Page 47 of Dauntless

“You most certainly did not,” I snapped. “You were too busy taunting me about the video.”

“Gia, what is Walter talking about?” Elliott asked, his voice raising a pitch.

“You saw him?” Dane asked astounded. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I did see him at one of the fashion show run-throughs. It was a very brief conversation, mostly insulting me. Sorry, but there was a lot more going on at the time that I hadn’t thought to bring it up, especially since Dane told me how much they didn’t get along,” I answered hastily. “I was wrong, but it doesn’t excuse Walter from what he’s doing now or what he’s done to Angel.”

“I did nothing to Angel,” Walter said. His voice raised. “I tried to help her and my son.”

“You’re a lying bastard,” Dane yelled at Walter. “I wouldn’t put it past you to mess up her mind, so she wouldn’t tell anyone, but she found a way. Didn’t you, Angel?”

“I told you in the hospital, and you didn’t believe me like everyone else. Gia sees, so now you all believe,” Angel said to Dane. “Sorry, but no jail. I’m free now. He loves me too.”

“Walter doesn’t love you,” Dane said to her sympathetically. “He used you and hurt you. He let you get hurt and wouldn’t tell the police. He needs to go to jail.”

Angel sobbed. “I don’t want Melinda’s father in jail.”

“I couldn’t get to Angel,” Walter said. “I tried to save her. I came to tell you so you can help her. I feel awful that she’s ill now.

I snorted. He waited an awfully long time. Now that Angel’s found, Walter suddenly grows a conscience.

“We’ll need an official statement down at the station,” Trish said. “I won’t say anything you shared absolves you of any involvement, but we will corroborate your report, and it’s best you cooperate. “She started packing away her notes and stood. They couldn’t leave yet. There was still more that Walter hadn’t told them.

“There’s more,” I spoke up. “In the conversation between Walter and Angel in the bathroom, he admitted he had been in contact with Angel while she was in captivity.”

He glowered at me. “It doesn’t matter if she was there eavesdropping like an idiotic busybody, trying to be sure my friend really had Angel is hardly a smoking gun. He let me speak with her at times. That doesn’t mean Dimitri never threatened to hurt Dane if I’d told on him.”

“I don’t believe you,” Dane said to him. “I don’t believe you’d ever try to protect me or anyone other than yourself.”

“I’ve seen you, Walter,” Angel said. “You see me too.”

Elliott leaned closer to Angel. “Did you see Walter when you were held captive by Dimitri?”

“Angel didn’t see me,” Walter said. “She’s barely coherent, poor girl.”

“Simon sees Melinda,” Angel said. “He looked after her.”

“See? She has no idea what she’s talking about,” Walter replied. “Now I think it’s time we go. I have a long day of work tomorrow.”

“Who is Simon?” I asked Angel.

She giggled. “You want to know?”

“It’s a code name,” Trish spoke out. “Any member of their club uses the name. Now would you please let Elliott and I finish up our questions, Gia?”

“Thank you,” Walter grumbled. “I didn’t agree to have a private family issue intruded by a woman who shows her body off on camera and fucks both my son and his friend.”

My lips twisted. “I don’t give a damn what you think about me. It still won’t change what I heard you tell Angel.”

“Stop being mean to Gia,” Angel yelled at him. “You did say it, Simon.”

My stomach lurched. Simon. There was the use of that name again. She had alluded to Simon in the bathroom, but…could it be? “Is Walter your Simon, Angel?”

Angel giggled. “You know the game.”

“She doesn’t know what she’s saying,” Walter spoke before Angel could continue.

“Did Walter tell you to call him Simon?” Elliott asked her.

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