Page 50 of All He Sees
Nicky leaned in towards Charles. "Clara Jones. Erica Michaels. Mira Phillips. Tell us where the girls are, and we can work something out."
"You know what?" Charles said. "I'm thinking it's been a while since I took a break. I could really use that mojito... that might loosen my lips a little."
"You're not getting a drink until you tell us what we want to know," she said.
Charles shrugged. "That's too bad."
"You're going to be in here for a long time," Ken said.
Charles shrugged again. "Yeah, that sucks for me, but it sucks for you too." He leaned back in his chair. "So, I think I'm just going to take a nap."
"Don't you dare close your eyes," Nicky said.
But Charles had already closed them. A light snore escaped his lips.
A jolt of rage went through Nicky. She slammed her palm flat on the table, so loud it bounced off the walls. Charles's eyes popped open.
"I'm not going to ask again," Nicky said.
"I'm not going to tell you," Charles said. "Because I have no idea what you're talking about."
Nicky cocked her head and squinted at Charles. What game was he playing?
"All right, officers or agents or whatever you are," Charles droned out. "I grow tired of his. How much do I have to pay you to let me go? One million each? Two million? Just say it and it's yours. Truly, I have no clue about any missing girls."
Nicky's teeth gritted together. Her patience was thin. One more ridiculous comment from his guy, and she was afraid she'd snap.
She took a deep breath.
"Mr. Medina, we know you have a spot reserved at the docks in Vale," she said. "We know you paid George Fischer to use his boat, the Onlooker, to transport something."
"You saw my lovely tiger, right?" Charles said. "I used Fischer's boat for that. All jokes aside, sweetheart, I really do not know about these girls. As for the boat, yes, we dock there if we ever come to town. I have nothing to hide, my love. Now, about that mojito..."
Nicky had to give it to him--he was committed to denying it, and he didn't even seem remotely worried. Which could mean either he was a sociopath or just a trained actor.
Or maybe he was innocent. Maybe--
Before she could finish her thought, Nicky's phone buzzed in her pocket. She took it out--it was Officer Daniels. Her breath caught, and she stood up.
"I'll be right back."
"Don't come back without my drink, love!" Charles called.
It took everything in Nicky not to react. She kept her head high as she left into the hallway and answered the call.
"Officer Daniels," she said, "I hope you have--"
"We haven't found anything," said Officer Daniels. "There's no sign of any girls anywhere."
He sounded really nervous. "We can keep looking, but I don't know how much more I can do."
"I understand," Nicky said. "Listen, thanks for trying. If any other leads come up, please call me right away, okay?"
"Okay," Officer Daniels said. "Goodbye, Agent Lyons."
"Goodbye," she said.
Nicky hung up and closed her eyes. She let out a long breath. Had she exhausted all her options? Had she failed?
