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“Hamish, now is not the time for dramatic pauses. I want everything he told you and I want it in a single paragraph without pauses. Go.” I bark into the video feed.
“Okay, so this guy here raised Ginger. Or Stephanie. But he’s not her real father. Not biologically. But fuck man…get this, that guy? The one who took her, your last trick? He’s her real father. He had an affair with this charmer’s wife, she got pregnant. The family paid him off but then Calfus took up with the mother. Seems he has a thing for mother/daughter. And winning. Calfus felt like they played him off. He wanted to marry Ginger’s—I mean Stephanie’s—mother, but the family wouldn’t have it. Too embarrassing since she was already married. The grandmother took a fancy to him, but he didn’t feel the same. About tore the family apart, but like all good nightmares, money held them all together in the end.”
My head is spinning. Leonard Calfus is Ginger’s biological father? And he just happens to engage my services? That’s one huge coincidence. Real life is better than fiction, I guess, but Jesus Christ…
Tanner Lukus is mumbling about how Leonard Calfus can go to hell, fucking his wife and thinking he can just waltz back into their lives after all these years. I have to admit, I agree with the destination for our mutual acquaintance, but there’s only one thing I want to know. “Where are they?”
“Answer him.” Hamish growls, giving the guy a shake. When Tanner doesn’t answer, Hamish doesn’t miss a beat. I see a nine-millimeter appear out of nowhere, the barrel pressed under his chin. He’ll use it, too. Like I said, these guys of George’s aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
I address Tanner while Hamish holds the gun firmly in place. “You have exactly five seconds, Mr. Lukus. I don’t give a shit about your life, I don’t give a shit about the body or the bloodstain we’re about to leave in that parking lot. You will be a distant memory and I will find my girl. That you can be sure of. The only difference is this: will you be alive when I do? One, two…”
He grunts, his eyes shifting as Hamish stretches his arm wide to get out of the way of the impending spatter.
“Three…”
“Wait, if you take her we—”
“I. Don’t. Care.” I meet Hamish’s eyes and he nods. He’s ready. “Four…”
“Okay! Wait! They’re out on Route Five, pass Cedar and the 110. There’s a road with a green marker at the mailbox. It’s an old cabin. They’re there. Or they should still be there.”
I nod at Hamish and he lowers the gun. “Keep an eye on him. We have to get to Calfus before I’m expected at the drop. We have to hurry.”
“Will do, boss.”
As I hand the iPad back to George, he clicks his fingers at the guys all around. In an instant, they’re preparing to ship out. “That’s not far,” he says. “She is right under our noses.”
“We still would never have found her. Let’s get this thing done.”
14
Ginger
The cabin feels smaller with every passing minute. It’s been a while since I heard him on the phone, but without a clock I can’t be sure how much time has passed.
The sun has moved high in the sky and is now lowering so it’s been hours since we arrived I do know that.
The guy paces from window to window, turning to smile at me now and then as if he wants to say something but is enjoying his little drama.
Grandmother took a call outside, coming back in to whisper again to him as he nodded then shook his head. She takes a seat at the same place across from me. At the moment they’ve left me unshackled, which is an improvement of sorts.
The silence only makes things worse, and I come to realize my smart mouth isn’t getting me into any more trouble than sitting here mute, so I decide to see what truth I can pull out of them.
“So,” I start, glaring with a smile at both of them as they stare back. “How is it again you two know each other? I’d just love some more family history, Granny.”
They keep their eyes on me for a moment, then Grandmother looks at the floor and the man smiles at me.
“You really want to know, huh?”
My grandmother jerks her head up. “No, don’t you tell her.” Her voice cracks.
“Why not? What on earth could it matter now?” His smile broadens. “You have beautiful eyes, Stephanie. Has anyone ever told you that? Beautiful, brown eyes. So unique with those blue flecks. Rare, I would think.”
Confusion courses through me as he steps forward.
“Thanks?” I reply as he brings his face to within inches of mine and I meet his eyes
