Page 43 of Tracing Her Stolen Identity
Taking her hand, Reece held it tightly between his and then nodded at Mina for her to play the video. The screen across the room lit up with a building filmed in low light. It was grainy, but they could make out a woman sitting in a wheelchair, strapped down with ropes, her mouth taped and wearing a vest. Skylar gasped.
“That’s Camille Castillo!” she exclaimed.
Mina paused the video. “You’re positive?”
Skylar nodded robotically. “No question. Why is she dressed like that?”
“The vest is full of explosives that can blow her and that building to kingdom come,” Iris said before she grimaced. “Sorry. This is why I shouldn’t talk to people.”
“You’re fine,” Skylar said, though Reece could tell she was in shock. “I’m grateful that you tell it like it is. I can deal with that better than being lied to.”
It was difficult, but Reece bit back the smile that threatened, because Sky was something else and he was glad to be the one to help her win this battle. Mina hit play again, and a familiar voice filled the room.
“Hello, Skylar. It’s time we end this little tête-à-tête, don’t you think? I’m sure you recognize our friend. I’ve been saving her for the finale.” The video panned to the roof of a building with decorative brickwork.
“No,” she cried. “That’s the art gallery Taken for Granted. It’s owned by a conglomerate of artists. We have to do something!” Skylar turned to Reece and grabbed the front of his shirt. “We have to stop him!”
While Reece tenderly grasped her hand on his shirt, Mina flicked the video back on so they could hear the rest of the message.
“I know how tight you are with this building. Last Iheard, you were throwing some of that settlement money into it.” The man in the mask shook his head as though he was disappointed, clucking his tongue. “Imagine how the other artists will feel if you’re the reason the building comes tumbling down.”
Mina paused the video again. “Is that true?”
“No,” she whispered, her gaze glued to the screen. “I was asked to do a gallery showing there in a few months. I could become a partner if my work was accepted and the showing was strong. I wouldn’t be using the settlement money, though. I’d use the money I saved for this reason—money that’s now gone, I’m sure.”
“But wait,” Reece said, turning to Sky. “How many people in your life know about the settlement money?”
She tossed her head from side to side. “I suppose it wouldn’t be hard to find the information online if you google the accident, but I haven’t talked to anyone about the settlement money. Even when we first got the payout, we didn’t discuss it. It wasn’t something to celebrate or to brag about. I’d rather we hadn’t needed it.”
“So only people close to you know about the settlement?” Cal asked to clarify.
“Well, yeah, that or people who followed the case or were part of the accident themselves.” She glanced at Reece. “Could this be one of the other accident victims?”
“Did everyone get a payout from the accident?” Cal asked, glancing at Mina with a grimace. Obviously, he had started to put things together, too.
“To a degree,” Reece answered for her. “The amount depended on how serious the injury was and if the victim would have lifelong needs because of it.”
“I am not a victim,” Sky said between clenched teeth.
Reece pressed a kiss to her temple, not even caring what his boss thought about it. He noticed her smiling when he spoke again, though. “Not what I meant, Sky. Let me rephrase. Anyone who was injured got a payout, but it depended on their injuries. I had a broken wrist, so my bills were paid and that was it. It was the same for others who broke their arm or leg. For those who suffered traumatic brain injuries, they got a settlement that reflected the lifelong care they would need.”
“That must be nice,” Iris muttered with an eye roll.
“Skylar, was anyone else injured as severely as you were?” Cal asked.
“No, most suffered broken bones or cuts and bruises. Because I was in the air when the team went down, my injuries reflected the height from which I fell.”
Everyone in the room grimaced at the thought as Reece took her hand again. “She’s correct that anyone from that time who followed the case or was part of it would know that she got a large settlement.”
“That still narrows it down considerably,” Cal said. “That’s a path we can follow if need be.”
“Let’s finish the video. Then we can hash out a plan,” Mina said, clicking the remote.
The creepy voice filled the room again. “It’s not too late to save Camille and your beloved building. I’ll trade them for you. That seems even. Be outside the loading doors of the gallery this morning at six, alone. No cops and no security guys. If I see anyone besides you, I will blow this building and all of you sky-high. See what I did there?” His creepy horror laugh sent a shiver down Reece’s spine. “There’ll be a phone waiting for you there on which you’ll receive a call with further instructions. If you’re not there atexactly six o’clock, well, boom! Ta-ta for now, Skylar. Tick tock, run, run…oh wait, wheel, wheel as fast as you can…”
The room went silent for a beat before everyone inhaled. “That’s not happening,” Reece said before anyone could speak.
“But it is,” Skylar responded, turning to him. “A woman’s life is on the line!”
