Chapter 13 - Adrian’s Last Card
Adrian asked to see me.
I said no.
Then he sent one message through his lawyer.
I KNOW WHERE RACHEL IS.
That changed my answer.
Detective Reed arranged the meeting in an interview room.
Adrian entered wearing county jail clothes.
No charcoal suit.
No expensive watch.
No wedding ring.
For the first time, he looked exactly like what he was.
A man with no power left.
He sat across from me.
“You look terrible,” he said.
I almost laughed.
“You hit me with a plate.”
“You humiliated me.”
“And that made assault reasonable?”
He looked away.
“Where’s Rachel?”
“I want a deal.”
“You’re talking to the wrong person.”
“I know you can influence the prosecutor.”
“I can’t.”
“You can influence public pressure.”
“That’s your family’s favorite kind of currency, isn’t it?”
His jaw tightened.
I leaned forward.
“Where is Rachel?”
Adrian smiled.
“Tell them I didn’t kill Natalie.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“You only hit her with a bottle.”
His expression flickered.
So Eleanor had told the truth.
“At least I tried to stop my mother.”
“Did you?”
“She panicked.”
“And then your father threw Natalie into a quarry while she was alive.”
Adrian looked at the table.
For one second, he almost looked ashamed.
Then it disappeared.
“Rachel was different.”
“How?”
“She was unstable.”
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The family word.”
He frowned.
“Every woman who says no becomes unstable.”
“She attacked me.”
“Where is she?”
“She contacted me three years ago.”
“Why?”
“She wanted money.”
“Blackmail?”
“She said she had proof.”
“Of what?”
His eyes met mine.
“Everything.”
I felt a slow chill.
“What kind of proof?”
“Video.”
The basement.
Natalie.
Rachel’s captivity.
Maybe more.
“Where is she?”
“Portland.”
Reed, watching from the adjoining room, would already be sending officers.
“Full name?”
“She changed it.”
“To what?”
Adrian paused.
Then smiled.
“I want immunity on Natalie.”
“You’re not getting immunity.”
“Then we’re done.”
I stood.
Fear crossed his face.
“Claire.”
I walked toward the door.
“All right!”
I stopped.
“Her name is Rebecca Hale.”
I turned.
“Address?”
“I don’t have it.”
“You said you know where she is.”
“She owns a bookstore.”
“Name?”
“North Line Books.”
I opened the door.
“Claire.”
I looked back.
He suddenly seemed desperate.
“My father made me what I am.”
I stared at him.
“No.”
“He taught me—”
“You were taught cruelty.”
I stepped closer.
“But every time you used it, you made a choice.”
His face hardened.
“You think you’re better than me?”
“I think I’ll sleep tonight.”
I opened the door again.
Behind me, Adrian said quietly:
“You shouldn’t.”
I froze.
“Why?”
He smiled.
“Because the person who sent you that vineyard photograph wasn’t helping you.”
My skin prickled.
“What are you talking about?”
“They wanted you to find the quarry.”
“Who?”
Adrian leaned back.
“Rachel.”
I stared.
He continued.
“And if Rachel came back…”
His smile vanished.
“She didn’t come back for justice.”
“What did she come back for?”
May you like
Adrian whispered:
“She came back to finish us.”
