Page 104 of Echoes of You

Shadows swirled in Roan’s eyes. “To make sure all the skeletons stay hidden.”

None of this said good things. We already knew that Maddie wasn’t Adam’s first victim, but this spoke of something darker.

“Do you have any idea what he’s using them for?” I asked.

The corner of Holt’s mouth kicked up. “For a bunch of PIs, they really need to invest in better cyber security.”

“I didn’t hear that,” Lawson mumbled.

Holt rolled his eyes. “Say it came in as an anonymous tip.”

“Because that always holds up so well in court,” Lawson shot back.

“Both of you shut up.” I motioned at Holt. “What’s going on?”

“I can’t shut up and tell you what’s going on.”

“Holt…”

Roan grabbed a rubber band from Lawson’s desk and shot it at Holt. “This is about Maddie. Do you really want to explain to Wren why you came home with a black eye? Because Nash will punch you.”

Holt winced. “Sorry.” He scrolled a little more on his phone. “Adam Westchester is currently keeping tabs on ten different women—Maddie included.”

A cacophony of curses filled the air as fresh rage pulsed through me. “And this company didn’t consider that there might be a less-than-ethical reason someone might do that?”

Holt tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. “They have some notes in the file. When he’s in a relationship with the women, his reason is always that they may be a target due to his wealth.”

I scoffed at that. “And after the relationship ends?”

“To make sure they don’t get any ideas about trying to get money out of him.”

“This guy is a piece of work,” Lawson muttered.

“It’s a lot worse than that,” Roan said quietly. “This is serial. Obsessive. The fact that he tracks them after the relationship ends? It’s not good.”

“Roan’s right,” Holt said. “The firm delivers dossiers on each woman to Adam every month.”

I realized what this was. “He gets a thrill out of knowing he has overpowered them. Even the two who pressed charges. He still got away with it. Maybe he had to pay one of them some money, but it never hurt him.”

“I want this asshole out of my town,” Lawson gritted out.

“What’s his alibi for last night?” I asked.

“He was on a work call with someone in Australia. I talked to that colleague, a woman by the name of Corina Saltzman. She swore up and down that they were on the phone at the time of Maddie’s attack, but he could be paying someone to cover for him.”

“Or it could be a new woman he’s got on the hook,” Holt added.

“That, too,” Lawson agreed. “We need to consider other suspects. I need to talk to Jimmy Byrne—”

“I’m coming with you.” I needed to see the look on Maddie’s father’s face, read if he was lying.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Lawson protested.

Holt straightened. “Roan and I are coming, too.”

Lawson pinched the bridge of his nose again. “A consultant and a Fish and Wildlife officer can’t question a suspect in a Cedar Ridge PD investigation.”

Roan studied our brother. “We can wait in the car, and Nash can just happen to have his phone on speaker.”

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