“A lot.”
“You aren’t part of their organization?”
Gary rapped his cane on the floor.
“Gary, it’s fine. She’ll answer.”
“I saw an advertisement in the paper. It said they needed an actress or a model. They wanted someone who was dedicated. So I went in for an interview. I’d just lost my job.”
She looked down at the duct tape binding together her ankles.
“They said they’d get me an apartment. I needed one. So I took it.”
“And what was your job?”
“You were. They said a reporter lived next door. They wanted me to get him to write a story about their group, any story. The rest of the time I could do what I wanted. It was a great job, great pay.”
“I pay well, I guess.”
“But then they said there was more. I had to start keeping tabs on you. Telling them when you were coming and going. When you left. Who you were hanging out with. Everything about you. I turned into a spy. But they gave me a raise. So it was something.”
“How could you do this with a straight face?”
“I had to. It was my job.”
“You didn’t have to do anything.”
“Jacob,” Gary interrupted. “Let her speak.”
They all waited until she started again.
“When you said you were going to meet someone on the beach, I told them. I didn’t think it would matter. I thought they’d just watch for you. I had no idea that they’d attack you. That they’d…”
“Just continue.”
She did.
“I had no idea that they would go that far. After that happened, after I saw you, I realized that they must have done it. I told them that I wanted to quit. I couldn’t do it any more.”
“You did enough.”
“I know.”
She leaned on him and he let her. Then she sat back up.
“Is he asleep?”
Gary was snoring, lightly.
“Gary, are you awake?”
He jerked up.
“I was working.”
“On what?”
“You’ve never heard of ‘good cop, asleep cop?’”
“No Gary, I haven’t.”
Kaylie tried to fold up her legs, but she couldn’t because of the tape.
“I told them I wanted to stop. But they said it was too late. Things had already gone too far. You’d already found out too much. So they decided to change their plan and become more…aggressive.”
“I see.”
“I didn’t do anything. But they had me call as soon as you left. Then he came over.”
“Who?”
“Roderick. You’ve seen him before, haven’t you?”
“Is he the bearded man?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve seen him in the commercials. He attacked me?”
“Yes. He saw the same posting in the paper. Apparently he’s had experience with this sort of thing.”
“And you just stood there?”
“I didn’t have a choice. You’ve seen how dangerous they are.”
“I’ve felt how dangerous they are.”
“I know.”
She turned to him and leaned into his body. She kicked out her legs, barefoot as always.
“Can you forgive me?”
He laughed out loud for the first time in a while.
“Oh no. You’ve told me what happened. Now you have to tell us what you know.”
CHAPTER 41
He got a glass of water from the kitchen. He was going to give it to Kaylie, but he ended up drinking it first to wash down the chocolate. It was still thick in his throat, coating it completely. He got ice and put half in the water glass and half in a bag to soothe his fresh wounds. He went back in the room.
Gary was standing guard at the door while Kaylie sat on the bed. Jake gave her the water and Gary started jerking his leg.
“My foot was falling asleep.”
He shook his leg out. Jake sat down and looked at him until he finished shaking.
“How did you know that I’d been kidnapped?”
“Because you had duct tape on your eyes and mouth.”
“No, I mean when you were outside. You knocked a couple of times. Then you said you were the police. How did you know to say that?”
“I saw your car outside when I arrived. And you’ve never been late before. I knew that something was wrong.”
“I’m impressed.”
“I could sense it, Jacob. I could smell the fear, like a sinister bacon.”
“OK. Don’t ruin it.”
They stopped and looked at Kaylie. She sulked like she felt forgotten. Jake sat beside her again.
“We need to know more. Do you know who attacked me on the beach? I don’t think it was the bearded man. It felt…different.”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“I told you.” She breathed in. Calmed down. “They didn’t tell me they were going to do anything. They just did it. I didn’t know that any of this was going to happen.”
“But you know that someone else was involved, right?”
“Yes.” She adjusted her body on the bed and sat up straighter. “There was someone who I never met. Normally I worked with Roderick. But whenever I made a phone call, it was another person. That’s who I interviewed with, too.”
“Male or female?”
“It was a man. He was always very formal. He just gave me directions.”
“What did he sound like?”
“I don’t remember. His voice wasn’t distinctive. Deep, I guess.”
“Nothing?”
“No.” She bit her lip. “I just remembered. When I called to tell them you were going to the beach, I spoke with him.”
“So it was him?”
“I don’t know. But he was always the person I talked to.”
He turned the page in his notebook. He’d already filled a few pages recording what she said. As he started writing again, Gary rapped his cane on the floor.
