Page 96 of Convict's Game

Mila

A convoy travelled with us through the streets of Deadwater, Manny in a car ahead with a skeleton crew member whose name I didn’t catch, Riordan driving our vehicle which I was pretty sure was bulletproof, and another crew member in a car behind. Additionally, Tyler was watching us, though I hadn’t seen him since we’d set out from the warehouse.

It was for Genevieve’s benefit, I gathered. Arran would flay them alive if anything happened to his woman.

Cassie pulled her phone from her ear, her pretty features wreathed in worry. “Has anyone spoken to Dixie recently? I can’t get hold of her and I haven’t seen her in the warehouse.”

Lovelyn put up a hand like she was in class. “I did a few days ago. She was upset about something and left the warehouse in a hurry. I’m sure she’ll come back when she’s ready.”

Cassie sighed. “I hope so.”

I hadn’t met the woman in question so focused on our task. We’d already tried Esther’s flat, and my knock had been answered by a woman who had to be her mother. She’d stumbled and slurred, screamed at us to piss off, then slammed the door so hard the echo rattled down the sparse corridor. I felt so bad for her, but obviously now wasn’t a good time to talk.

Tyler had been able to give us an address for Annabelle, so we switched our approach to the two other women who’d been in the auction with me. Perhaps they would have clues.

We pulled up at Annabelle’s street, and I hopped out, Cassie and Riordan coming with me. The rest of the crew held back. We’d agreed not to go mob-handed and for Genevieve to stay in the safety of the car.

Annabelle opened the door. She blinked at me. “Oh, hi.”

I got straight to the point. “Did you know Esther died?”

She gave a wide-eyed and fast nod. “I heard about it. It’s terrifying. I never thanked you…”

“You don’t have to. Did you ever meet her before that night?”

“Never.”

“When we were in the cell for the auction, you went out in the hall with her and the other woman. Did she say anything?”

“She spoke to the guy out there who was shit talking us. He grouched about not taking long like you had, and she said you were a nice girl and too good for that place. You had people who cared about you. He laughed and said what a great friend she was with all she was doing to you.”

I held in my hurt. That pretty much confirmed she’d set me up. “The other woman who was there, I didn’t get her name. Did you?”

The youngster jerked her head. “I’ve seen her before. She works at the Burger Barn. Pretty sure her name’s Becky.”

I thanked her, extracting a promise that she’d never do anything like that again.

Annabelle gazed at the skeleton crew cars blocking her street. “Your boyfriend already made me swear that when he was hunting for you. I’m glad you found each other again.”

We drove away, and my heart thumped at the thought of Convict searching for me in the days Salter had held me before the game. The two margaritas must’ve heightened my emotionsas I felt the weight of him being so far away as a band constricting my chest.

A quarter of an hour on, we’d arrived at the fast-food chain restaurant Annabelle had named. It was past eleven p.m., and the place was empty though the lights were still on, and people moved at the back of the kitchen area.

I rapped on the door, but none of them approached.

Manny, escorting me this time, made a dismissive sound and booted it. It flew open, and heads popped up in the kitchen.

A manager stepped forward, her gaze darting from us to the crew and the cars. “I don’t want any trouble.”

Manny shrugged. “You won’t get any. We need to talk to Becky. It won’t take long.”

The manager peered over her shoulder and flapped a hand, then the woman with braids I remembered from the holding cell crept up to the counter. In her blue-and-yellow uniform, she darted anxious looks at me.

“Did you hear about Esther?” I asked.

Becky sucked in a deep breath and circled out of the counter opening, catching my arm to guide me across the floor, all the way beyond the doors and to an outside eating area.

In the cool night, she shoved her hands into her armpits. “I heard. I don’t know anything about it.”