Page 65 of Abducted

“I’m going to ask you one more time, so listen up.” Cal’s voice raised an octave above a whisper. “You hired Will Anderson and Ian Stamos. Stamos gave me seventy-five grand of your money to kill Lana. I want to know why.”

Tanner blew air through his lips. Spit dribbled down his chin. “I didn’t hire them. I wouldn’t hurt her.”

Cal shook his head. “Wrong answer.” He pulled the trigger.

“Sonofabitch!” Tanner’s scream echoed around the room. His body jolted, and sweat poured down his face. Ethan pinned him in the chair. Lana’s cry of protest sounded from behind him. Her hand closed on Cal’s shoulder, pulling him around to face her. She stood over him, her lips in a firm line.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she whispered. Slowly he rose to his feet, and her head tilted back to look up at him. Well, fuck.

“He’s lying—”

Lana shoved past him and knelt in front of Tanner’s folded-over form. Cal tensed. Dammit, why did she give a shit about this idiot? Sobs tore through Tanner’s throat as he lifted his chin to face Lana. “Tanner, you need to tell us the truth.” Then, in a hushed whisper, “These men are crazy. I have no idea what they’re capable of, but if you don’t start giving us some real answers, things could get ugly.”

Tanner’s lip quivered, and Lana squeezed his hand. Pride expanded in Cal’s chest. She was playing good cop, trying to get Tanner’s confession.

“You shouldn’t be with these assholes.” His eyes lifted to Cal. “They’re fucking sick.”

Cal shrugged and eased Lana aside. “You know what’s sick? Rape. You know what else is sick? Murder. You know what else? Planning yet another murder.”

“I told you I had nothing—”

“Don’t make me shoot your other foot.”

Tears poured out of Tanner’s eyes. Blood pooled beneath his foot. “Andrea Reid—does that name ring a bell?”

Tanner’s mouth hung open. His eyes bulged in his head, either from pain or from fear.

“Ah, looks like I struck a nerve.” He twisted his mouth. “I suppose you’re going to tell me you didn’t drug her and rape her at a frat party?”

Tanner’s breath came out in short, sharp gasps.

“Come on, lie to me. I dare you.” He lifted a shoulder, his tone cool.

“I didn’t mean for anything to happen to her. Yes, I gave her a fucking roofie. But I didn’t know what it was at the time or what would happen.” His voice pitched like a pubescent teenager’s. Tears leaked out of his eyes. “Please, man. Believe me.”

A beat passed. Tanner was a little pussy. Cal had taken bullets to worse places in his body and had barely broken a sweat. The collar of Tanner’s shirt was drenched, his face was an ashen gray, and his mouth twisted in a grimace. Cal looked up at Ethan. His eyes were steady, reflecting Cal’s thoughts.

He could be telling the truth.

His jaw worked. He brought his gaze back to Tanner. Shivers racked his medium-sized frame. Cal smiled. “Do you know Ian Stamos or Will Anderson? And remember what happens when you lie.” He shifted the gun to Tanner’s other foot.

A whimper sounded from Tanner’s throat. He nodded. His head was as unsteady as a toy bobblehead on the dash of a car. “Yes. Yes, I know them.”

“How?”

“I went to college with Will’s older brother, Shawn.” His breath was shallow. He wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve.

Cal pulled his phone out of his pocket. “What is your Facebook login information?”

Tanner told him. Cal kept the gun trained on his other foot while he scrolled through his friends until he found Will Anderson and Shawn Lawson. After more clicks, he confirmed they had gone to the same college.

He put his phone back in his pocket. “Do you still talk to Shawn?”

Tanner swallowed, his eyes watering.

“You answer this right, and we’ll get you something for the pain, all right?”

He took a deep breath. “I talk to him. He works at my stepdad’s office.”

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