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He nodded. “A guy named Freddy.”
A weird buzzing sounded in her head as if she were about to pass out. She knew it wasn’t a simple overdose. She had no proof, but she knew Joseph had something to do with this. Her phone buzzed, and she rolled her eyes, thinking it was Ian, but everything around her faded away when she saw the screen.
Unknown: I see you found out about Freddy.
He could see her. She knew he could, and that’s why she had been conscientious about people seeing her in public and why she had this stupid, gross apartment. But this was the first time he’d contacted her since she stole away that night all those years ago.
Autumn: What up, loser?
She knew that would anger him.
Unknown: You would think you would be more careful with your mocking, considering who I have here with me.
Then a picture came through of Sam, but it wasn’t really Sam. This Sam had a clean-shaven face and weighed about thirty pounds heavier than he was now. Sam had a beard now, so whatever they based it on was an old pic. But she didn’t want Joseph to know. If he thought she would be erratic that would be best.
Autumn: What do you want?
He sent her a pin on the map on the island’s other side. Was he really that stupid? Would he just give up his position? She looked up and over the rooftops. She knew precisely what camera he was using and where. She stared at it for a longmoment, then drew her thumb across her neck. She turned and headed back to her car without responding to his text. There was a chance that he could read her texts if he had gotten into the CCTV around the area.
She was ready for this to be over. And hopefully, Ian, Sam, and Seth would forgive her for not calling on them. They would just have to understand she was doing this to protect them.
“Do you think that’s the smart move, sir?” Peter asked him.
The man known as Joseph Watters studied the idiot. He knew the younger man meant well, but other things were at play. In the end, Joseph didn’t care what happened to Peter. He was a minion, a man Joseph used to do his dirty work. Once he had what was rightfully his, he couldn’t care less what happened to the man.
“Yes.”
“She has to know that is a fake picture.”
“Does that matter? It’s your fault that we don’t have that druggie to use as bait.”
Once again, he was surrounded by idiots. He wanted his old friend Hank back, but he had been dumb enough to get arrested and think he could turn Joseph over to the police. Having Hank killed had been sad, but it had to be done.
“I’m sorry, sir. I tried, but he fought me.”
He had wanted to draw the game out a little longer, maybe get her on board, but he heard the promo for theBeyond Murderpodcast. Summer Joy was spilling his secrets. People would start looking for him. Yes, maybe he had panicked and ordered Patrick to bring him Freddy. Who would have thought that stupid bastard would fight with Patrick.
Joseph had watched everything go down, but he refused to admit it. Instead, he wandered away, looking out the window. ATrue Believerhad allowed him to stay at the house free of charge. It was in the middle of nowhere, and you had to have money to have a house like that on Oahu. Joseph had blown through much of the money he’d earned in his last venture in Malaysia. Now, he had no choice but to get his daughter’s money.
“Sir, are you sure this was a good idea?”
It was the second time in the space of a minute that this asshole thought he had the right to question Joseph. During his tenure as the leader of Joyous Wave, no one had questioned his authority. He had been in charge, and they had been his minions.
“She has no idea, and she wasn’t about to text or call him.”
“That’s what I find odd. Autumn?—”
He spun on his heel and took two large steps to grab hold of the boy. And that was what he was. Only in his mid-twenties with dark brown hair and brown, dull eyes…he was expendable. Joseph grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and yanked him forward.
“Her name is Summer Joy. Don’t call her by that made-up name.”
He held the boy until he nodded, then tossed him. Peter stumbled back against the wall, gasping for breath. He lowered his eyes. Fuck, Joseph wished he still had his members from long ago. The remaining idiots weren’t as well disciplined as the genuine cult members. TheseTrue Believerswere wannabes. They didn’t understand how to deal with people like his daughter.
“We need my money to thrive. This newest drug is being pulled off the street left and right.”
Peter said nothing. Instead, he kept his eyes down and just nodded.
Good. The Summer arrived, the faster he would be rid of all these idiots.
