Page 37 of Rising Storm

“He worked with Hayrick and Hayrick suspected him of embezzling money, so he trotted me out to him when I was eighteen. Barnette likes them young and I’m just his type. Surprised the Hell out of me when he proposed, but Hayrick talked me into going through with it. Barnette didn’t start beating me until a couple of years after that.” He paused a moment. “It was actually good at first before that happened.”

It wasn’t Helix’s imagination that his brother sounded sad again, like maybe he’d had feelings for the guy at one time. That maybe, a part of him still did. He’d said he had, but Helix had a hard time believing it. “You don’t think you deserve his treatment of you, do you?”

Sayer scoffed, throwing him a sharp glare. “No. Maybe in the beginning I was confused and more apt to forgive him fast, but it didn’t used to be like this. He started small, with painful pinches—things like that. It’s escalated over the last year and this time, I know it’s because he’s pissed at Hayrick. He doesn’t understand why he’s disappeared.”

Gareth cleared his throat. “He tore up Letsen’s house. So yeah, he’s angry and the fact he knew where Letsen lived gave us pause. We were under the impression he did everything by email.”

“Not with Barnette. They used to meet every couple of months in person.”

“Why would Letsen give him access to his money?”

“Because in the beginning, they were partners. They started working together when Hayrick got out of prison and Barnette was responsible for getting a lot of his customers. But Barnette is good with money. He probably convinced Hayrick he was investing when he was really stealing.”

Helix glanced at Gareth to find the man looking as thoughtful as he was feeling. They’d had no idea, not even Shelli. Surprises with what they were doing were not good. Not good at all.

“He was only a part of the Oklahoma territory if that helps at all. I don’t think he knows where Hayrick’s other house was. Hayrick started branching out fast and it pissed Barnette off that he didn’t include him in everything. I think that’s why he started stealing money.”

“How many things in his office are stolen? Is it just Rising Storm?”

Sayer nodded. “He has other statuettes but they were all purchased legally. He’s been trying to get other Wolfson Monteague art and failing. That’s one of the things he stays angry about. Hayrick was supposed to be finding more of them for him.”

Helix thought about the items they’d been cataloging and he knew of at least one other Monteague in that basement. So Hayrick had gotten it—he just hadn’t passed it along to Sayer’s husband.

“I think I can pose as one of the janitors when you get the key card,” Helix said.

“There are a couple of planters by the elevators,” Sayer said. “I can drop the key card in there and get Hayrick out of the building. But his secretary doesn’t leave her desk during the day. She even eats there.”

“We’ll wait until night to take it anyway. Luckily, there are no cameras in the building. Why is that? You’d think with the Monteague statuette alone, he’d want top-notch security.”

“He’s fucking arrogant, that’s why. But there is an alarm system in his office. He got it from Hayrick’s recommendation.”

Helix looked at Gareth and smiled. “I can disable that, no problem.” Helix made a snipping gesture with his fingers as he looked back at his brother. “If you can’t get the key card, I can always break through the glass.”

“That would set off the alarm and he has it hooked to his phone.” Sayer shifted on the bed, grimacing in pain. “No, I’ll get the card. There are some nosy people on that floor and the last thing you guys need would be cops getting involved. If the statuette is the only thing missing and everything is done without the alarm, he won’t report it and I doubt his secretary will notice it’s even gone.”

Helix hoped he wouldn’t mention his suggestion of fencing the statuette because he knew how much getting that back to his friend meant to Gareth. He felt bad that he planned to steal the already stolen statue, but if his brother wouldn’t take Hayrick’s money, he’d have to have a way to make a new start.

And wherever that start was, Helix would be following eventually. He’d spent too many years away from his brother to let him get away now.

Gareth stood. “Okay, so let’s do this tomorrow. Helix can pose as a janitor, though I’m not sure that’s the best idea since they only come at night. Plus, you guys do look alike.”

“I’ll steal some coveralls from that supply closet and we’ll pose as janitors the night we actually steal the collectible. I’ll just wear my suit again and hover outside the office this time. Make sure he keeps his hands to himself. I’ll keep my face away from him. There’s quite a size difference between us, so he shouldn’t recognize me. I could wear a hat, too.”

“He won’t hurt me in front of his secretary,” Sayer said. “I’m still surprised he did this to me because normally, he only hurts me where people can’t see. Plus, he likes my face.”

“He’s escalating then.” Helix didn’t want his brother anywhere near the guy. “He’s dangerous, Sayer. I really don’t like the idea of you seeing him again at all.”

“Like I said, he won’t hurt me until I’ve healed.”

“But he’s already done something that surprised you.”

“True.” Sayer licked his split lip. “I think it’ll be okay. He’ll be genuinely sorry about this one and looking for sex.”

Helix let his horror show. “You can’t have sex with him. Not with the broken ribs.”

“I’ll be okay. Like I said, I’ve been through this before.”

“Fuck no. If you take him somewhere, make sure it’s in public. Then you call me and I’ll come and get you.”

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