Page 100 of The Taskmaster

“Nope.” I shook my head. That one was going with me to the grave.

He rubbed his jaw, irritation playing across his face.

“What’s the problem?” I asked.

“She doesn’t fit your M.O. and she never worked at Clivesdon House.” He sighed heavily, then in a low voice said, “She worked at Halliwell House. And I’ve been monitoring the ladies that worked there for some time now.”

I raised my brow, waiting for him to elaborate.

“I know what was going on there,” he went on. “I also know a lot of the women who worked there years ago have... died.” He didn’t say were murdered, but he did whisper with regret, “I saw the toxicology reports.”

“And yet there’s no police reports, no case, no appeal or media circus.”

He lifted his head, staring me straight in the eyes as he said, “It’s surprising, the lengths you’ll go to, to protect the ones you love.”

He knew.

“And it’s surprising the lengths you’ll go to, to protect children who might be hurt by the same monsters who came for you, night after night.”

“Touche, Mr Dalton.”

“My name isn’t Dalton,” I stated, tired of hearing the name that wasn’t mine. The name that belonged to a man who bought me for pennies, and then killed everything that was good in my life. “My name is Isaiah James.”

“Is that why I can’t find you on our system?”

“You won’t find me on any system. I don’t exist. The boy you found in the cupboard at a murder scene was a baby sold into a trafficking ring.”

Walters let out a huge breath, placed his hands on the table and said, “It’s time for justice to be served.”

“Justice was already served,” I replied plainly. “I did your job way better than you ever could.”

“You murdered multiple people. Not to mention the man who’s heart you ripped out in front of my daughter.”

“They killed me first.”

“What sort of a man are you?” His anger was palpable as his restraint was working overtime, keeping him on that side of the room, when I knew all he wanted to do was fly at me. At least,that’s how I’d have felt if I was in his shoes. “You massacred another man in front of my little girl. You’re a monster.”

“I am what they made me. I make no apologies for that.”

He sighed heavily, rubbing his palms over his face in exasperation.

“We’re getting nowhere here,” he said.

“You’re very good at stating the obvious.”

“Was it worth it?” he asked, and I smiled.

“Every single one was worth it.”

“And will you kill again?”

“If I had to.”

“And my daughter?” I felt a pang in my heart as I pictured her face.

“What about your daughter?”

He took a moment before he spoke, and what he said stung my heart.