“Yeah. Probably something I ate,” I said, washing my hands.
“Or maybe you’re pregnant?” Her brow arched.
“You’re funny.” I pointed at her and walked out of the bathroom.
The Next Day
“This guy.Billy Haven. He’s currently on probation and works as a barista at the coffee shop Claire visited every day. He was charged with aggravated assault of a college girl two years ago, when she turned him down for a date. Claire’s friends told us he was always talking to Claire, asking her out, but she turned him down.” I placed my hand on my belly for the sickness rose again. “Excuse me for a moment.” I ran to the bathroom.
“Are you okay?” Logan asked when I stepped back into the office.
“I’m fine. Let’s go pay Billy Haven a little visit. Shall we?”
We quietly stepped onto the porch of the rundown house, with peeling paint and windows half-covered by yellowed curtains that didn’t quite close. The yard was a mess. Dead grass, rusted metal, weeds everywhere, and old tools scattered around.
I knocked on the door as a courtesy. No one answered. Picking the lock, I quietly opened the door and stepped inside. I pointed to the right, signaling for Logan to go that way, while I went left. I moved through the house, weapon low and fully gripped. I stopped when I heard a sound coming from upstairs. Each stair creaked as I slowly moved up them. Damn these old houses. I froze when I reached the top of the stairs and heard another sound. The sound of someone trying to be very quiet but failing.
I assessed the layout. Two bedrooms. One bathroom. All doors shut except for one. With my gun raised, I kicked inthe door. Billy Haven turned around, knife in hand, and before he could lunge at me, I fired, and the bullet hit his shoulder, slamming him back against the wall. I ran toward him, grabbed him by his shirt, and slammed him down to the floor.
“You don’t move,” I said, my gun pressed to his head.
“I didn’t—I didn’t?—”
“Where is she?” I shouted.
“I don’t?—”
“Wrong answer.” I pressed the gun harder.
“My shoulder.” He screamed. “Please. I need medical attention.”
“The only medical attention you’re going to get is a body bag. Wait no. That would be too easy. Because if you don’t tell me where Claire Simmons is, I’m going to throw you in the back of my trunk, tie a cement block to your foot, and toss you far out into the ocean so the sharks can have a feeding frenzy.”
“Basement,” he choked. “She’s in the basement. I swear I didn’t?—”
“Boss?” Logan stepped into the room.
“She’s in the basement,” I said. “Go.”
I pressed my knee into Billy’s shoulder. He screamed. Pulling out my phone, I called Simon.
“Paige, what’s up?”
“I got a guy here who is in violation of his probation.” I rattled off the address. “He’s going to need medical attention.”
“Jesus, Paige. I’m ten minutes out.”
I placed my phone in my pocket and jammed my knee harder into his shoulder.
“Fuck!” he screamed.
“Listen to me very carefully. You will confess to breaking your probation and to the kidnapping of Claire Simmons. You will plead guilty and refuse a trial. If you don’t, I have people on the inside who like to do what I ask them to. Understand me?”
He nodded.
“Repeat it,” I said, pressing the record button on my phone.
“I plead guilty to breaking my probation and kidnapping Senator Simmons’s daughter, Claire Simmons. I am guilty and refuse a trial.”