Page 96 of Tide and Seek

Ethan swallowed loudly, eyes pinned on the gun as he considered my words.“If I help you, he’ll kill me.”

“If you don’t help me,I’llkill you.”My voice shook with anger.He was my only hope of getting to Royce.If he refused to help me, did I have the guts to actually shoot him?That wouldn’t help me find Royce, but it might feel good simply to hurt someone.

He stared at me as if trying to gauge whether I’d pull the trigger or not.“I don’t think you’re a violent man, Dr.Thornton.”

My face twitched.“I’d have said the same thing about myself an hour ago.But right now, Ethan, I don’t feel like myself.If I’m honest with you, I feel very out of control and desperate.I think I could shoot you and not feel anything at all.”

He shivered.“Please, I have kids.”

“I don’t care,” I said coldly.“I really don’t give a damn about anything but finding Royce.I’m warning you not to underestimate me.Now, where’s Royce?”

He gritted his teeth.“He’s by the ocean.”

“That’s not helpful,” I snapped.“Exactly where is he?”

“Will you let me go if I tell you?”

I narrowed my eyes.“No, but I probably won’t shoot you.Where is he?Give me details.”

He exhaled harshly.“He’s at the rock formations.”

“What rock formations?”

“You know, the ones at the end of Ocean Whisper Estates,” he grated.“He’s in one of the caves in those big rocks.”

My vision blurred for a moment, and it was difficult to breathe.The caves flooded daily at high tide.If Royce was trapped in those rocks…

My throat moved as I attempted to ask the question I most needed to know.It took me a few tries, but at last I whispered, “Is he alive?”It was embarrassing how much hope still lived in those three words.

Ethan’s face contorted with guilt.“I don’t know.”The words were hollow, undermined by the resignation in his voice that said, “It’s too late.”

“Start the van.”My voice cracked, the hope dying as quickly as it had flared.

“What are you going to do to me?”

Clenching my jaw, I said coldly, “Start the van, now, Ethan.I have absolutely nothing to lose, but you do.”

“You have to understand, I’m not a bad man.I… I didn’t want to do any of this.My wife, she has cancer and not everything is covered by insurance.I needed money—”

“I don’t care.”And I actually didn’t.I just wanted to see Royce.That was the only thing in this world I wanted.Even if he was gone, I needed to see him.

“Are you going to kill me?”Ethan’s voice broke.

I pointed the gun at his face, feeling something dark and vicious unfurl in my chest.“I don’t know yet,” I admitted.

With a whimper, Ethan’s hands shook as he started the engine, backing out of his driveway with jerky, uncoordinated movements.“None of this was ever supposed to happen—”

“What exactly did you do to subdue Royce?”I interrupted.“There’s no way he went with you willingly.”

Ethan groaned.“It was all Stiles.I was just following orders.”

“What.Did.You.Do.To.Him?”I enunciated each word.

He winced.“Stiles injected him with Fentanyl.”

“Jesus Christ,” I growled, struggling not to pull the trigger.

“It wasn’t my idea—”