Ashes (Web of Desire #3) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,32
didn’t speak.
“What you said in there…” I lifted my head toward the partition. “Nothing you said makes me love you less. I’m so fucking blown away by your strength, determination, and honesty.”
She turned toward me with new tears on her cheeks.
Though we were only a few feet apart, it was too much. Slipping from the chair, I sat back on my haunches with my hand on her knee. “When you said you didn’t leave me, I was afraid of what you would tell me.”
She shook her head with each word. “I wouldn’t have left you.”
“I looked for you. I didn’t want to believe Kristine.” A thought came to mind. “I want to find them.”
“Who?”
“Pastor Roberto and Kristine.” My mind filled with thoughts of the mission.
“Did you stay there...after…?”
“No. I went on a quest to find you. I didn’t give a damn about their renovation.” I hadn’t thought of this in years. “During the time we were there, others came and went.”
“I thought about that at one time,” she said. “There were some with young children.” She brought her hands together. “Patrick, what if they were sold…like they said they’d sell Ruby.”
“They said they’d sell her?”
“I heard the woman at Dr. Miller’s talking. The plan was to sell the babies. Everyone in the cell house was pregnant. I believe I was an anomaly. Now I know it was because I am related to him.”
“I’m going to track every damn one of these people down. I need names and anything you can remember.”
“And do what? It’s over. I read that McFadden went to prison.”
I nodded. “Yes, he did. But he was only a part.”
“The top, from what I could deduce.”
“We’ve worked on eradicating this stain from Chicago. Our quest has been going on for a while. But there were always branches in the distribution we couldn’t identify. With your help, we can. Each one of them is guilty. When you’re ready, tell me.”
“Patrick, what can you do now?”
Kill every last one of them.
Before I could say that, the partition opened to Sparrow’s dark stare. “Reid’s on the screen. Get in here.”
“I’ll be right back,” I said to Madeline as I stood.
“No, both of you.”
Patrick
I took Madeline’s hand as we entered the front cabin of the plane. Reid’s face was larger than life upon the screen on the wall.
“This is Reid Murray,” I said to Madeline.
“Can he see us?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am. Nice to finally meet you,” Reid said with a grin.
“Hello, nice to meet you, too.”
“Sit down,” Sparrow ordered. “Reid, show them what you just showed us.”
The screen filled with a newscast. The bottom ticker read BREAKING NEWS - LIVE, but since Sparrow and Mason had already seen it, it was obviously no longer live. The backdrop was in front of Marion Elliott’s home or appeared to be. I’d only seen it in pictures and satellite images.
The volume rose as a reporter pushed a microphone toward Elliott.
My spine straightened as Elliott’s drawl resonated through the cabin. “Asshole, your days are numbered,” I muttered under my breath at the man who as recently as yesterday had paid ten million dollars for my wife.
“…just awful,” he said, his expression downtrodden. “We have evidence to believe that Miss Tate, who those in the world of poker know as Madeline Miller, has been taken. Her bodyguard, a trusted employee of mine, was left unconscious as was Mr. Randolph St. Pierre of St. Pierre Jewelers.” He looked at the camera. “This is a crime and a travesty.” The camera came closer. “I’m offering a one-million-dollar reward to the person or persons who can locate and safely return my fiancée to me.”
The reporter brought the microphone to her lips. “Ladies and gentlemen, you heard it here first. Marion Elliott is offering a one-million-dollar reward.”
He reached for the microphone. “That reward includes law enforcement. I will give the money to your department. I want everyone everywhere to be on alert. Can you show her picture and the hotline number and website?”
“Yes,” the reporter said as she touched something in her ear and turned back to Elliott. “Did you say fiancée?”
“Yes, ma’am. You see, last night Madeline agreed to marry me. We are in love. Today she was at the jewelry store to have her wedding ring sized. We were both elated. Madeline wouldn’t leave of her own accord.” He sighed. “I’m also concerned that she could be a danger to herself and possibly even her daughter—”
His lips moved, saying Ruby, but the sound was muted.