Page 67 of Deadly Deception
“What?” I twisted so I could look into Franklin’s face. “I thought that’s how he found out.”
Franklin shook his head. “No. Tompkins read it in the paper, and then he contacted Sara. She didn’t bring the information to him first.”
I swallowed hard as Henson muttered a heartfelt, “Fuck.”
“Daisy Vasquez,” Franklin said. “She said that Vanja’s female.”
Henson scoffed. “Half the population’s women. That hardly narrows it down to Sara.”
“No argument here,” Franklin agreed. “However, how many women do we know that have intimate knowledge of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office? How many women do we know that had access to the surveillance equipment within the building? How many women do we know that would be adamant Shane Tompkins is not unduly harmed when so many others have been viciously tortured and murdered?”
Henson placed his hands on his hips, mindful of the letter still grasped in his hand. Staring at the ceiling, he paced back and forth before finally answering, “It’s thin.”
“Paper thin,” Franklin agreed. “That doesn’t make it untrue.”
“It doesn’t make it true either.” Henson blew out a deep breath, his shoulders sagging. “For argument’s sake, why in the hell would Sara do something like this? I need some kind of motive here.”
I shook my head, and Franklin bowed his. Neither of us had an answer. Neither of us truly knew Sara Tompkins well. She’d been kind enough, friendly too. She’d personally greeted us when we’d arrived and hadn’t treated me like the dirt on her shoe. She’d taken the time to walk us to Sherriff Henson’s office and all the way to Navarre’s cell. She’d done that even though it caused her obvious pain. The limp in her right leg indicated whatever happened to Sara in the line of duty hadn’t been fully recoverable.
Aurelia was still beside me and I asked her, “Did Navarre and Tabitha’s kidnappers say anything else?”
“Who are you talking to?” Henson asked while Franklin heavily sighed.
“Most likely Aurelia,” Franklin said. “We’ll explain later, but Aurelia can choose who she reveals herself to. My guess is she’s in the room somewhere and that’s who Boone’s talking to.”
“Your mate is acceptable,” Aurelia said. “Maybe,” she added with less conviction.
“Showing yourself to the others would make things much easier,” I said.
“But less amusing,” Aurelia answered, still refusing to show herself to the others.
“What did she say?” Franklin asked.
I waved a hand in Aurelia’s general direction and answered with a question. “Do you see her?”
“Got it,” Franklin regretfully answered before shushing Henson when he attempted to say something.
Aurelia’s mouth didn’t so much as twitch into a grin. I had no idea if she’d answer or not. In the end, Aurelia simply shrugged and said, “Very little. The woman said more.”
I considered that. We’d just been discussing Sara, but in this instance, I thought Aurelia was speaking of Tabitha and asked just that. “The medium Tabitha?”
“Perhaps. I did not hear her name. She was old and clutched a small bag in one arm.”
“That’s Tabitha. What did she say?” When Aurelia’s eyes narrowed, I inhaled, counted to seven and said, “I would really appreciate an answer, but the decision is up to you. It’s your choice.”
Those were the magic words. Aurelia’s posture eased and she answered, “The old woman said she would not leave Navarre.”
I considered that and tilted my head to the side. “And that didn’t bother them?”
“No.”
Simple and direct. I was starting to get used to speaking with Aurelia.
“And Navarre? Did he protest?”
For the first time, Aurelia paused and seemed to contemplate her answer. “He was docile.”
I nodded. From what I understood of Navarre, that seemed likely. Chances were good he wasn’t certain if his kidnapperswere real or not. He simply went where the tide took him. Or in this case, where a bunch of goons took him.
