Page 84 of Wicked and Ruthless

He didn’t answer right away. Of course anyone who wasn’t up with the sun was still cozy in their bed, catching Zs. But Jasper seemed solid. He’d get back to her. At least she hoped so. She hadn’t talked to him since Tuesday night. She’d been so busy…and wrapped up with Nash. Maybe Jasper had lost interest in the case. Or moved on.

After all, he hadn’t contacted her for nearly four days, either. What was up with that?

Pushing the question aside, Haisley took a deep breath, forcing herself to compartmentalize her feelings and fears so she could focus on the task at hand. She couldn’t afford to be distracted right now. The women who had been abducted needed her effort and focus before bureaucracy and red tape limited her access to clues.

After finally digging up her keys, Haisley headed for the door, pausing to take one last steadying breath. As she drove to the mall, her mind kept whirling. What could she possibly tell the press about the Benedicts’ untimely end and the fate of the mall when she knew so little herself?

As she pulled into the parking lot, Haisley spotted a small crowd of reporters, photographers, and independent online journalists already gathered near the door. She gripped the steering wheel, steeling herself for the morning ahead. “You can do this.”

She wasn’t convinced…but it was nearly showtime, so she cut the engine and plucked up her phone, cutting off her music.

Before she darkened the device, she spotted a notification about a message from someone in her CSI group.

JasperThePrivateDick: Howdy, stranger. I hope you’re okay. I’ve been a little under the weather. Sorry I disappeared. Feeling better today. I’ll call my retired friend and see if he can get anyone who still works for the force to answer questions.

RedHotSavvySleuth: Glad to hear you’re feeling better. Thanks for any help you can give me. I’m at the mall now. I’m about to give a press conference. After that, I’ll poke around and see if I can find out anything. Maybe people will be more willing to talk now that Mr. Benedict is gone.

JasperThePrivateDick: I don’t think that’s a good idea. That place is dangerous.

RedHotSavvySleuth: It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you later, but all signs point to my boss having been the bad guy. Now that he’s gone, I’m thinking the mall is a lot less dangerous. But I promise I’ll check in.

JasperThePrivateDick: I’ll be waiting. If I don’t hear from you in two hours, I’ll send in the cavalry.

RedHotSavvySleuth: You don’t have to, but thanks for caring enough to worry about me.

Haisley smiled as she dimmed her phone and exited her car, striding toward the mall with purpose. She ignored the cluster of press shouting questions at her.

Inside the entrance, she found Julia pacing nervously. “Ms. Rowe?”

“Just Haisley.” She gave the young brunette a reassuring smile, but the girl still looked rattled.

“Thank God you’re here. Everything has gotten worse.” Julia wrung her hands. “The police have been calling, asking about Mr. Benedict’s recent visits and personnel decisions. The press won’t stop hounding us for information.” She dropped her voice. “And now I hear the FBI is at his house because they suspected him of being behind all the abductions here at the mall.”

Haisley tucked that nugget of information away to share with Nash and Jasper later. But if Mr. Benedict was the FBI’s prime suspect, she and Nash must have pieced things together pretty well.

She placed a comforting hand on Julia’s shoulder. “It’s okay. I’ll handle this. Where did you set up the press conference? Somewhere we can control the situation, I hope.”

“The food court. It’s the biggest open area. Other than employees preparing food in their units, no one will be there. Mall staff already set up a podium and arranged chairs. Should I have security escort the press in?”

A glance at the time on her phone had Haisley nodding. “I’ll get started in fifteen minutes.”

Julia looked as if she wanted to hug her. “Thank you.”

As the woman hustled away, Haisley’s phone buzzed with another text from Nash.

More info on the affair. Benedict’s something on the side is named Clarissa. No last name yet. Be careful what you say to the press. Be careful in general.

Haisley gave him a thumbs-up, but her stomach churned. She made her way to the food court, trying to organize her thoughts into something coherent so she didn’t sound like a babbling idiot…or like someone who knew next to nothing.

At the top of the hour, she took her place behind the podium as the cacophony of incoming press descended. They quickly settled into the assembled chairs, cameras at the ready.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Haisley Rowe, the social media director for Benedict Land Development,” she began, her voice surprisingly steady. “I know you all have questions about the tragic deaths of George and Mila Benedict. At this time, we have very little information beyond what has been reported in the news. Investigations are ongoing, and I can’t comment on those.”

She paused, choosing her next words carefully. “But the Oakfield Mall management and staff, along with the employees of Benedict Land Development, are shocked and saddened by this turn of events. Our thoughts are with the Benedicts’ family and friends, as well as others affected. Those are all the prepared remarks I have. I’ll take questions.”

As Haisley fielded the reporters’ queries, doing her best to deflect those she couldn’t answer, a nagging feeling grew in the pit of her stomach. There was more to this story—much more—and somehow she wasn’t seeing the whole picture. What had caused Mr. Benedict to go off the rails? Had he come back to the office for the loaded Glock in his humidor? Had Mila learned about Clarissa and confronted him? Or had she realized that her husband was the leader of a sex trafficking ring and freaked out?

When Haisley finally ended the press conference, promising updates as more information became available, she felt drained. She retreated to the mall’s management office only to find Julia away from her desk.

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