Page 119 of Three Steps Behind

“I did, until I learned you traffic women and kill them.”

“The side door.” He cussed. “I knew I locked it.”

“When I overheard you, I—”

“You joined with the FBI to take me down.”

“Something like that.” She hadn’t sought out the FBI, but no sense going into the particulars.

“You could have just come to me.”

“You’d just ordered a woman killed. I had no idea how you’d respond to me.”

“I’d never have harmed you then.”

Which meant he’d take her out now, if he could.

“Interesting,” Aubry said. “He really did care.”

How was that possible? But it mattered not. Dalton was a killer, sex trafficker, and drug dealer.

“The ledger is on the desk in a hidden room upstairs.”

“And the cash?” Baxter asked, clearly not even caring a secret room existed. He just wanted the money.

“There’s a safe. It’s gotta be in there.”

Baxter smiled at Dalton. “Looks like you’re losing money right and left today.”

Dalton narrowed his eyes and wriggled in his cuffs. “What are you talking about?”

“Our financial guys checked your accounts, and they found the one in the Caymans drained.”

“You’re lying.”

“No. Said it all went to an account just one number off, but that’s been drained too and appears to be untraceable.”

Both Dalton’s and Aubry’s gazes fell on her.

“Well, considering I kept my end of the bargain,” she said, lifting her clutch, “I’ll keep yours and set myself free. Have a good night, boys.”

Dalton gave a sardonic laugh, yelling behind her. “You’re no better than me. You think you can start over, find a new life, but women like you don’t change. Once a con, always a con. And there’s not a god in heaven who would forgive you.”

She slipped out the front door, fighting back the tears threatening to fall. That truth slammed her hard. Was there really no hope?

“I know what you did, and you’re a dead woman,” Dalton hollered into the night.

“Hold up,” Aubry said behind her.

She took a stiff breath and turned to face him.

“Thank you,” he said, holding up the ledger in the evidence bag. “I skimmed it, and it’s exactly what we need.”

She swallowed, guilt sifting through her. “I’m glad.”

His brows furrowed. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just a lot rattling around in my mind.”