Page 37 of Cruel Dreams

Nat goes straight to bed, and unable to sleep, scared and restless, I work out until I can barely move.

Despite the lack of sleep, I’m sharp the next morning when Peggy escorts Special Agent Banks into my office.

He’s confident, smirking. He’ll have the old song and dance—nothing new, the case is open but the investigation is no longer ongoing.

I was immature and used to think I could summon him to King’s Crossing because of who I am. Now I know he needs to see me in person to believe I’m swallowing all his lies. In the past five years, he’s never had a reason to doubt my trust in him.

Peggy wheels in a tray, and I gesture, inviting him to help himself to a large mug of coffee. He used to drink it black, but today he adds cream. Perhaps keeping Clayton’s secrets has given him an ulcer.

He sits in front of my desk and slouches casually, lifting the mug to his lips. “What can I do for you, Mr. Maddox? I must say, this will be one of the last times I can meet you. The case is cold. After so much time, we won’t find anything new. Leads dried up years ago. The black box isn’t made to withstand saltwater for such a long period of time and is likely destroyed. I’m here as a courtesy because of who your father was, but there are other cases that need our attention. There seems to be a serial killer on the loose in southern Texas. I’m sure you understand.”

I smooth my tie and stare out the window of my father’s office. I took it over after Ash kidnapped Stella, but I’ll never feel like the office is mine. Kagan Maddox’s ghost will always own this room.

“I completely understand, but this meeting is more to updateyouthan it is to update me.”

Banks frowns. “What do you mean?”

I settle into the seat behind my father’s massive desk and pull a copy of the CVR transcript out of a drawer. Mel scanned it into her laptop, emailed the file to everyone, and made several copies. We won’t lose proof the NTSB recovered the black box.

Smiling, showing all my teeth, I slide the thin sheaf of printer paper across the immaculate desk.

He sets his mug on the coffee tray and picks them up. Blood drains from his face as he skims the dialogue, turning his complexion a sickly grey. “I don’t understand.”

“Hmmm. I think you do.”

“What is this?” His startled gaze shoots to mine.

I raise my eyebrows. Sweat starts to bead along his forehead, and I’m petty enough to enjoy it. He lied to me for five and a half years, and today that ends.

“I believe it’s the CVR transcript from the black box of the plane my parents were on,” I say, steepling my fingers.

His lips tremble. “It’s fake. Who gave this to you?”

“Someone at the NTSB.” I pause. “I can be very persuasive.”

He’s silent for several minutes, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he tries to swallow, and I let him stew. He’s not in trouble with me. It’s Clayton Black who will not be happy to hear Banks failed to keep a secret as important as this one hidden. What are the repercussions for crossing a Black? I have no doubt Clayton can dispose of Special Agent Banks just like he did my mother. Like Ash did those other girls. Like he did Stella and my sister. All Clayton and Ash have to do is snap their fingers and people disappear like a magician’s trick.

“What do you want from me, Mr. Maddox?”

“You can start by telling me the truth and we’ll work from there.” I need this man on my side. I can’t use him if after our meeting he cleans out his bank accounts and flies to Tijuana hoping Clayton will never find him.

He sighs. “The senator—”

I scoff. “I said I want the truth. I was a naïve kid five years ago. A lot has changed, and I won’t believe whatever lies you try to shove down my throat. If you won’t tell me what you know, maybe I should tell you whatIknow, and you better hope it’s not more than you.”

He drops the transcript onto my desk and runs a shaking hand through his greying hair. His face is another that bears evidence of a long five years. “When your parents’ plane went down, the NTSB investigated like they normally would. The Coast Guard searched for debris and the victims, but the pilot’s body was the only body recovered. The NTSB retrieved the black box three days after the crash. Clayton Black contacted my superior and said you could never know the truth.”

“And what truth is that?”

“That your father was supplying illegal arms to terrorist regimes in exchange for millions of dollars, and in the interest of national security, his plane was taken down.”

I grit my teeth. Exactly what Ash told Zarah and Stella. At least their lies are consistent.

“You have to understand, Black has the ear of the vice president of the United States. When he speaks, people listen. We took possession of the box, and the contents were buried. I didn’t know what it recorded until just now. It was my job to put you off by any means possible. It wasnotmy job to know why.”

“You know the allegations about my father are false, don’t you?”

Banks rubs tiredly at his face. “At this point, Mr. Maddox, I only know what I’m told to know.”

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