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“That’s a good idea.” It seemed obvious to turn each of Don’s devotions into a hook that could snare him, but it hadn’t occurred to me before.
Jamie shrugged. “It’s frustrating, actually, that we haven’t made more progress. It’s expensive to hide this well. Most people can’t do it. We’re clearly dealing with people who have access to a lot of wealth.” He glanced in the direction of the Hudson River, which ran along the edge of Brookview, the small dairy town we were standing in. “Which reminds me… Dougie tracked down who owns Campbell Island.”
I looked far off in the island’s direction. “It’s privately owned?” Imagine, buying an island.
He nodded. “It went up for sale a few years ago…rare for an island in the Hudson.”
“And you think because the gathering’s there, the Paters own the whole thing?”
The text had shown up two days ago:Saturday, three pm, The Hunting Lodge, Campbell Island.The island was really more of a peninsula, and it butted up against a nature preserve, but altogether, it was ninety-plus acres of shoreline and dense woods, full of wildlife.
Jamie squared his jaw. “I know they do. Guess who’s listed as the buyer?”
I blinked at him.
“Dominus Holdings. The same LLC that took over paying Laurel’s rent.”
A memory floated back from the Pater gathering in the city: Nicole had called those young Paters traders. Steven, the sadist. The unnamed one, who hadn’t introduced himself. And Greggy, who’d shaken my hand. “Gregory Ellworth was the name you tracked to Dominus?”
Jamie nodded.
Not Greggy—Greg E.
“I think I met him,” I said. “If I’m right, he’s young and lives in the city. He’s connected to the finance crowd, maybe one of them.”
“That’s good, Shay. That’ll help Dougie find him.” Jamie drew his peacoat tighter. “I shared everything we have with my executive producer, by the way. My other producers made contact with the governor’s team. Tipped them we have a big story coming, and to get their lawyers and the attorney general ready.”
A shiver traveled up my spine and settled somewhere in my throat. It sounded so real. So final, like we were almost at the finish line. But I hadn’t found Don yet. I didn’t even know for sure the Paters were his. I needed to make a move fast.
“The governor’s people agreed,” Jamie said. “They’re going help us. So when it’s time, we’ll send them copies of the evidence, all your recordings from the Pater events, and our interviews.” Here, he paused. “Are you still comfortable with that?”
I imagined a conference table full of men in suits, gray-haired lawyers, hunched in their chairs, listening to what I’d poured out to Jamie in the intimate bubble of our hotel rooms. Listening to the screams and moans from Pater parties. Which one embarrassed me more?
“They know it’s sensitive.” He paused, his gaze catching on my mouth. “I’ve previewed everything with my counsel. I’m going to hire a personal lawyer for us, too. We need to prepare for lawsuits.”
I nodded. I’d thought about this, considering the kind of men who were involved in the Pater Society, the positions they held, what they had to lose. “I think we need to prepare for every man we out as a Pater to come after us.”
“It’s going to get ugly. I’ll—” Suddenly, Jamie’s eyes flicked over my shoulder, and his face hardened. “Motherfucker.” He lunged around me, streaking across the street.
I whirled, shouting, “What are you doing?”
A man jolted from the bushes across the street and took off running, a heavy black bag thumping at his hip. But Jamie had reacted quickly, and the man didn’t have enough time. Jamie tackled him to the grass.
When I got to them, Jamie was astride the man, pinning him by the shoulders. They were both breathing heavily.
“Get off me,” the man shouted. He was older and heavyset, with oily skin. In the lawn beside him was a professional-grade camera with a telephoto lens.
“Jamie, what’s happening?”
“He was taking pictures of us.” Jamie gripped the man tighter. “Who hired you?”
“Fuck off,” the man said. “You’re on public property. Let me go before I have you arrested for assault.”
I knelt in the cold grass, feeling the blades prick my knees through my pantyhose. “Did the Paters hire you?” If they’d hired this man to spy on me, they already knew I was a fraud.
“I don’t know who that is.” The man stopped squirming and squinted at Jamie. “Get off.”
Jamie shook his head, his black hair wild from running and tumbling. “Not until you tell us why you’re taking pictures. Look, man, I’m close with a bunch of cops. I say the word, and they’re going to find a reason to bring you in.”
