“I’ve seen them together. She’s insane. He is, too, going along with all her games. He humors her, he’s not going to turn on her.”
Something clicked. “He humors her? How so?”
Franklin shrugged. “They had sex right there.” He looked at the other couch in the waiting room. “He didn’t want to, he’s worried about going to prison, but she insisted, and he went along with it. Oh, he enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong.”
“Does Garrett know she kidnapped your wife and son?”
“Yes.”
“Did he know before he was released?”
“I don’t think so. He was... angry about it. I thought maybe he’d insist she let them go, then he just gave in to her. They had sex again. They’re like rabbits.” He shook his head. “I’m not going to help you.”
“We can protect your family—”
“You can’t. She has them. You can’t do anything. They’re going to kill me anyway, I’m just praying they’ll spare Lily and Nathan. They’re innocent in all this.”
“Then help us save our team and your family!” Michael interjected, speaking for the first time. “This fatalistic attitude isn’t going to help anyone. You’re sitting around feeling sorry for yourself, while people we care about, peopleyoucare about, are in danger.”
“If I knew where they were, I’d tell you.”
“I believe you,” Catherine said. “Garrett Reid knows where they are. And if you agree to let me talk to him, he’ll tell me. But time’s up. Clara Dolan is on her way to kill everyone who can identify her. When she’s done, she’ll kill you and she and Garrett will attempt to slip away unnoticed. You help us, we have a chance of stopping her.”
He hesitated. Catherine pushed. “Why did they pick you?”
He laughed, genuinely laughed, then tears streamed down his face and he ended in a sob. “I asked myself that over and over and it wasn’t until I saw Amber—Audrey—that I realized why.”
“Why?” Michael demanded. “Why you? Did you have an affair with her? Did she con you? Seduce you?”
Franklin was shaking his head. “No. That’s the thing. I didn’t sleep with her, and apparently, that was my sin. My sin was staying faithful to Lily, not succumbing to Audrey’s seduction.”
“When was this?”
“Seven and a half years ago. I was at a conference in Los Angeles and went to the bar because I didn’t want to sit in my room. I was drinking soda and lime—I rarely drink alcohol, and never alone. I’d had a nice dinner with a friend of mine, we’d been in law school together, and I was very happy. I’d proposed to Lily the week before and knew this marriage would last. I was divorced, mostly my fault, though we’ve become friendlier over the years.” He paused.
Catherine said, “Go on.”
“I was sitting there and she had been at the bar. I had noticed her—any man would, she’s a beautiful woman—but that was it. I didn’t give her any signals. She came to me, sat down. Offered to buy me a drink. I declined. She flirted. I was polite, but firm, and told her I wasn’t interested. She tried to change my mind, distracted me, but I was a criminal defense lawyer for more than a decade and she raised my hackles. And she poured something into my soda. I rose, was about to tell the bartender, when shegot up and walked away. The next day there was a note under my hotel room door. It said,I won’t forget or forgive. You owe me.
“I dismissed it, but apparently, this is what I owe her. My family, my reputation, my life.” His voice cracked.
“We will find her and arrest her. I need to talk to Garrett.”
“He won’t talk to you.”
“Yes, he will.” Catherine hoped.
Franklin shrugged, got up. “He’s at a hotel.”
“We know. We have eyes on him. We’ll drive.”
33
When Matt and Lily left for the basement, Kara tried to keep her eyes open, but she was exhausted and her leg throbbed. She knew it was bad and worried it would take weeks to heal. The last thing she wanted was to be on desk duty while her team solved cases.
Kara was certain that desk duty was one of Dante’s levels of Hell, right below forced small talk, but above going to the hospital. Chances were when they got out of this, she’d have to do all three.
She finished the water bottle, her stomach queasy from the first fluid in more than two days coupled with the blackberries she’d eaten. But she didn’t puke. She leaned into the couch and let out a long breath.
