Page 48 of Secrets Beneath the Waves

The general looked at Ramon. “I’ll give you that ride to the hospital. Probably faster than waiting for Life Flight.”

Was Ramon supposed to turn down a military guy who was used to giving orders? He was trying to reconcile what was happening still, but things just weren’t adding up. “I want to know what happens with Swanson.”

The detective handed over his card. “Call later, after you get checked out.”

“Find him.” Ramon motioned with his chin toward the building Swanson had walked him through. “Those young women deserve better than this. They deserve justice.”

The detective nodded. “I’ve been eating, sleeping, and breathing this case for over a year. It’s going to get closed.”

Ramon pushed off the car and walked with the general over to his SUV. A uniformed underling opened the back door for them.

“After you,” Schnell said, waving at the back seat.

Ramon grabbed the handle at the top of the door and pulled himself up onto the seat. All he wanted to do right now was close his eyes and maybe shed a couple of tears. Later, he could figure out what just happened.

The car jerked, pulling away from the spot where they’d parked. Ramon opened his eyes. “Thanks for the ride.”

The general had his phone out. He lifted it to his ear. After a second, he said, “It’s me.” Pause. “Turn yourself in, Swanson.” He slipped the phone into the seat pocket in front of him.

Ramon stared hard at the guy.

The general leaned back in his seat, relaxed like this was any other day.

“Swanson is a scapegoat?” Ramon had lost the ability to assimilate any more information or handle any more pivots today.

“Doctor Swanson is as culpable as anyone else involved in this. I assure you that justice will be done. The media will get their juicy story, and everyone will be satisfied when Swanson goes to prison for life.”

“That isn’t what I call justice.” Ramon wasn’t so sure that was true. “What’s your culpability?”

General Schnell smirked.

“You’re the Count of Shadows.”

His smirk morphed into laughter. “I’ve always liked that name. Makes me sound mysterious.”

“So, you’re the one organizing that display back there? Your men capture young women, Swanson fixes them up, and what? You and your friends go see the displays.”

“We listen, and we don’t judge.”

“Yeah, you can forget that.” Ramon was going to hardcore judge this guy. “The person responsible is you, and you think you’ve gotten away with it.”

“Haven’t I?” Schnell lifted his hands. “Swanson will go down for the whole operation because the confidential informant will testify he was the one who gave the orders. It’s over.”

“You’re packing up shop? Did the heat get too bad. Someone slipped up and drew too much attention?”

“All things must come to an end.”

“Including me?”

The general smirked. “So quick to die. I thought you and Zeyla were looking for me?”

Ramon assessed him. Zeyla thought this man might be Kenna Banbury’s father, but Ramon didn’t know what to think. “Was she recovered?”

If this guy was keeping tabs on them this closely, maybe he knew what Ramon needed to know.

The general sighed. “Wouldn’t you know, when the rescuers showed up to find her, she was nowhere. Almost as if someone else got there first.” He lifted a hand, palm up, then let it drop back to his knee. The guy driving looked in the rearview—he was listening to everything they were saying.

A guy like this, working for a general so entrenched withDominatus, had to be part of them just like his boss. He was certainly no innocent bystander.