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Finishing the fold, I lay it on the couch and pick up the sheet to fold. “It’s my life. It’s everything about me, wrapped up in one place.”
I explain how the concept was born, how Kase gave it to me for graduation, how the reason I help these women is because someone was there to help me. I owe my life to my dad. He gave up a life of easy retirement with no concerns, to a life of constant worry.
Something pops into my head I hadn't thought about. Did Kase pay for the Lighthouse himself? He told me he had donors, but that was before I knew he was a millionaire. When I got home, I researched his grandfather and found that he left his entire estate to his grandson. Millions. I still can't imagine Kase being a millionaire, he's the most down-to-earth guy.
I squeeze my eyes shut. He has to be going out of his mind knowing Ray escaped.
At least he knows I’m safe.
I can’t say the same for Ray.
Chapter Forty-One
Kase
Tori: Where are you?
Me: At the police station. Why?
I wait for her answer, but the text bubble never pops up.
“There was a tip someone saw him in Tennessee, but we haven’t been able to confirm it,” Max says, pulling my attention away from my phone. I crack my neck, knowing it’s not good he’s been spotted closer to us. Closer to Ellie.
He’s coming for her.
“How’s her dad doing?”
“He’s alive.” The downcast of his eyes tells me he’s being too generous with his statement. He continues, confirming my suspicions. “He’s lucky the FBI got there when they did. Shot three times and is scheduled for another surgery today.” We need to locate this son of a bitch so Ellie can be with her father. She’ll never forgive herself if he dies.
“Stone, what’d you find on the guy?” The next fifteen minutes I scribble on the whiteboard as he talks. We have already heard this information, but the task force we set up needs to hear it. The Captain, a couple of local officers, and two FBI agents fill the room alongside our group.
We quiet at the knock on the door and an officer peeks his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, Captain, but there’s someone here searching for Kase.” All eyes turn to me and I shrug. I’m not expecting anyone. Max walks with me out of the room. Once the lobby comes into sight, I see him before he does me. I set my jaw as my eyes bore into him. He paces the room, gripping his neck. It looks like he hasn’t slept for a couple days.
“Wayne.” He freezes at the sound of his name. The second our eyes meet, he rushes me, fists ready to hit something. Preferably my face, I’m sure. I duck as he swings, grabbing him at the waist and slamming him against the wall, adding my weight to the force of the hit. He’s lucky he wasn’t here yesterday, it would’ve been more than a shoulder.
He grunts, falling forward on his knees. “Where is she?” He looks up, his face beet red. “Why the hell is my son calling me saying he’s scared?”
I let out a low growl, my spine stiffening. “He’s not your son.” An arm halts me from pounding that point into his lying skull. My jaw ticks as I glare at Max.
“Not the time, Nixon.” He waits for me to nod and relax my shoulders before putting his arm down. “Did you say you talked to Reed?” Wait, what? When did he call? How did he call?
I close my eyes for a moment, needing to pull my shit together and put away my personal feelings right now. Focus on keeping everyone safe and worry about personal shit later.
Wayne holds his hand out to Max. “Wayne Carroll,” he says, shaking his hand.
“Max Shaw.”
Wayne’s eyes widen, and he jerks his head my direction. “You work for Max Shaw?” he asks surprised, with a hint of envy in his voice. I smirk, crossing my arms. Yes, I fucking do. My ego does a tap dance inside my head.
“Wayne, do you mind coming with us into the meeting and telling us what Reed said?”
“Sure,” he replies, staring at me with furrowed brows.
We walk in silence into the room. Wayne looks around at everyone, then his eyes zone in on the whiteboard. Max introduces Wayne and explains the situation. I stay quiet knowing this is tearing him up inside. The feeling is mutual.
Wayne shifts in his seat, looking uncomfortable. Finally, he speaks up, “If Everly and Reed are in a safe house, how did Reed call me yesterday?”
“Ellie’s burner phone,” I reply through gritted teeth, angry with myself that I missed this. “With everything going on, I didn’t notice it was gone. I put it on the table when I walked into my apartment yesterday. This morning when I left, I grabbed my phone, but there wasn’t another one on the table.” Stone looks at me and I nod at his unasked question. If Stone can trace it, so can Ray. That’s why he’s on his way here. He probably traced it when he talked to me a couple days ago.
