Page 42 of The Maverick (WaterFyre Rising #7)
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
ATTIKUS
When we arrived in Providence, Vanessa excused herself to unpack. I knew Emmanuel’s death had affected her. Though he’d been her ex, he was also a victim in this fiasco.
Forrest had sent me the toxicology report on Emmanuel’s bloodwork. He had high levels of toxins. He hadn’t seen that combination before, but he recognized some of the dangerous chemical agents that damaged brain cells.
“I’ll be in my office.” I kissed her forehead. “If you need me, just come in.”
“His sister will be devastated. Do you think she’s also in danger?”
“I’ll have someone watch over her.”
“You’d do that?”
I tipped her chin up. “I’d do anything to remove the despair on your face.”
“Thank you.” She embraced me. “Do you need me to help you unpack?”
“You’d do that?” I repeated her words and earned a smile.
Nodding, she pinched my cheek. “I’d do anything to remove the despair on your face.”
I watched her enter her bedroom, and my chest tightened a little more. I wanted her to move into my bedroom. But now wasn’t the moment to bring that topic up.
I walked into my office, shut the door, and moved to the bulletin board with pictures and notes of my family’s murderers. A second board had been created for Vanessa’s blackmailer. More individuals needed to be added after what she’d told me.
I wrote a note and slapped it on the board.
Emmanuel had given me a list of gyms affiliated with Ultra Health and Fitness, where Milton worked.
My friends had uncovered that Milton Kalkounis—the man who hung out with the bullies—was part of The Trogyn.
Vanessa’s father was too. When she’d told me his name, I sent it to Orion to search through the database.
Charles Laurent had died a few years ago in an explosion in Mexico.
Yesterday, Emmanuel was supposed to be on a flight out of the country to a remote village in Brazil where Forrest had an herbal farm.
Emmanuel was going to work there until things settled in Providence.
I should hate this guy for dating and terrifying Vanessa, but I’d obtained a new identity card for him to start over.
I opened the file containing recordings of Emmanuel’s apartment over the past few weeks.
He’d left the building twice. The first time was to a convenience store a block from his home.
He’d been in disguise and returned home safely.
The second time was yesterday. He’d been in disguise again and gotten into a ConvientRide.
Two recordings from a few blocks away showed the ride had run a red light and was hit by a truck, flipping the vehicle several times.
People rushed to pull him and the driver out.
According to the police report, the driver was drunk, but my instincts told me it was no accident.
The driver was still at the hospital.I needed to ask the fucker a few questions before someone else got to him.
I reached for my phone and called Detective Farmer. “Do you have anyone watching Sam Thornton, the ConvenientRide driver from yesterday’s car accident?”
“No. Should I?”
I briefed him on the situation.
“Understood. Someone will check on him.”
“I need to ask him some questions. Do you want to meet me there?”
“Be there soon.”
My gut told me Emmanuel’s death wasn’t as simple as it looked. Was his death a warning to anyone who went against The Trogyn?
I walked into Vanessa’s room. “I’ve got to head out for a bit. Do you need anything while I’m out?”
She shook her head. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” I stepped up to her. “Just meeting the detective to go over Emmanuel’s death.”
She sighed. “Is he also investigating the man who attacked us in Maui?”
I had to follow up on that later. Shit was erupting all around us.
I wrapped my arms around her. “No. It’s not his jurisdiction. But I’ll get to the bottom of that incident. As soon as I get more information, I’ll let you know.”
She looked up at me. “Promise?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I’ll unpack for you.” She smirked. “Do you have anything in the luggage you don’t want me to see?”
“You have access to everything in my luggage, bedroom, or any room in this house. If you find something interesting, let me know.”
“I’ve got the key to everything?” She waved an invisible key in the air.
“Everything.”
As I left the house, the meaning of “everything” rang in my ears. I meant what I’d said—she had access to everything that belonged to me. No other woman had that. But Vanessa had burrowed into a deep spot in my heart, and I’d do anything to protect her.