“There’s only one way to find out.” I leaned against the wall.
“I’ve got Mitch and Alex on him, and he’s a real piece of work.”
I glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s only eight in the morning. What’s the guy managed to accomplish this morning?” I laughed.
Luke grinned and pulled out his phone, flipping to video Mitch had texted over showing the guy hitting on several women at a gym. He was actually taking it to the point of harassment.
“So he scores high on the creep card,” I agreed.
“And then there’s this.” Luke clicked on another clip.
This one showed the guy videoing the women in compromising positions.
“That’s not looking good for him, is it?” I shook my head. “I say we go check out this guy for ourselves and see what he’s up to for lunch.”
“Sounds like fun to me,” Zack said, rubbing his hands together.
“Couldn’t agree more.” Devin nodded. “We’ve got an address. It’s an unsecured apartment building, so we’ll have no problem getting inside.”
“Good. That makes our job easier.” I glanced at Joel, who was studying his laptop. “Anything new? Sadie’s phone still offline?”
He nodded. “I think they destroyed it, but something interesting just happened.”
“Yes?”
“All of the threats left on Elena’s blog post have gone through an anonymizer, so some look as if they’ve originated in Turkey, Russia, or Canada. The IP list is endless, but two minutes ago, a comment appeared on her post. It was deleted seconds later, but I captured it and the IP it originated from.”
“It was another threat?” I asked, walking over to where Joel was sitting.
“It was, and I think they’d meant to go through the anonymizer, only something backfired. The IP address is in Manhattan.” He handed me his laptop. “It will take me a couple of hours to track down the specific location, but I will.”
I turned to Luke. “Can you ask Mitch if this guy went back to his place in the last while?”
Luke nodded and sent a text. He received a reply instantly.
“Mitch says he went back to his place about fifteen minutes ago.”
“Interesting.” My pulse accelerated. “We just might be onto something.”
My brothers moved toward the door with a new excitement running through the air. I think we’d all hoped to find out something related to Sadie last night, but maybe this would be our redemption.
“Everything okay?” My mom poked her head into the study
“We’re just about to take off,” I informed her.
“Good. Another lead, I assume?”
“Possibly.” I nodded.
“The police were in contact with the Egorovs this morning. They were advised about the suicide.” My mother’s eyes narrowed. “Timing is always curious, isn’t it? Anyway, I’ll be taking them out to lunch to try to change things up a bit for them. Should I invite Elena?”
“Sure.” I took a few steps toward my mom and lowered my voice. “If you can behave yourself.”
“When don’t I?” Her brow arched, but I wasn’t in the mood for arguing.
“We’ll be back later.” Devin hugged our mom as everyone filed out of the room.
I grabbed a quick cup of coffee in the kitchen before heading outside.
“You okay after last night with what I told you?” my mom asked, wandering toward the coffee pot.
“Absolutely.” I took a sip. “But my brothers are waiting.”
She placed her hand on my shoulder and gripped it tightly. “My only fear for my son is that he’s finally met someone even more calculating than he is.”
“I’ll handle things.”
My mother nodded, and I made my way out of the house.
I didn’t have the energy this morning to discuss much of anything to do with Elena. I was in the business of compartmentalizing, and I needed to continue that strategy. It was the only way I’d survived this long.
The ride into the city had a different energy than yesterday. We didn’t know if this was a pointless lead taking us to talk to a horny gym rat or if there was something here to unpack.
“Looks like we’re here.” Blake stated the obvious as Luke, Zack, and Ian pulled in next to us.
Joel texted right when we’d found a garage to park in not too far from the guy’s apartment. Things were starting to look up.
“Joel?” Blake asked, glancing at my phone.
“Yup.”
The moment I read Joel’s words, the blood in my veins turned to a fiery excitement. I realized we might really be onto something.
“IP address from this morning leads right here,” I told my brothers.
“You’re kidding.” Drake smiled, taking the key out of the ignition. “You know, I never doubt whose side God is on in our world.”
I smiled, climbing out of the car to fill in Luke and the rest of the men.
By the time we scaled the stairs and pushed open the door to the outside world, rain was pouring. It would make our quick walk even quicker.
We spotted Mitch and Alex standing outside a coffee house. They flagged us to come in their direction.
“A warm cup of coffee sounds perfect about now,” I muttered.
“Do you realize you’re probably the only man in the universe who can manage to fit in a latte on the way to kick a man’s ass?”
“It’s all about the priorities.” I laughed as we jogged across the street.
“Hey, there,” Mitch said, shaking my hand. “Perfect timing. Prince Charming just went into the sandwich shop next to us.”
“Really?” I thought about my options. “Maybe I’ll go check him out.”
I turned to my brothers. “Mind ordering me a quad espresso?”
Devin rolled his eyes. “Your wish…”
I smiled and watched everyone head inside before I strolled next door to the sandwich shop. The moment I opened the door, the smell of dill and rye bread overwhelmed my senses.
It wasn’t difficult to spot our man. He was holding a sandwich and harassing a couple of women who were trying to enjoy their lunches. I certainly wouldn’t mind landing a few punches for the fun of it with this one.
When he started to turn in my direction, I exited the café and made my way over to the coffee shop.
Devin handed me my drink, and despite my brothers’ giving me a hard time about my drink, they all had drinks in their hands too.
“The guy’s as much of a jerk when he’s grabbing lunch as he is at the club.” I shook my head as Mitch watched the guy cross the street back over to his apartment building.
“So, what’s the plan?” Alex asked.
“Hope the guy’s got some good information to share.” I smiled, taking a sip of my espresso. “In a cool, calm, and collected manner.”
“You haven’t exactly been known for having a long fuse,” Blake said, smiling.
“Well, however it works out.” I shrugged, grinning.
“We can take the elevators right up to his floor,” Alex informed us. “I don’t think there’s a reason in the world he’ll be expecting us.”
“Agreed.” I took a final sip and tossed my cup in the trash. “Ready?”
“You know?” Drake asked. “I really am. I really hope we’re close this time.”
The rain had slowed some, and we made our way outside and across the street within a matter of minutes.
We walked inside the small, empty lobby, where the mail slots acted as the only décor, and found our way over to two elevators. One was already waiting for us, which I took as a sign.
Alex pressed the button for the eleventh floor.
“What do you think these apartments run?” Devin asked Blake.
“I don’t know. Four or five grand.”
Devin nodded.
When we arrived on the eleventh floor, the corridor was as inviting as the lobby. Worn gray carpet led the way as we walked down the hallway until we sp
otted the apartment number for Tim Greenwood.
“Mr. Greenwood?” I knocked on the door.
A minute or so passed by.
“Who’s there?” he asked.
Within seconds, Luke had jimmied the door and I broke it open the rest of the way.
“What are you doing stalking a blogger’s posts?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammered as I walked deeper into his apartment.
“Yeah, yeah. They never do.” Zack and Ian took the man down to the ground and dragged him toward his couch.
I glanced around, taking in the space. This apartment was a lot better than the last one we were in. It was tidy and barely looked lived in. I noticed a bedroom and nodded toward it. Drake went to make sure it was empty. I knew we wouldn’t be lucky enough to just find Sadie with a bow on her.
“Who do you think you are, barging into my apartment like this?”
“Just a few men with a few questions,” I advised, walking slowly over to Timothy.
“Now, tell my why you’ve been making threats to my friend, Elena.”
“I don’t know any Elena.” His eyes turned to slits as he stared at each of us slowly.
“Sure you do. You just posted another comment this morning, but you quickly realized your error.”
Tim’s expression fell slightly.
“Now, let’s try this again. Why are you sending threatening posts to Elena?”
“It’s not personal,” he muttered.
Ah. Headway.
“Is it ever?” I asked, kneeling in front of the man.
“I was just paid a little to freak her out. Now, get out of my apartment.”
“Oh, I don’t take orders from men like you.” I stood and glanced at my brothers, who took a few steps closer.
“I’m not a bad person.” Zack and Ian pushed him deeper into the couch.
“Even the devil can lure the purest of hearts.” I smiled. “But I don’t think you’ve ever had one of those.”
“Like you’re a real prize.”
“What did you do to Missy and Sadie?” I ignored his comment.
“What? I have no idea who or what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, you do. You left that note for Elena on her door about her sister, Sadie.”
His lips tightened, and Zack and Ian restrained him further.
“I don’t have to tell you shit.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Mitch slammed his fist into the guy’s jaw, barely missing the sweet spot to knock the man unconscious.
Timothy glared at Mitch, who punched him again.
“This is the deal. You know what happened to Missy and Sadie. You’re either the person who did it, or you know who's behind it.”
“You’re full of—”
My fist knocked into the man’s nose, breaking it with one hit. Tears filled his eyes and blood ran from his nose.
“What was that?” I asked.
“I don’t even know these people,” he whined, coughing on his own blood.
“But you know of them?” I asked.
“Unless you’ve got a badge, I ain’t telling you anything.”
I watched the blood dribble out of his nose, and I let out a sigh, wondering why it was the same with all of these creeps. They had to know we’d get what we wanted eventually. It was just whether they wanted it to hurt more or less.
Timothy spotted the blade Devin had just pulled out of its sheath with gloved hands.
“Did you kill Missy or her boyfriend?” I questioned.
“She was a cute little thing, but I didn’t touch her.”
“What about her boyfriend?”
My brother handed me the knife as Ian and Zack continued to hold the man down. He tried to squirm but couldn’t move.
“Did you not hear me?”
“It’s not like anyone misses that druggie,” he spat out. “He was a loser.”
My gaze skewered the man in place, and fear channeled through his eyes.
Fear I’d put there.
I ran my fingers along my jaw as my eyes stayed fixed on the man in front of me. I knew he wanted to beg for his life. They always did.
“What makes you any better? I’ve seen how you’ve been treating women around town today.”
“You’ve been following me?”
“Which makes me wonder why you won’t just tell me about Sadie and Missy.”
“I–I…” His eyes focused on the blade that I inched toward his throat.
A few seconds passed.
“Don’t know where to begin?” My voice broke the silence in the room as my eyes canvassed the man’s limp body.
He was obviously an amateur and nothing more than a shell of the man I saw earlier when he was full of himself, picking on women and towering over them like a predator.
“I didn’t kill the women.”
Hearing him use the plural made my blood freeze.
“They’re both dead?” I asked emotionlessly.
“I don’t know about the second girl. She only gave me orders about where I needed to hand her off.”
“She?” I studied the man carefully.
“Yeah. A woman signs my paycheck. I’m a modern man all the way.”
My pulse was pounding. “Who killed Missy?”
“I’d imagine the same woman who signs on the dotted line.”
“Who’s that?”
“I don’t know her name.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Elena
Jaxson’s mom took my parents out for lunch. I declined their invitation in hopes that it would make it easier to get to the city. I hated sitting idly by while everyone was doing what they could to find Sadie.
I wanted to be back at my apartment and close to the councilman. I walked by the study and saw Joel sitting at his laptop. He glanced up.
“Hey, Elena. How are you holding up?” His eyes were kind and he looked like any other techie.
“Not so hot,” I said truthfully. “Have you heard from Jax or his brothers?”
“Yeah. They’re in the city looking into things.”
I nodded and leaned against the doorframe “Do you think it will lead anywhere?”
“I hope so.”
“Me too,” I said softly, spotting a set of keys to Jax’s car.
I’d looked out the window when they were leaving and saw that they were in Blake’s SUV. I hated to borrow Jax’s car, but I had no other choice.
I knew if I asked, the answer would be no.
I made my way into the room, walking over to where Joel sat.
“Wow. That tells me absolutely nothing.” I laughed, looking at his screen full of code.
“Nah. Once you learn the various languages, you’d know exactly what you were seeing.”
“Is that about Sadie?”
He looked a little uncomfortable, as if he didn’t know how much he was really supposed to tell me.
“There was a new comment like the others that posted to your blog this morning.”
“I didn’t see it.”
“They deleted it almost instantly. I was tracking it down and trying to source some other stuff.”
I nodded and slowly wandered toward the keys.
“Thank you for doing all of this. It means so much to my parents and me.”
“Absolutely. I wouldn’t want to spend my time any other way.” He smiled and brought his attention back to the screen.
I took the chance to slip the car keys into my pocket.
“I’m going to grab some coffee. Do you want anything from the kitchen?”
“I’m good. Thanks though.” He barely raised his eyes from the screen, and I walked out of the study with the feeling of freedom in my pocket.
I grabbed the bag I’d already set at the front door and was outside and on my way to the city in minutes.
With my mind racing about Harner and all he had to lose with Missy’s problems being exposed, the more I realized who w
e needed to be looking at. I was bringing unneeded attention to a case he wanted closed. He didn’t care if the real murderer was held accountable for Missy’s death. He just wanted it out of the news.
By the time I pulled into a parking garage down the street from my apartment, I nearly skipped home. I wanted to plug in my laptop and investigate more, test my theory.
The sight inside my tiny apartment was a welcome one, even though it had been nearly trashed by the officers. It didn’t matter. I’d clean it later.
I pulled my laptop out of my bag and plugged it in before sitting on the couch. I started researching based on the notes I took this morning.
Harner and his wife had never had kids. They traveled quite a bit, and there looked to be a quick cheating scandal several years ago that Harner managed to quickly quash. Two years ago, there was a sexting scandal that also silenced itself. Through it all, his wife stood by his side, but why? If these were two indiscretions that I had quickly dug up, there were plenty more she knew about that the press just hadn’t uncovered.
I typed in his wife’s name. Several of the city’s local magazines had recently featured her on their lists of most charitable donors, which was curious considering she was only a councilman’s wife.
The more I dug up on his wife, the more confused I became.
She went to an Ivy League school, got her law degree, and married Harner. From the looks of it, she was the driving force behind his career, beginning with a city councilman position in Pennsylvania before becoming mayor of that same small town—a position he held for several years—before they moved to New York, where he became involved in city government and worked his way up the ladder, eventually getting elected as a New York city councilman.
It didn’t look like his wife worked during this time. In fact, it appeared as if she’d never held a job. I began looking up her parents and things started to click.
Her parents were not happy with whom she married. They felt that Harner wasn’t good enough for her and held back her trust fund as punishment. It wasn’t until about ten years ago that she began receiving disbursements, which looked to be about the same time they’d arrived in the city and he’d started getting his feet wet in big-time politics.
Apparently, her drive to create the perfect husband had worked on her parents, and they’d finally accepted him now that he was a city councilman for New York City. While cheating rumors surrounding Harner often got put to rest, they still existed in the realm of the internet.
Jaxson: A Romantic Suspense (V Mafia Series Book 3) Page 18