Page 112 of Reaper Flame

“Why did you make a deal with my father?” he asked.

I didn’t answer. “The only thing that matters is finding Mieko.”

What was the point in telling him what deal I struck with Bryce and why? Finding out where Bryce buried her mom’s body wouldn’t numb Vixen’s pain if Hiram posted Mieko’s body parts in the mail.

After going down the hidden staircase, we arrived at the bunker. Zander punched the code into the keypad, and the steel door swung open to reveal Giles. He sat sniveling in the corner with his back pressed against the wall. It looked like he was trying to melt inside the brick. Opposite him, plastic sheeting wrapped around the Blackbird’s corpse. The sides of the plastic had fallen away, revealing his ghostly face and dead eyes.

Giles’s eyes widened at seeing us standing in the doorway, but he didn’t move. West went to the small kitchen area and started to fill an ice bucket with water. He’d spilled enough blood, so he had a different interrogation technique in mind.

“Hello, cousin,” Zander greeted him. “It’s time we talk.”

“But I told you all I knew!” Giles’s tone was already pleading, and he started to rock back and forth. “Did you find him? Was he there?”

“Oh, he was there alright,” Vixen spat. “And he took my girl. Did you have anything to do with that?”

“N-n-no!” Giles trembled, shaking his head wildly. “All I know is that he was going to the party. That’s it!”

“So, all of this is just a coincidence?” Vixen snarled. “Do you really expect us to believe you didn’t know your darling Uncle was signing away your inheritance? Sending us to the Maven where Hiram would be waiting seems like it’d be good revenge.”

“What do you mean?” Giles’s whisper made him sound like a small child. “Signing it away? There’s nothing left to sign...”

“Do you think Bryce trusted you with everything?” Vixen mocked. “Uncle Bryce has been keeping secrets from you. All of his money is now going to me, and I’m going to enjoy spending every fucking dime.”

“Tell us what you know about Hiram,” Zander said, sending Vixen a glare to stand down. “You’ve been working for him lately. Is there somewhere he stays nearby?”

“I-I-I don’t know anything!” Giles stammered. “I swear—”

“West.” Zander motioned for him to come forward. “Do the honors.”

West grabbed Giles by the scruff of his neck and plunged his head into the icy bucket. Giles thrashed around, but West held him there. Seconds later, West yanked him out. Giles gasped for air, spitting water from his mouth.

“All you need to do is tell us the truth,” Zander said. He took a seat on the reclining sofa opposite Giles like he was watching a sports game. “Tell us what you know, and this stops.”

“You know everything!” Giles wailed.

Zander flicked his wrist, and West plunged him into the water again. When Giles came up for air, he was heaving like a dying fish. Waterboarding was one way to sober someone up.

“I swear I don’t know! He used to call me and tell me what to do. He didn’t tell me anything! I don’t know!” Giles begged, putting his hands together in a prayer position. “Please!”

Zander gestured again, and West rammed his head back into the bucket.

“We’re giving you a chance here,” West growled as he pulled him up above the surface. “Other people wouldn’t be so kind.”

“I want Hiram gone as much as you do,” Giles stuttered through chattering teeth as soon as he caught his breath. “I came here tonight because I wanted to help.”

“You’ve done nothing to help us before,” Vixen sneered, kneeling down to get on his level. “Why start now?”

“If you’re going to kill me,” Giles said, “then get it over with already!”

“I think he’s telling the truth, boss,” Rocky said begrudgingly, flopping down next to Zander on the sofa with a sense of defeat.

I nodded in agreement. Giles was a spineless coward. He’d have already squealed if he knew something. If this wasn’t the same man whose stupidity caused the pregnant love of his life to be burned alive, I might just feel sorry for him.

“When did you last hear from Hiram directly?” I asked. If I could get a sense of his usual movements, maybe I could try to think about where he’d go? I didn’t think it was likely he’d take Mieko back to Blackthorne Towers. That was too far away.

“He called me to ask if...” Giles’s face crumpled, “Briarly Manor was gone.”

“You’ve heard nothing since then?” I pressed.

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