechanic was red-faced, the duct tape over his mouth muting what were probably curses. Bobby and Ed had fetched him while Corey had been bandaging Jace’s hand.
Corey wasn’t sure what he’d do about Jace. He might keep him around to do the grunt work if he was certain he’d broken Jace enough to trust him not to go to the cops. He hadn’t liked that Jace had put his loyalty to Rick first. That was a bad sign. He’d give the kid another chance later in the day and if that didn’t cow him... Corey would have to dispose of him, too.
Then I’ll be free.
