Page 71 of Maddox

“The person you trusted?” he asked.

“Not a chance.” I was tossing him a suggestion as he’d done with me. Somehow, someone had found a way to discover our position.

“Alright. Did she say anything about the reason for her visit to El Salvador?”

No matter what game he was playing, the constant questions were becoming old very quickly. “The same thing you told me. That she was reporting on orphanages in dire need of money and that many of the older children were swept into the slave trade market. You need to remember, her crew was eliminated in front of her eyes.”

“Alfaro has a list of targets he’s bragged about on open media.” It was almost as if he was starting to put the imaginary pieces of the puzzle together.

“Including members of the United States government,” I suggested.

“Yes.”

I nodded several times. “She doesn’t have anything. If she did, the bastards who took her would have discovered it. If they had, I doubt she’d be alive, infatuation or not.”

“That’s what I told the agent. I just wanted your take on it. Will you stay until tomorrow at least? I’m certain the second roundof questioning of Ms. Douglas is a mere formality. I think she’d appreciate having someone she trusts in her corner.”

“Meaning they’ll grill her again until she breaks.” This time, I issued the words under my breath.

“As I said, Maddox. She’s not being accused of anything. Just keep her safe.”

“Alright. I’ll stay for twenty-four hours. Then I have a life to return to. I’m finished with playing games for anyone, Gray. I thought you understood that. Now, she needs rest. I’m assuming you made arrangements for a hotel for her.”

“Yes, that’s been arranged. The Marriott down the street.”

“Fine.” I moved around him, opening the door. “I’ll wait, but not for long. Just try and remember I don’t like when anyone is railroaded to serve a purpose.” He knew exactly what I was saying and what I would do to keep her from being some scapegoat. I might not know Charmaine so well, yet I was well aware she wasn’t involved with a pig like Alfaro. I headed into the hallway, bristling as I did.

What the fuck was going on and why did I have a terrible feeling Gray was in way over his head? Maybe the man felt he could no longer trust anyone. Whatever the case, I didn’t like the way this was transpiring.

The disk drive would remain in our possession.

Especially since we had no idea what it contained.

CHAPTER 19

Charmaine

Two hours.

Two hours of being grilled by two different individuals.

When one had left, another had entered asking the same damn questions.

Why were you in El Salvador?

Why were you kidnapped?

How did you know about the other hostages?

Why did Alfaro see you as a person of interest?

Did you learn anything that might prove helpful?

It was obvious they knew I’d been tipped about Alfaro, but they weren’t certain what I’d been told. I’d given them enough crumbs to keep them satisfied, but I doubted that would last.

I certainly knew what it felt like to be made out to be a criminal when I’d done nothing wrong. I was exhausted, the bottle of water provided almost empty and all I could think about was Maddox.

A part of me was surprised I hadn’t heard a huge outburst. I could just see him tossing bodies against the wall. When a slight smile crossed my face from thinking about Maddox’s hulk-like qualities, the attorney noticed. His disapproving expression almost made me laugh.

---