Page 15 of Toy

Jolie nodded. “My father and the Elders were incredibly tired that morning. I could tell they’d been up all night, probably planning their getaway. So it couldn’t have been an FBI leak that let them know what was coming.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe it only just occurred to me. Honestly, I feel so stupid right now.”

Beck knitted her brows. “So you’re saying someone else probably knew about your plan and told them the day before.”

“Yes.” Jolie groaned and smacked her palm against her forehead. “Shit, I can’t believe I forgot about this,” she went on. “I know who it was!”

“Who?”

She let out a sigh and looked at me. “Do you remember when we were filming the video in the Penance Room? I thought I heard a sound outside and I went to check. Remember who I saw?”

My stomach lurched. I’d forgotten all about this as well. My memories of that day were still quite hazy, even though they were all there in my mind. “Martha Chase.”

“Yes. Her.” Jolie gritted her teeth.

“Who’s that?” Beck asked, gaze flitting between the two of us.

“One of the other young women at New Eden,” Jolie explained. “She was really devout. Totally brainwashed. She truly believed in the cult.” She glanced at me for a second. “She was the one who turned Elena in,” she added in a murmur.

Beck raised a brow. “Was Elena the girl who—”

“Yes,” Jolie said hurriedly, cutting her off. Clearly, she didn’t want to discuss the specifics of her friend’s demise again. It upset her too much.

Beck nodded her understanding. “So you think Martha overheard you and Mason discussing your plan that day, and then she turned you in?”

“Yes, she must have. I remember I was worried when I saw her lurking in the hall, because she glared at me before running off. But nothing happened after that, so I thought we were safe. I forgot all about it till now, and I always assumed the leak to the men came from the authorities, not from the inside.”

“Well, we should find Martha and talk to her,” Beck said, eyes glimmering with excitement. “If she was as fanatical about the cult as you say, and she helped them get away, she might still be in contact with them. This could actually be the break we need.”

“Yeah.” I rubbed my jaw. “I think Jolie and I should talk to her alone, though. If she sees you there, she might clam up. You’re just so obviously a cop. No offence.”

She nodded. “None taken,” she said with a faint smile. “Okay, how about this: after we find out where she’s living, you two go and talk to her. Be discreet. See what you can dig up, if anything. While you do that, I’ll look into her phone records. Possibly emails, too. I’ll find out who she’s been in regular contact with.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Beck stood and held out a hand, her jaw set and her gaze steely. “I honestly never thought I’d say this to an arrogant bastard like you, Mason… but I’m actually kind of looking forward to working with you.”

I stood up and smiled as I firmly shook her hand. “Me too, Detective. Me too.”

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