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“Shh.I haven’t made Wren aware of what Pinch passed on to me.If I do, she’ll tear Iris to shreds.Literally, I fear.”He shuddered.“My wife is capable of unspeakable things, or so I’ve heard.”
“As am I,” I seethed, stalking toward the door Iris had recently exited.
The illuminated numbers above it indicated the lift was on the lowest parking level.Given it would be faster to wait than take the stairs, I tapped my foot, piecing together what I’d say to Iris once I caught up with her.
“Let her go.”I spun around on Pinch, who’d walked up behind me.
“The hell I will!”I shouted just as the lift dinged.
Pinch put his hand on my elbow.“Hear me out.Please.”
It was all I could do not to ignore him and continue my quest to find the bloody woman.“This better be good.”
“Iris is helping us.”
“In exchange for what?”
Pinch sighed.“That will be between her and Z.”
I shook in anger.“This is bullshit.”
“I would rather find him and bring him home than refuse to negotiate.”
“She’s one of us, Pinch.How could she do this?”
“Her motivation is in protecting someone else who is also one of us, George.”
“It’s Puck, isn’t it?She confirmed he kidnapped Z?”
“She feels strongly that it is possible.”
Feels strongly it’s possible?My mind was reeling.“Why did you allow her to leave?”
“She’ll be back.And when she arrives, you and Wren need to keep in mind that workingwithIris may be the only way we can find Z.”He motioned in the direction of the situation room with his head.“Come on.Wilder’s ordered food.”
I shook my head.“I cannot eat.”
“Come on, anyway.”
11
Z
Puck was in a foul mood when he returned a short while later.Like earlier, he paced.His eyes darted about, and he was sweating profusely.“Look,” he finally said.“I didn’t want to do this, but I’ve no choice.”
Was this it?Did he intend to kill me because I didn’t believe Seshat had somehow turned into a different person?“Do what?”
“I don’t fucking care what you think, Z.What I want is help finding her.Imustfind her.”
“Sven, her death was confirmed.I cannot help you find a woman who is no longer living.”It occurred to me that it might be what he was asking.Did he want to see her body in order to believe it for himself?
“She isn’t dead.Not Seshat.Whoever took her place is the one who’s dead.”
Had the man sunk into madness?If so, I had no idea how to reason with him.“I can take you to the morgue.”
He swung his head back and forth as much as shook it.“You’re not listening.That was not Seshat.She never would’ve risked the life…” He dissolved into tears, and the longer he sobbed, the more my heart broke for him.
I understood a loss so profound that carrying on seemed unimaginable.After the loss of my wife, I wondered whether I would’ve had the strength to go on if it weren’t for my children.
