Bitter Truths (The Denton Family Legacy 3)

“Lewis, it’s about time that you got back to me.”

“Yeah, well, what I’m about to tell you won’t be such good news.”

“You cracked Lionel’s code.”

“Hell yeah. Your brother would have made one hell of a detective. Honestly, the shit he knows here, no wonder it got him killed.”

She rubbed her chest at the spike of pain that struck her. His death still hurt.

“I’m sorry, Ruby.”

“It’s fine. You’re only saying what’s right. So, what did you find out?” she asked.

“Lionel didn’t get the guy’s identity right away. In fact he kept what he was doing secret from the Dentons for a good six months. A year before Lionel was killed, he noticed a payment for a chemical on one of the accounts.”

“So?”

“It was a chemical used for cleaning stables.”

“I don’t get it.”

“The Coltons ran stables. It’s where their auctions took place, Ruby. The girls were kept there, and as a cover, they used actual stables, to hide the evidence. Think about it, animals could be pretty damn noisy.”

“It would cover up sounds from screaming kids,” Ruby said.

“Yeah, but why the fuck was an employee ordering a chemical for a job that was clearly not his?”

“Okay. What happened? Why suddenly order something like that?” Ruby asked.

“The guy fucked up, and Lionel finally got evidence of the guy making transactions. His name, two different cards for two different families.”

“The Coltons and the Dentons.”

“Yes. Lionel set a trap, and this guy walked right into it.”

“What kind of trap?”

“He set up a meet, using the Coltons’ details. Lionel knew everything about the Coltons, and he was able to do it. According to Lionel’s information, on the day he was killed, he went to the café.”

Ruby froze, recalling the day.

“I want a cinnamon

bun,” Ruby said.

“You will have one. Remember, we’re here because we were out shopping.”

“I’ve got your back, Lionel. Why are we here?”

“To see who turns up.”

Pulling out of the memory, Ruby didn’t need to hear the rest of what Lewis had to say. She had been at the café that day. She knew who Lionel had talked to. There was only one person who would know the full details of what her brother was doing, who had the complete security codes of the basements, who would know Tamsin’s school day. Dropping the phone, she grabbed her gun, and headed inside.

She didn’t stop. Her heart was pounding, and for the second time in her life, she was terrified.

Pointing the gun, she knew Maddox caught sight of her.

“Ruby, what are you doing?” he asked.