Page 66 of Abducted

Cal nodded his approval. “Now we’re talking.” Then to Ethan, “Dude, go find him some Advil.”

“He’s going to need something more than that,” Lana said as she moved past Nate and Ethan. She returned a moment later with a small glass of golden liquid and the bottle of Advil. Tanner took a big swig of the liquor, wiped his mouth on a pant, then downed several pills. The glass shook in his hand as he took another big gulp.

Cal took the glass from his hand and set it on the floor next to him. “Easy, we still have some questions for you.”

Tanner straightened his shoulders. Color creeped back into his cheeks. “Don’t think that just because I gave you something for the pain, I won’t still shoot your other foot if you lie. Got it?” He nodded wildly.

“You have a thing for Lana, don’t you?”

Tanner licked his lips. His eyes darted around the room and landed on Lana. Fear flashed across his face, and a new sheen of sweat coated his brow.

“Answer the question. One…two…”

Tanner’s face flushed crimson. “Yes, okay?”

Ethan whistled. Cal pushed his tongue to the corner of his mouth and forced his temper down. At least the bastard was being honest.

Cal focused on Tanner, and the muscles in his face tensed. “You were charged with rape as a minor, then you were a person of interest in a young woman’s murder. You came on to Lana, assaulted her, and four months later someone hires me to kill her. You’re telling me that’s a coincidence?” His voice shook with the rage that pulsated through him. “For the record, I don’t believe in coincidences.”

He pressed the barrel of his Glock into the top of Tanner’s uninjured foot.

Tanner gulped. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “It’s true.” He shifted his eyes to Lana and then back to Cal, his eyes pleading.

“Are you aware that Will Anderson was found murdered in his apartment?”

Tanner’s chin quivered. “W–will’s dead?”

Cal ignored his question. “When was the last time you talked to him?” Tanner’s eyes shifted around the room, his face taking on a green hue.

“A week ago…” He rubbed his hands over his face.

“I’m going to ask you one more thing, Tanner—pay attention.”

Tanner’s hands fell away from his face, his eyes sinking into his head, his breathing ragged.

“Who would want to silence Will? Someone killed him, Tanner. My instinct is telling me it wasn’t you. Who would benefit from Lana’s murder?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know, man. I swear.”

“What about Shawn?”

Tanner breathed through tight lips. “I don’t know any reason why he would. Honest. If I knew someone wanted to hurt Lana, I would have told someone a long time ago. I had nothing to do with this.”

Cal scratched at his five o’clock shadow. Goddammit, when was he going to get the chance to shave? He kept his gaze on Tanner. For the first time, a glimmer of doubt about Lana’s stepbrother sparked inside him. Shawn was a new possibility. Could he have some kind of motive for getting Lana out of the way? Everything lined up for Tanner, though.

He always trusted his gut, and it had never failed him. Problem was, Lana was now clouding his judgment. Every atom in his body drew his focus to Tanner. Was that because he wanted it to be Tanner? It would be simpler that way.

No. That sliver of doubt was enough to make him inch back. He needed more information. He stood. “If I were you, Tanner, I wouldn’t breathe a word of our visit to anyone. You may have money, but you still can’t hide.”

Ethan sputtered. He pulled Cal aside. “We can’t just leave him now. You shot him in the damn foot!”

Cal crossed his arms over his chest. “What’s he going to do? Call the cops? That would only bring attention to him. Besides”—he glanced at Tanner’s stiff form—“we’ve come to an understanding.”

Ethan shook his head. “If you think it’s okay…”

“He’ll be quiet.” Lana zeroed in on Tanner. “Right?”

Tanner nodded vigorously. “Yeah, I promise.”

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