“Why would anyone care who either of us were friends with? I was barely a teenager.” I was missing something. “Why was it so important to separate us?”
He shrugged. “I learned early on that it was in my best interest not to ask questions when they gave me instructions.”
“Who are they?”
“If you don’t know, I’m not going to tell you.”
Quick as a flash, I reached out and grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him toward me. “You’ll answer any question I ask you. Understand?”
“No,” he said but didn’t attempt to pull out of my grasp. “You understand. According to my doctor, I have less than six months to live. And as you could probably guess, I don’t give a fuck about much. But I do know that I want to live those six months in peace and not have to worry about looking over my shoulder for them.”
“Are they called TPA?” I asked using the company name Trent had uncovered, but Newsome’s eyes gave nothing away.
“Never heard of them,” he said, and I knew he’d never tell me anything about the mysterious “they.”
“I’ll ask a different question then.” I let go of his collar, and he took a step back. “Have you seen Bri lately?”
“No,” he said, but his eyes shifted, and I had a feeling he was lying.
“Do you know where she could be?”
He’d been looking down, but at my question, his head jerked up. “Have you lost her?”
“Something like that,” was all I was willing to say in response.
“If they want you to find her, you’ll find her.” Newsome turned around slowly. “And if they don’t, you won’t. No one’s mentioned her around me, and I sure as hell haven’t asked.”
Before I could reply, he continued. “All this talking and thinking has left me tired. I’m going to go take a nap. You can see yourself out.”
I watched his retreating form. “How about your door? Don’t you want to lock it?”
Newsome laughed. “If they were going to get me, they’d have done it long before now. There’s very little I fear these days.”
“It’s still not a good idea to leave your door unlocked.”
“Thank you for the public service announcement. Now get the fuck out of my house.”
Without another word, he walked toward the back of the house and disappeared into a room off the hallway. Shaking my head, I let myself out and made it back to my car, a bit defeated. I had learned little other than whoever “they” were had apparently screwed Newsome over and a vague feeling he had seen or spoken to Bri lately. Or maybe someone had talked to him about her recently.
Whatever it turned out to be, odds were I wouldn’t learn very much by staying parked in front of the townhouse. At least not out in the open, like I currently was.
Three hours later, my legs cramped from sitting in my car for so long. Certain I’d learn something if I watched Newsome’s house long enough, it’d become clear why I practiced law and paid other people to do my investigative work.
I didn’t have the patience. There was no way I’d ever make it through an all-night stakeout. I was over and done after three hours. There had been no movement anywhere near the townhouse. Maybe because there was no one to move. Or maybe because someone was waiting and watching for me to do something.
I didn’t want to leave my current hiding spot because I wouldn’t be able to use it again. Not far down the street from the townhouse, there was a construction site for a new home. No one was working on in which meant there was no one to notice or care that I hid my car behind a dumpster.
The spot gave me a near-perfect view of the townhouse I’d recently left, but I was at a loss how I could continue my surveillance for much longer.
My phone buzzed with an incoming text. I glanced at the screen to see who it was and almost turned away because I didn’t recognize the number. But thinking it might be a throwaway phone Bri used, I read the message and my body turned to ice.
I have what you’re looking for. If you want it, meet me at your office.
Chapter 22
Piers
Near the harbor, I pulled into the parking garage for my office. It was after hours, so I wasn’t sure how whoever sent me the text had gotten inside. Nor did I know who it was. If forced to guess, I’d go with the bastard we’d found inside Bri’s apartment. He was the only person I’d run into lately who had a knack for getting into places he didn’t belong.
I didn’t have a weapon, but I didn’t let that bother me. If it turned out to be the same man, I assumed the sniper would also be in attendance. I was a decent shot, but to attempt a shootout with the duo who more than likely were waiting for me would be a suicide mission.
Because it was after hours, a lot of parking spaces were available. Only a few workaholics remained. I glanced around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Though I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d notice if it was. Once upon a time, I had been hyperaware of everything around me. And even though I could still pick up on a few things, like someone following me, I knew I was nowhere near as cognizant of my surrounding as I’d been years before.
I parked my car near the covered walkway that led to the adjoining office building and nodded to the security guard in the lobby before heading to the elevators. I didn’t take the time to wonder how a stranger might have gained access to my office. Life had taught me a lot of things. One of those being damn near anything is possible if you wanted it badly enough.
I was unsurprised to find the outer door to my office unlocked, even though I knew my admin, Jeanie, would have never left the office in such an insecure manner. Just as I knew she hadn’t been the one to let in whoever it was waiting for me inside.
The main lights in the office were out, but a faint light shone from near the back of the hall where my personal office was located. I walked in that direction. My entrance had not been quiet, nor had I meant for it to be. I assumed whoever requested the meeting had eyes watching somewhere to alert them when I arrived.
However, even having told myself that, I couldn’t stop the slight jerk of my body when a voice called down the hall.
“Come on back, Mr. Worthington. We’ve been waiting for you.”
I recognized the voice as belonging to the fucker who broke into Bri’s apartment. Involuntarily, my eyes dropped to my chest to ensure there wasn’t a red bullseye on my chest.
We’ve been waiting for you, the man had said. Who was the we? Bri?
A few more steps and I stood in the doorframe of my office. As expected, the bastard from before sat in one of the chairs I had in my seating area. Another man, one I didn’t recognize, sat beside him. Bri was nowhere to be seen.
And I’d had about enough of this shitty game.
“I’m here,” I said. “What do you want?”
Barnes laughed. “So to the point, Mr. Worthington. Where’s the boorish politeness most of us Brits are known for?”
“People like you forced me to the uncivilized side.” I didn’t bother to tell him though I’d been born in England and was a dual citizen, I’d lived in the US for so long I considered myself an American. He probably knew all that already, and if he didn’t, I couldn’t imagine he’d care very much.