Page 84 of Degrading Her

“Yeah?” I said.

“Didn’t answer,” Maisie said.

I sighed. “All right. If you get a hold of her, call me.”

“Same to you.”

We both hung up. My chest tightened, trying to consider the possibilities. I had been watching Fiona for five years; it wasn’t like her to run off like this. She was dedicated to her work, especially when it came to the library. Even if she hated me, she’d still show up for her job, or at least call to quit.

My phone buzzed.Erica Houstonflashed on the screen. I picked it.

“Yeah?” I said.

“You rang?”

I had completely forgotten about calling her. “You didn’t show up for work,” I said.

“Got a little tied up here.”

“You should have given me a warning.”

“Sorry,boss,” she said with unexpected sarcasm in her tone. “I’ll be better next time.”

“Have you heard from Fiona?” It was a slim chance, but they had been friendly with each other. Maybe Erica knew something.

“She’s right here,” she said. “Want to say ‘hi’?”

My shoulders tensed. “Fiona?”

“Sssawwwyerrr,” Fiona slurred. I gripped the device.

“What the hell happened?” I growled.

“I gave her a little drug cocktail of my own. A little mix of all the best things. No big deal.”

“Youwhat?” I howled.

“She needed to relax last night, and honestly, I needed her to shut up,” she laughed. “She took a second dose an hour or two ago. Don’t worry; I spread them out. You want to join us? Here. I’ll send you a picture.”

My phone lit up, and I checked the screen; Fiona was passed out on the couch, her cheeks bruised and swollen.

I balled my fists. “What is this?”

“If you’d like, we can have a little chat about my demands,” Erica snickered. “You were willing to negotiate with us once; why not try again?”

Once?

My vision blurred red, everything coming to a stop. “You’re with Hatchcom Focus,” I said.

“And you killed my husband,” she muttered. “It’s a bit of an inconvenience for me with Roth gone. And I’m sure with Fiona, this is a slight inconvenience for you. So if you want your woman back, you’ll negotiate on my terms. Deal?”

“Where are you?”

“I’ll send you the address in a minute.”

“What do youwant,Erica?”

She chuckled. “I want what Hatchcom Focus has always wanted.Domination.We’re not that different from the Feldman Farm. But I do have a better position than my husband did. He didn’t agree with me when I said we should take Fiona. But she happened to be your weakness.”

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