how are you to contact them?”
“I have information for a money drop.”
“Is there any reason to think they’re aware of the kidnapping insurance you took out on your daughter?”
“No.”
“Is she aware of the policy?”
“I’m sure Evie is peripherally aware, but I don’t discuss those kinds of things with her.”
“Would she have been aware of your baseline policy? The one for five million?”
“I don’t know. Maybe? I mean, we’ve discussed it in the past, but that was a really long time ago. Evie and I… We’re not as close as I would like.” Truth rings out in those words, both the distance between father and daughter as well as his regret about the current state of their relationship. His concern over his daughter is real.
“We need more than maybe.”
His expression darkens. “I’m sure she knew, but I honestly don’t see how that matters.” Frustration edges his tone and he almost loses his cool with me, but Deverough is a master of his emotions and tucks his shit up tight.
“It matters because we have to assume they’ve interrogated her.” I hate using the word interrogate. It’s a strong word, evoking powerful images, but Deverough is kind of a prick, and I don’t have time to hold his hand.
“She’s a smart girl. She probably did.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Yes, but I don’t…”
“Did she know about the thirty million?”
“Mr. Sage, I don’t see why this matters?”
“Just answer the question.”
“No. She didn’t. I only did that because she…” Redness fills his face. He’s a cultured man. Deverough once again puts a lid on his temper. “My daughter wouldn’t know about that.”
“Any reason to think she knew about the security detail you put on her?”
“Absolutely not.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Yes.”
“In my experience, children like her tend to be a bit more savvy about things like that.”
“What does that mean? Children like her?”
“Only that children who grow up with the kind of wealth that demands personal protection details and kidnapping ransom insurance generally know when they’re being protected. Would it be safe to assume she knew?”
“Yes, but I don’t see how any of that matters.”
“It matters because it determines the kind of information her kidnappers are able to extract from her. If they knew a five million dollar policy existed on her, it makes no sense why they initially asked for only one million.” I wait to see if it sinks in.
Deverough returns a blank stare. He doesn’t get it.
“Mr. Deverough, your daughter was targeted.” And he was tested. I don’t think he grasps what happened. It was a test he failed. “Whoever kidnapped your daughter, more likely than not, knew about the secondary policy.”
“How do you know that?”
“I don’t know, but I’m very good at my job. A big part of that is reading people.”
We fall silent as the door behind us opens. His secretary enters with our drinks. I’ll need Mitzy to run a background check on Deverough’s staff and find out which of them would’ve known about the additional policy.
One sniff of my water and I note the splash of whiskey on top is a generous pour, and very expensive. I’m surprised Deverough doesn’t break out the Cuban cigars. A man like him, in the business he’s in, probably has a few laying around. He’s not totally squeaky clean.
Every man has secrets and I intend to discover his.
“Thank you.” I put the drink to my lips and take a long slow sniff. “Damn good whiskey.” I lift the glass. “To bringing your daughter home.”
Deverough lifts his glass, as does Knox, but I don’t take a sip. Knox does the same. We place our drinks on the table between our chairs, leaving them untouched. We wait for Deverough’s secretary to leave before continuing our conversation.
“How could they know?” Deverough downs half his glass. Unlike our drinks, his is all whiskey with one large cube of ice inside.
“I’m guessing someone at the insurance company who underwrote the policy or someone within your company leaked that information.”
“Why? Why would someone do something like this?”
“Two reasons come to mind.”
He gives me another blank stare. For a shipping mogul, I’m not getting smart vibes from our client. I’d like to make allowances. The man’s daughter has been missing for months, but it’s difficult.
“First is the obvious. Money. Although, I’m surprised they didn’t ask for the whole amount at once. Although, I have a theory.”
“What’s that?”
“It has to do with the second reason.”
“Which is?”
“Your daughter is uncommonly attractive. Are you aware the men who took her are known human traffickers?” I wait