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I roll my eyes. Those glassed-in front doors were actually useful for something. “And?”
He blows out a breath. “They recognized a girl and a man. The guy came out of the elevator and they recognized him as Kyle Wallsburg. They had an unconscious Alastair slung over the guard’s shoulder.”
My brows knit together. This isn’t the same story that Sterling told me, and I lean in a little closer. According to Sterling, they learned that Porscha Surwright and Dr. Char Rowths-Spurig were the same person, but no one realized anything was amiss at the penitentiary until it was too late. Somehow, she got into the prison, partnered up with Kyle and now he’s dead.
Sterling said the security cameras were left on, so they didn’t try and destroy them. He was scant on other details, alternating between his phone and giving me short, perfunctory answers before he rushed off to answer a call. I’m sure there’s a lot of moving parts, and the fact that he’s here instead of at the scene makes me wonder how trustworthy his team really is. He’s the lead, right?
But if Alastair was unconscious, then it should be assumed he went unwillingly with Porscha and Kyle. Scrubbing a hand across my face, I try to keep everything in order in my head. I want to see Jo badly, but I need to speak to Sterling again too.
“Alastair’s not working with Porscha from what they could tell,” Xeno continues, and I glance back at him. He looks as tense as I feel, but I’m pretty sure he’s just readying himself in case he needs to stop me from barging into Jo’s room. “Dante and Jonathan kept watch, and they tried to enter from a different point in the building. They didn’t know what was going on, but going inside seemed foolish if everyone else was unconscious.”
I sneer. “If either of them hurt Jo-”
“Who?” Xeno cuts in. “Porscha? Alastair?Kyle?” He rolls his eyes. “It’s a mess Vinny, even outside the two of you. The whole prison is being relocated. If Alastair hadn’t been carried away by Wallsburg and Porscha, he would be moved to another facility. As it is, no one knows anything about his whereabouts.”
“But he’s not dead?” I ask. The question feels hollow; we both know the answer.
Xeno scoffs. “If she wanted him dead she would have killed him in the prison. Why go to the lengths she did to get him out just to turn on him?”
I hesitate. Since I woke up I’ve been wondering the same thing too. At first I thought it was a dream that I saw Porscha, sporting different hair and a new nose. It was her voice, though, unmistakable, reminding me of the times I’d grab Jo to take her anywhere else.
And those eyes. Those cold, lifeless eyes. My mama always had issues with Porscha, and few of them had to do with me dating Jo until mama realized I intended on marrying her and this wasn’t just a fluke. When she realized how serious I was, mama started whispering to me some sort of nonsense that Porscha had multiple personalities. Jo mentioned some strange things about her mother, but a diagnosis like that never came up.
My mama though is a hard person to talk down once she’s set her mind on something. She claimed that Jo’s mom always came off differently depending on who she was talking to like she was faking it. I always labeled it as lies. The few times Porscha acted weird around me I mostly dismissed it because Jo told me her mom was always strange.
Maybe there was something to all of mama’s whispers after all.
“I don’t understand Porscha’s obsession with Alastair,” I admit, closing my eyes. I can’t remember Porscha ever specifically acting like she had an interest in him years ago.To be frank she never seemed that excited about Alastair or Emeric. She didn’t like either of the foster brothers, but I don’t remember any specific reason why.
“Her reasons might not make sense to you,” Xeno agrees, “but it means Alastair should presumably be alive right now. She went through a lot of trouble to ensure he would leave alive.”
“But why now?” I grumble. “Was she always the original CGS or is the title of killer new to her?”
“I don’t know,” Xeno answers honestly. “But I did tell Jonathan and Dante to mention to Sterling that Porscha Surwright is holding Alastair hostage.”
My eyes narrow. “Why would you say something like that?”
“To make sure they protect your man,” he says with a smirk. “I’m sure Josephine will appreciate it if we keep him in one piece.”
Hearing Xeno call her by her fake full name makes me pause, tilting my head as I stare at my brother. He’s been so kind to her since we returned to Florida. “You like her.”
“I like you both,” he replies with a smirk. “And I liked Alastair before he decided to kill people.” He lifts his brows, and I’m not entirely sure what he wants me to get from that look.
Alastair admitted to the murders. He’s on Death Row for them. There’s no way he can be anything but a killer.
Still… I don’t understand where Porscha fits in.
“I’ll keep an eye on your wife,” he continues, nodding towards the hall. “You should call Emeric. Won’t he want to know about his brother? I doubt anyone’s going to want this broadcast, but it’s only a matter of time before reporters get a hold of this and it makes the news. The Feds can’t conceal everything forever.”
Emeric.I wasn’t even thinking about him, and guilt starts to build in my chest. Of course he will want updates. He probably has no idea anything’s happened.
I’m not even sure if he’s Alastair’s emergency contact. Ifanyoneis Alastair’s emergency contact anymore. It never even occurred to me to ask if anyone on the outside looked out for him in any way. Emeric lives in Florida, and currently as far as I know he plans on returning home once we’re done. If anyone’s looking out for Alastair, I expect it to be him. Even if Alastair refused his visits, that doesn’t mean Emeric stopped worrying about him.
Without leaving my seat I dial Emeric’s number, needing to keep my eyes on the room despite Xeno’s offer. He answers on the second ring. “Miss me already?”
“Alastair is gone,” I tell him, the words tumbling out before I can debate saying something else. “There was an incident at the penitentiary.”
Emeric goes quiet, and I can’t imagine what’s going on in his head. “You’re going to need to slow down and explain that a whole lot better.”