Reckoning (Wolfes of Manhattan 5)

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said. “It’s paramount that I speak to her. Does she have anything scheduled?”

“The last thing I have for her is a shoot here in town. It’s today, actually, but since she hasn’t returned my calls, I’ve had no choice but to tell the company she may not show up.”

“Where’s the shoot?” I ask. “And when?”

“I can’t divulge that information. I’m sorry.”

Crap. “I’ll make it worth your while.” Since when did I start throwing Wolfe money around?

Since I was looking at frying for a crime I didn’t commit. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

“Mrs. Wolfe…”

“I know you’re a professional, Fredricka. Riley speaks very highly of you, but hear me out, please.”

She sighed. “Go ahead.”

I quickly gave her the rundown on being arrested. “Riley and her brothers are still suspects, and believe me, every one of us is innocent. Fonda may have information, and frankly, the fact that she’s been MIA since the will reading has me very suspicious.”

Another sigh. “All right. I’ll give you the information, but like I said, my bet is that she won’t show up.”

“I’ll try anything. Thank you.”

I quickly jotted down the info, thanked Fredricka profusely, and promised I’d keep it confidential that she gave me the information.

Chanelle Manhattan headquarters. Apparently they were marketing an anti-aging skincare line to older women, hence hiring Fonda.

I rose and picked out one of my power suits—this one navy-blue wool—from the closet. I dressed, applied some light makeup, and pulled my hair up into a French knot. I was Lacey the lawyer today, not Lacey the wife of Rock Wolfe who was awaiting trial.

If I found Fonda, she was going to answer to me.

43

Rock

Jim: The hunts we did here in New York. They were tests. For the women who could make it through. Those who did were guaranteed a job for life on the island.

Buck: A job doing what exactly?

Jim: A job as prey.

Buck: So for life, you mean…

Jim: Yeah, exactly what I mean. For life…as long as they could stay alive.

Buck: Time to fess up. I want to know all about those hunts.

Silence.

Buck: You seem to forget who’s holding the gun.

More silence, and then—

Jim: Go ahead. I don’t care anymore. Shoot me. Put me out of my misery. I’m done fighting.

Buck: You sure about that?

Pause.

Buck: Come on. You’ve already sung.

Jim: I have, which means even if I get out of here, I’m a dead man walking. I have been for a while now. So go ahead. I’ve got nothing else to say.

“That’s the end of the recording,” Buck said. “He clammed up after that.”

“Even with your gun?”

“You heard him. He wanted to die anyway. He said I might as well shoot him and put him out of his misery.”

“He could have said that all along.”

“Exactly,” Buck said, “which makes me think he wanted out of this all along. Why else would he leave those GPS coordinates in his bible, where you’d find them?”

“Although”—I scratched my head—“It could just be where he kept them. In a safe place. His bible. God knows he probably never opened the damned thing. Not after everything he’s done.”

“True enough. We’ll never know if he meant for us to find them, but we did, and you’re there.”

“I don’t see any hunting ground,” I said.

“Look around. It’s probably not in plain sight.”

Good point. Reid and I knew nothing about the island so far. We’d docked on the west side, because we came from the west, but Buck was right. This place was huge, and nothing as illegal as a human hunt would be out in the open, even on a private island. We had no idea what was on the other side.

“Damn,” I said.

“The padre said there’s a hunting ground there. He had nothing to lose so I’m betting he’s telling the truth. Apparently the elite pay a million dollars a day to go there.”

“This is so sick, man.”

“Don’t I know it, and trust me. I’ve seen my share of sick as a SEAL and in my private business.”

“Fuck it. I don’t know if I can do this.”

“I can get there in twenty-four hours. Leif and I both. Just say the word.”

It was tempting. Having two ex-SEALS here would help, for sure. But Reid and I couldn’t wait that long. “We need you there. I want you to strong-arm Terrence, Reid’s assistant. See if you can get him to talk. He’s involved in some way.” My phone buzzed.

Lacey’s burner number.

“Can I call you back? My wife’s trying to break in.”

“Yeah, sure. No problem. Leif’s at your office. I’ll have him get with Terrence.”

“Sounds good. Reid may have already gotten Leif to approach him.” Though he hadn’t. Reid’s mind had been elsewhere. Now that he knew Zee was safe, he’d get back in the game.

“I’ll be in touch.” Buck ended the call.

“Hey, baby,” I said to Lacey.