Page 42 of Tactical Revival

“We’re not charging you with anything, Chad.”

“Certainly seems like you are.”

“Look, if you want your lawyer, I’ll make the call. But it would really be easier if you’d just answer the question.”

Chad’s scowl deepens. “I was out there for a job interview.”

It was hardly what I expected him to say.

“Then why are you coming after Margot for partial custody?” Michael demands.

“He’s not.” A theory turns in my mind and with it, anger burns my veins. “You were going to change it to a fight for full custody of Matty, weren’t you? Why?”

“He’s my son.”

“You signed away your rights to him.”

“Because Margot—” He cuts his thought short. “I wanted to take my son with me. Out of this town where everyone has an opinion about his father.”

“Unbelievable.” Michael shakes his head and turns away. “You’re even bigger scum than I thought. How did you think that plan would work?”

I study Chad’s expression. The way his gaze darts toward the door, how he toys with his hands on top of the table, and suddenly, the case he filed against Margot makes sense. “You knew it wouldn’t work, didn’t you? You knew that no judge in their right mind would award you full custody of your son. You were only hoping to scare Margot into paying you to go away like she did when you left town the first time.”

“What?” Michael looks from me to Chad, then back to me. “What are saying?”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Chad snaps.

“You were seriously trying to get more money out of her?” I ask, doing everything I can to keep my temper at bay.

“Chelsea thought that if I asked for just the money, it would look bad. We need the money. Margot got everything.”

“So you had to put the custody fight on there, too. Because in comparison to losing her son or paying you off, you knew Margot would sell everything to protect Matty.”

“Margot will land on her feet. She always does. And besides, she has your parents she could have gone to,” he says to Michael, who looks about ready to shoot his sister’s ex.

Michael opens his mouth to respond, then turns and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Chad flinches.

The longer I’m around him, the more I’m starting to see Chad O’Connell for what he is. A coward. A terrible person. An alcoholic. But not a kidnapper.

My hope that Alaric would find the prison records fades.

Because even as kidnapping Lanetti and using the cards to frame Morah would be a way to distract me, there’s just no clear motive for it.

The case I’d built against him falls apart before my eyes, putting us right back to square one when it comes to Lanetti’s disappearance and the attempted break-in at Emigh’s house.

“Sheriff, can I have just a few minutes with Mr. O’Connell?” I ask, glancing up at Sheriff Vick. He knows my history as a detective, the impeccable record I brought with me, so I’m hoping it’s enough to buy me some alone time.

“Sure thing. I’ll go grab some coffee.” He stands.

“You’re leaving me alone with him?” Chad demands.

“Nothing says I can’t. Besides, as you well know, Jaxson was a detective with the LAPD. You’ll be perfectly fine.” He flashes a furious smile, then leaves, closing the door behind him.

Smiling, I lean forward. “The case against Margot isn’t going to go anywhere, and you know it. So here’s the deal. You’re going to leave town, drop the case, and move on with your life. If Matty wants a relationship with you, he’ll reach out.”

Chad’s cheeks turn crimson. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Payne.”

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