Page 83 of The Villains We Make

“She plans on going to Texas.”

“She can plan all she wants.”

“We’re on the same page then. She shouldn’t go.”

“What’s your deal with Gordon? Where do you stand now?”

“We do have a common goal, all three of us. We want Phee safe. I can deal with the old man. What happened with Claire happened a long time ago and he knows about Chandler of course, so that changes things.”

“Speaking of, what did Gordon mean that he wouldn’t bother Ophelia?”

Horatio sighs, then drinks a big swallow of the watery beer and makes a face but shrugs and drinks another sip. He sets the half-empty glass down and looks at me. “I think Chandler’s dead.”

“What?”

He exhales loudly. “This is what no one understands about Gordon Carlisle-Bent. He didn’t get to be as powerful as he is because he’s a nice guy. Now, he wants to do right by Phee, but that doesn’t change what he is.”

“You’re saying the old man…” I trail off, not quite believing what I’m hearing.

“Had Chandler killed,” he fills in, not missing a beat.

“Murder? He may not be a nice guy but murdering his own son?”

“Stepson. He’s not blood.”

I shake my head, trying to process when a text message comes in. I take my phone out and read it. It’s Nigella telling me she has someone working on the video, but it’ll be a few days. I tuck the phone back into my pocket.

“He loved Chandler’s mother. Even I could see that, and I wasn’t even paying attention. I’m sure it’s why he adopted Chandler as his own. For her. And for her part, she was younger than him and I do think she loved him but if one of them had the upper hand in that relationship, it was her. Her name was Claire too, did you know that?”

I shake my head. Why does this matter?

“No, you wouldn’t.”

“Anyway, what he did for Chandler, he did for his wife, not for the boy. And Chandler knew it, that much I did pay attention to. He used his mother to manipulate his adopted father.”

“And you think Gordon had him killed? Still not sure I’m with you.”

“I think Chandler pushed too far when he showed up at The Grande the night Ophelia met Higgins.”

“He knew about that?”

He drinks more of his beer. “Fucking soap opera. Chandler was likely having Phee followed and Gordon was having Chandler followed.”

I thought staying at Nigella’s house was enough to keep our location a secret, but I see now I underestimated all the players in this game. Ethan had told her Wells had given him the address. Why would Detective Wells do that? I mean, he might, but why? Beyond that, it’s not too far-fetched to think Ethan or Chandler might have Nigella followed knowing she’d lead them to me eventually. It was a stupid assumption on my part and I’m glad we’re now at the brownstone.

“You need to be sure, Horatio.”

“Gordon’s deal with Chandler was that he stay away from Phee and disappear altogether. When he agreed and then turned around and broke his word, Gordon wouldn’t have been left with a choice. It was probably a test all along, if I know the old man. When I was there, just before you arrived with Phee, he received a call. He had the medical team leave the apartment before he took it and whoever was on the other end only said a few words then disconnected. It’s done. That’s it. And he smiled at me and told me Chandler would no longer be a problem.”

I study Horatio, and although I’m still not sure I believe it, he very clearly does.

“I worry if Phee goes to Texas with him, given his state, well, I don’t know. Maybe it’s nothing but I’d prefer she wasn’t alone with him.”

“I don’t think he’d hurt her.”

“No, but I just don’t like it, Silas. Don’t let her go, at least not alone.”

“She’s not going anywhere alone just yet.” I check my watch and stand. “I need to get back.”

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