Page 105 of Iron

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Petra

Midori had been smart. She kept her sister entertained enough with movies and nail painting and such. Enough to where the girl wasn’t asking questions. And the next day when that didn’t work any longer, she took Amy out to show her the town.

I sent Garen along with them for two reasons. To keep an eye on them to make sure nothing happened and to listen.

Midori hadn’t returned to work since she’d been taken. I was in no rush to have her back. While I was down a girl, I knew it was best to let her work through what she needed to. The last thing I needed was for her to get in a room with a client and have a meltdown.

Garen sent me a text and I headed up to Midori’s apartment.

He stepped out just as I reached the door.

“Amy is asleep and Midori is in the shower,” he told me right away so I would know that he wasn’t leaving the two of them alone to talk.

There were dark circles under his eyes and even I could see that he looked a little aggravated.

“Is there a problem? Do I need to put someone else on them?” I asked flatly.

“No,” he rushed to answer. “I’m fine. I just don’t get much sleep sitting upright in that chair.”

I nodded figuring that one of the girls had the bed and the other took the couch. That didn’t leave many places for Garen to sleep.

“Is the sister suspicious of your presence?”

He hesitated on his answer which caused my head to tilt while I studied him closely with my eyes.

“Midori told her that we are… together.” He rolled his shoulders uncomfortably. “I moved the chair into the bedroom and Midori has the bed.”

I nodded understanding what he meant.

“Have you touched her?” I asked with a raised brow.

“No,” he told me, his eyes devoid of any kind of emotion. “My problems are mine to deal with and I plan on keeping it that way.”

I didn’t miss the way he was throwing the conversation we’d already had in my face.

I let it slide because I saw that he believed the words that came out of his mouth.

“I need to know things now. I can’t wait any longer. With the sister here, I don’t feel comfortable.”

“I understand,” he told me with an unhappy nod. He wasn’t going to stand in my way. He worked for me and he knew that.

“I think they were close at one point. This is me guessing here, but they were raised in a town that was strict with their religious beliefs. A small town, but you know that much.” I did and he knew it too from the information we’d already gathered. “I think Midori ran because she was too smart. She knew what was going on and she didn’t want to be a part of it.”

I didn’t have enough information to agree or disagree with that statement.

“Midori is worried about what is going to happen to her sister now that her dad is dead and her mother is in jail,” he said not even fazed by my silence. “She’s worried that her mother is in trouble.”

“Why would she worry about that? If she has been arrested then she’s more than likely sitting in a jail cell or out on bail. I’m sure she has a lawyer by now.”

He shook his head as if telling me that I wasn’t understanding it. And I wasn’t.

“It’s a small town, Petra. One that sounds like it stays small for a reason.” My eyes narrowed slightly at him and I was telling him to spit it out. “They have secrets. Things they don’t want people to take notice of. Marriage certificates for girls that have barely reached puberty. Children bred only to keep the word alive and spread their beliefs. Law enforcement with blood ties placed there to keep things quiet.”

“So what you are saying is that they will do anything to keep the silence.” It wasn’t really a question. More of a pointedly made statement.

“Yes.”