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She’d been waiting five or so minutes. The attorney had set up everything. All she had to do was show up with her ID.
The door opened, and a guard escorted the fallen Mason Cross into the room. His hands were cuffed at his waist. A longer section of chain connected the cuffs on his wrists to the ones on his ankles. The latter making him shuffle forward a few inches at a time rather than taking his usual confident strides.
The guard pulled out the chair opposite Sadie, and her father dropped into the seat; then the guard left, closing the door behind him.
“Thank you for coming.”
Sadie had barely kept her emotions in check since talking to Naomi. She didn’t want to lose it now. Not until she had what she came for.
“What is it you want to talk about?” she demanded. “Did you make some big deal for your freedom? I’m sure you know all kinds of good shit to bargain with.”
“No. I’m not taking any deals, though several have been offered. I’m providing all that I know with no strings attached.”
His declaration surprised her, but she refused to give him any credit for doing the right thing. For all she knew, he could be lying. He’d done it plenty of times before.
“There are things I need to tell you before you hear them other ways,” he offered.
“I have two questions for you,” Sadie said flatly. “The only things I want to hear are answers to those questions.”
“Let me have my say, and then I’ll answer any question you ask.”
If playing his little game would get this over with more quickly so she could get out of this room, why not?
“I used to be a good man. A good agent. Maybe even a decent father and husband.”
No comment.
“After your mother died, I was lonely. In time I met a woman. She was an attorney for one of my informants. She made me smile when I had nothing to smile about; my wife had died. I was working all thetime. I had no time for my only child. Ultimately, Emma and I started an affair.”
Sadie made a dry sound. “You had an affair with Carlos Osorio’s daughter. Wow. I guess I inherited my ability to get involved with the wrong people from you. Looks like we both got screwed by the cartel.”
He nodded.
Jesus Christ.Naomi had been right. Warren was the old man’s daughter.
“As time went on,” Mason continued, “Emma and I grew closer, and I began to share things with her.” He shrugged. “Pillow talk. I had no idea she was using me to plant bugs in my office. I didn’t know until much later. All along I thought she was some vibrant, selfless attorney, and she was merely amassing markers. Building her reputation and power, and I helped her. Eventually I learned the truth, and we broke it off. But the damage was done. She had me. I watched the news, read about her in the paper as she gained power and influence. So many times I wanted to out her, but I couldn’t. Not without ruining everything. My career—all those years of hard work. I couldn’t go to prison and leave you. Your mother was gone. You had no one else.” He made a dry snort of a chuckle. “You see, that’s how it begins. You make a mistake—a misstep. The next one is easier. You begin to see how much you can benefit professionally and personally from yet another step across the line. Until you’re in too deep. You’ve gone too far.”
Sadie wanted to rant at him for using her as an excuse, but she couldn’t find the words or the wherewithal to hurl them at him. This was a side of him she had never seen. Helpless, disgraced. Defeated.
“The one good thing I managed was to keep you away fromher. I never talked to her about you. When I learned you were taking part in that operation five years ago, I tried to stop you.”
Renewed fury fired inside her. “Were you afraid I’d learn your connection and out the great Mason Cross?”
“No. I was afraid they would learn who you are and kill you just to hurt me. Didn’t matter. You were bound and determined. The next thing I knew you were in, and there was no turning back. Then you went missing, and I was certain the worst had happened.” He made that sound again, the half laugh that was no laugh at all. “But she didn’t have you executed. Instead, she was all for making a deal. It seemed we both had something she wanted—you and I, I mean. From that day, I belonged to the cartel.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Whatever else I’ve done,” he said rather than answering her question, “I will never regret doing what I had to do to save your life.”
She’d heard enough. “My turn,” she snapped. “Two questions. You gave your word.” For what that was worth.
He drew in a deep breath. “Fire away.”
“Did you kill Asher Walsh?”
Sadie held her breath.
“Your involvement with Walsh placed you in the line of fire. My options were limited, so, to answer your question, yes. I was ordered to neutralize Walsh and Leonard Kurtz, or someone else would do the job, and you would be part of the package.”
