Page 86 of Into the Fire

I took a deep breath and told her what I’d seen at the Dive: Mr. Suit and his bodyguards, the girl being shoved into the car. I even told her about the chase through the woods.

What I didn’t tell her: Imperium Fratrum and the website with the pink door.

I wasn’t sure why I didn’t tell her that part. Maybe I was scared she’d think I was crazy. Maybe I was afraid whatever leads we’d found would dry up if the police got involved.

Or maybe I just wanted to figure it out myself.

She listened intently, making notes on the legal pad while I talked, occasionally asking questions to clarify one of my statements.

“Anyway,” I finally said, coming to the end of my story, “I saw your name on the articles about Aventine and the Piers Cantwell thing. I thought…” I hesitated. “I don’t know. I guess I thought maybe this information would help you? And that maybe you’d have information that would help me?”

“Why do you need help?” Her eyes were warm and I was surprised she’d picked up that detail from the things I’d just said.

“Well, I can’t go back to my apartment,” I said. “Not after they — Vic or Mr. Suit or whoever — trashed it. So I’m staying with… friends. But I can’t do that forever.”

Her forehead crinkled with concern. “You could file a restraining order.”

“But he’d be notified then right?” I asked. “My old boss?”

“He’d be served with the papers, yes.”

I thought about it, could see Vic being approached by cops, could see how pissed he’d be. And what about Mr. Suit? I didn’t even know who he was so it wasn’t like the police could serve him.

“No, thanks. I just…” I sighed. “I just really need to figure this out.”

“Does ‘Folegandros’ mean anything to you?” The question came out of left field, and I saw that she was studying my face, looking for a reaction.

“Folegandros?” I shook my head. “Is that a… a person?”

She wrote something on the yellow legal pad. “No. It’s an island in Greece.”

“I’ve never been to Greece.”

She stood. “I’m sorry I can’t help you. Our investigation into the activities at Aventine and the Cantwell Resort is ongoing, so I’m not at liberty to discuss it.”

I nodded, feeling my shoulders sag. “I understand.”

We shook hands and I followed her back down the long hallway and through the door separating the glass-enclosed workspace from the rest of the lobby.

“Nice to see you,” Brandon called after me.

I didn’t bother to return the greeting. Fucking rapist asshole.

I got into my car and sat there, staring through the windshield, processing the fact that I was at another dead end. It took a couple of minutes to remember Detective Rodriguez’s final question.

I pulled out my phone, opened the web browser, and typed a word into the search bar: Folegandros.

My screen populated with images of stark white buildings against a blue sky and an even bluer sea.

I tried the word out in my mouth, whispering it in the car.

“Folegandros.”

It sounded almost magical, like it held the answers I’d been looking for.

48

LILAH