Page 19 of Ghost Among Lies

"What the hell does that mean?"

Sloane reinforced the walls around her. "Nothing. I'm done talking about the past. Tell me about Mason Dunkin and what you know about the Dunkin family?"

"I. Don't. Know. Anything." That was my story, and I was sticking to it.

"Bullshit. Trouble always had a way of finding you." Her words were a slap to the face even if they were true. When we were together, I tried so damn hard to stay on the straight and narrow, but there was always something or someone around to screw that up for me.

I shrugged my shoulder. "That may have been true at one time, but I'm guessing you've looked into me, and I know for a fact my record’s clean." It really wasn't, but technology was a beautiful thing if you knew how to use it. And I just so happened to have a friend who knew their way around manipulating my records.

Sloane scoffed, "Yeah, a little too clean and a whole lot suspicious. Makes me wonder what you're hiding."

That hurt in ways I didn't want to think about, but I shrugged it off like it was no big deal. "It doesn't really matter what I say, then. You've got some notion that I'm no better than my parents, so why should I keep trying to defend myself."

My parents were criminals. If there was something illegal going on in the area, there was a good chance they had a hand in it.

Selling drugs? You betcha.

Boosting cars? Definitely a time or two.

Robbery? Yup! They needed to keep their supply of booze somehow.

As far as I knew, they’d never murdered anyone, but a lot could've changed in ten years, and I didn't exactly stick around to watch their downfall.

"Or maybe you could save both of us the hassle of continuing this back-and-forth and just tell me how you're connected to the Dunkin family."

Well, I wasn't about to do that, but I could continue spinning things back to her until she got pissed enough to let me go.

"You know, maybe Toby was right. Your parents got to you, and you finally realized I was nothing more than trailer trash."

The room went from cold to arctic. Something about what I said changed Sloane's entire demeanor, and I wanted to know what the hell it was.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SLOANE

Fuck Hayes and fuck him for saying that name to me.

"Don't." I had to force the word past the lump in my throat.

"Don't what?" I couldn't tell if Hayes was taunting me or not. My vision was going fuzzy and I was on the verge of a panic attack from hearing his name. I was in need of a tactical diversion and STAT. Thankfully, Anita chose that moment to barge back into the room. "Time's up."

I would've liked to think it was a coincidence she showed up when she did, but I knew better. She was watching this little shit show play out on the camera and knew I needed a save.

"Don't what, Sloane?" Hayes refused to take his eyes off me. He wasn't stupid. He knew there was something seriously wrong, but he couldn't puzzle out what it could possibly be. I needed to keep it that way because if he ever discovered what happened and why I left, he would burn the world down.

"Nope, you don't get to talk to her anymore." Anita stepped in front of me. Effectively cutting off Hayes' access to me. "Sloane, wait outside for me. I think it's time we give Hayes a few moments to decide how he wants to proceed with things. Maybe some time to himself will help jog his memory."

I floated out the door like a ghost. Ironic considering that was our team name. But it was the best way to describe my current state. An out-of-body experience. I could see what was happening around me, but it didn't feel like I was a part of it.

Not until Beckett stopped me and pulled me into his arms for a friendly hug. "You okay? I thought Anita was going to rip this place apart to get to you after Hayes' statement."

I couldn't answer. I was too busy fighting down the clawing sensation trying to rip me apart from the inside out. It had been a long time since I felt this way, and I thought these emotions were behind me. Obviously that wasn't the case.

"Deep breath," Anita snapped as soon as she walked up to me.

"Anita, I don't think that tone is going to help matters." Beckett tried to defend me, but my body was already listening to Anita's demand.

"Again!" Anita steamrolled right over Beckett.