Page 50 of Unmasked

He shared a glance with Mason before moving in front of Tate. He wanted to see his reactions, know if he was telling the truth. He studied his eyes, fear flashing in the depths. “Who hired you?”

“I don't know.” He shook his head. “I never met him.”

He lifted a brow. “You took a job for someone you don't know?”

“It's easy work,” he said defensively. “All I have to do is take pictures and leave them on the broad’s car.”

“And you have no idea who or why they're asking you to do this? Isn't that a little strange?”

Tate shrugged one shoulder. “Not for me to know. He pays me well and that's all I care about.”

“Well, now, that's where you and I disagree.” His eyes dropped to the knife as he tapped the flat of the blade against his palm. “That woman hired me to make sure she's safe. And she was hurt yesterday in that accident you caused.”

“What?” He shook his head. “What are you talking about?”

“What about running her off the road? I suppose that wasn’t you, either.”

“N-no!” His eyes widened dramatically. “I didn't do anything!”

He stepped forward so his face was only inches from the man's. “You loosened her lug nuts and her wheel came off. She could have died,” he said, his voice low and deadly.

Tate’s eyes widened. “I didn't do anything. All I do is take the pictures, I swear.”

“Then who tampered with her car?” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared him down, watching the fear ripple across his face.

“I don't know. Maybe... maybe the guy who hired me.”

“So it's a guy?”

“I don't know.” He shook his head. “It's just a guess. I'm not sure. I've never seen him or talked to him.”

“How does he contact you?”

“Cell phone. He sends money every week, and messages telling me when to take the pictures and where to leave them.”

“Sure it's not you?” Mason asked. “Sounds like BS to me. You're the only one I see hanging around her. Wherever Everleigh is, you seem to magically appear.”

The man shook his head again. “You can check my cell phone. I kept all the messages.”

He gestured with his chin and Mason stepped forward to retrieve the phone from Tate’s pocket. He opened the messaging app then passed it to him. He skimmed the messages requesting the pictures be taken and left under her wiper blades, then additional photos left at another drop-off location.

He turned his attention back to the man in front of him. “Why a second drop-off for the photos?”

The man shrugged. “I guess for him to have extras.”

He didn't like the sound of that. The location was different each time, which made it hard to narrow down the recipient. He handed the phone back and met his gaze. “From here on, you're done. If I hear you've been bothering her again, I won't be nearly as lenient. Trust me when I say we'll find you before you find us—and you won't like what happens. Understood?”

Tate nodded solemnly. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” He tipped his chin at Mason. “Let's roll.”

They headed out of the bar and split up, heading to their respective vehicles. Knox called Mason as soon as he got on the road. “I believe him when he says he didn't sabotage her car.”

“I know.” Knox could hear the regret in Mason’s voice. “We need to run that number, see where it leads. Has to be someone local. What do we know about her ex?”

“I don't know, but we're going to find out,” he said darkly. From what he understood, the man still lived in New York and Everleigh said they still got along. But that didn't mean anything. He always looked at the people closest to the victims. He could probably rule him out since their marriage had been over long before the photos started to arrive. Likely it was his own jealousy of the man who'd been married to Everleigh that flared his suspicion. He hated him on principle.

He hung up as he pulled into Vivi's driveway, and Mason followed just seconds later. He waited for Mason to precede him inside and his gaze immediately found Everleigh, her face streaked with tears. He whipped toward Vivi, rage simmering beneath his skin.