Page 25 of Deadly Lies

I prayed I wasn’t this annoying as an interrogator. “No, as I told you. I wanted to see who was visiting Joaquín.” I couldn’t hold back this part. “You’ll think I’m crazy, but she looked like someone.”

“Who?”

“Well, I know this sounds nuts, but she looked like the woman Joaquín murdered.”

The agent’s eyes widened. “Tiffany Reynolds? Yes, that does sound nuts.”

“I agree, but she did look like her. Maybe Joaquín has a type. I wanted to see her, ask her how she knew Joaquín, but when I went to visit her, she was gone. At the apartment complex, I found Sienna.”

“That’s a stroke of luck.”

“It is, I know. I’m as baffled as you are. But sometimes, good things happen.”

“Well, we’re glad you found her. We’ll contact you for any further questions.”

I said goodbye and went to check on Sienna. She was sitting with a female policewoman.

“Where’s Daddy?”

“He’s on his way, sweetheart.” I cringed when I stared at Sienna’s hair. There had to be a reason she was kidnapped. Why would the girl who visited Joaquín just leave if she went through all the trouble to grab her? “I’m going to pick him up now.”

“Don’t leave me!” Sienna began to cry.

I knelt next to her. “I’ll be right back. You’re safe here.” I gave her a hug and kissed her on the cheek. Then I went outside to see Mia, who was waiting in Grant’s truck.

I hopped in. “Let’s go pick up our men.”

13

Mitch

I MET BECK AT THE airport. He hugged me when he saw me. Beck was a Navy pilot and a Blue Angel. He had been our pilot on our last deployment. Whenever he wanted, he could find a Blue Angel supporter to let him use one of their planes.

“Man, I can’t imagine what you have been going through.”

“Thanks for showing up. You’re a lifesaver. I could’ve driven, but with traffic, I wouldn’t have been there for hours.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m happy to help.”

Beck’s wife, Paloma, met us at the airport. She had offered to take Sam home with her until I could come back. Poor Sam had been through enough. I was so proud of my little man.

Grant climbed into the plane with me, and Beck prepared for the flight.

The plane took off. I stared down at the sky as the land became smaller and counted the minutes until I saw Sienna again.

Grant moved closer to me. “Dude, I have to tell you something.”

“What? What could possibly be important right now other than getting to Sienna?”

“Look. I didn’t want to tell you, and I haven’t even told Mia yet…but Joaquín didn’t rape Mia.”

What the fuck?

“What are you talking about, dude? We saw him kiss her. Take her. Fuck, he was trying to rape her by gunpoint.”

“I know. But he didn’t rape her at the party.”

“How do you know?”