Page 65 of Hard Game

I know he went back to see Alastor. He has a personal score to settle, and I know how that feels. But it doesn’t stop me worrying about him. These bastards are the lowest of the low, and I don’t want him to die at their hands.

I don’t want to lose him, I realize.

“Detective Diess!”

I turn at the sound of a voice to see Carmen strutting toward me, her eyes wide as she stares at me. Her hair is frizzy like she’s been caught in the rain, her white shirt creased beneath her wrinkled suit. In short, she looks like shit.

“Thank God you’re okay,” Carmen rasps, reaching out to put her hand on my shoulder. “I thought I knew where Maddox was going, but I was…” She looks at me and takes a deep breath. “I was wrong. Did anything happen to you? One minute, you’re on the phone with me; the next, you’re gone.”

I study her and let out a shaky breath. I’m not ready to discuss anything with her or anyone else; no one needs to know what I went through.

Only Maddox.

“No, Ma’am.”

Carmen eyes me suspiciously. “I sent you my location, so when you didn’t turn up, I called Elijah.”

That explains why Elijah was here…wait. Elijah didn’t know where we were. He was frustrated that Maddox knew the location of the traffickers, and he didn’t. I shift on my feet and study Carmen. She’s still watching me with that concerned look, but something doesn’t feel right.

“What did Elijah say?” I ask her, observing her reaction carefully. So carefully.

Carmen frowns. “What?”

“When you spoke to Elijah, what did he say?”

Carmen’s eyes dart around us, and my stomach drops.

Is she lying to me?

“He knew where you were, Detective Diess.”

No. No, he didn’t.

“So I sent him here and arranged for backup.” She waves her hands around us. “Hence the circus. It won’t be long before the media arrives and things go crazy, so I better go and make sure we’ve got a tape in place. You know what they’re like.”

“Who?” I say blankly, trying to keep her talking.

“The media,” Carmen says slowly, squinting at me. “Are you sure you’re alright, Detective? How did you say you ended up here again?”

I meet her gaze head-on. “I didn’t.”

“Yes, that’s right— you didn’t.” Carmen nods. “Maybe you followed Mr Moreno. Is that what happened?”

She’s giving me a story.

Why is she giving me a story?

“No.” I inhale deeply and gaze at her. “I was ambushed at my apartment and taken here against my will. After my call with you.”

Carmen gasps and looks me up and down, her face the perfect picture of concern. It’s almost believable. “Oh my God, are you alright? Did they hurt you?”

But I can’t hear her anymore. There’s a ringing in my ears so loud I can barely breathe. I’m going to pass out.

Carmen clutches my arm, but I rip it back like she’s burned me. Her eyes narrow, and she says something I can’t hear.

Did she hurt Elijah? Did she try to kill him?

“You lured Elijah here,” I say, pointing a finger at her. “You…did you shoot him?”

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