Page 44 of Rectify

“Natalya?” Diego growled. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Someone took Mateo. I thought it was you.”

“What?” There was genuine shock in his voice. “Why would you think it was me?”

She told him everything, from her cousin supposedly spotting him by the day care to Stanton’s team taking the case pro bono. Diego was silent the whole time, just listening.

“What leads do they have?”

“There have been a few reports of a boy matching Mateo’s description, but so far, nothing has panned out. Someone reported seeing a little boy fall into Lake Medina, but we think she was paid to lie about that as a distraction. Also, my cousin has disappeared. We have a sketch of the man she was seen leaving with. His tattoo . . . Diego, it looks like he could be a member of the ELO.”

There was a moment of silence.

“Take a photo of the sketch and text it to me,” he demanded. “Listen, you can’t go to the cops, understand?”

“Yeah, I know,” she said with a hint of bitterness.

“Good. I’ve got to go. I have business to attend to.”

“Wait!”

“Yes?” he asked impatiently.

“I . . . we . . . ” she swallowed heavily. “We have to find him.”

Diego laughed humorlessly. “He’s your son. It’s up to you to find him.”

Even though he’d always been distant, she’d never thought he’d be so disinterested. So cruel.

“But he was probably taken because of you,” she pointed out.

“If that turns out to be the case, let me know. Otherwise, I’m out.”

He hung up, and she just stood there for the longest time, listening . . . waiting for something . . . anything.

“Natalya? Natalya?”

She blinked and saw Rogan standing in front of her, concern on his face. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t think so.” She peered around him. “Where’s Aedan?” She needed him. Desperately.

You’re getting too dependent on him.

“I’m not sure. Why don’t we go get a drink in my study?” Rogan didn’t wait for a reply, just steered her out of the room, glaring at Tanner when he tried to intervene.

Rogan settled her on a sofa in his office and poured two glasses of whiskey. She took one gratefully, taking a large sip. It burned her throat, and she choked, spluttering.

“Sorry,” she said hoarsely.

“It’s better to sip than gulp,” he told her mildly.

“Could you teach me that skill?”

“How to sip whiskey?” he asked, looking startled.

“No, how to get rid of someone with one look. It would have taken me ten minutes to get away from Tanner.”

“That’s because you’re nice.”

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