Page 47 of Z For Butterfly Man
“If you can’t find them, that means whoever took Birdie took both her phone and laptop, too.”And it’s you, motherfucker.
“Do you happen to have any trackers in those?”
Why should I fucking tell you? To cover your tracks? Another text chimes from Marcus.You were right. Douche was Abel’s partner.
My hand squeezes the phone. I fucking knew it.
He sticks his nose close to the screen. I turn it off before he catches a glimpse.
“What’s going on, Morra? You found out something and you’re keeping it from me. You can’t do that. We agreed to work together to find Birdie. Now, what the fuck did you find?”
That you’re a lying son of a bitch from the start, and your days are fucking numbered.Ashford needs to pay for thinkinghe could have her, for thinking he could hurt her. For making her choose him over me.
“I found the car.” I hold up my phone, showing him the GPS coordinates. “462 Old South Road, Aquinnah.”
His face goes pale. “Isn’t that…”
“The safehouse?” The trap that has been set to capture you all along. “Yes.”
His fingers work his phone, but I don’t wait for him to bark coordinates to dispatch. I head to my car.
“Where the fuck are you going?”
“We need to move. Now.”I need you alone for this. I have a surprise for you, douchebag.
“This is police business now. You stay here and—”
“Fuck that. She’s—” I let my voice break. “I’m going now. You can choose to come with me or wait for fucking backup.”
He studies me for a long moment, as if he’s struggling to make a choice, as if that hasn’t been his plan, to send me running into his trap. Finally, he nods. “Fine. But you follow my lead. You don’t touch anything. You don’t interfere. Understood?”
“Understood.”
We’re in our separate vehicles, engines roaring to life, gravel spraying as we tear out of Birdie’s driveway. I follow his taillights when I get another text that Gatsby has landed.
My fingers fly on the screen.Told Douche car location. Following him there.
Marcus:WTF! You’re walking into an ambush. Head back NOW!
Me:Have a plan.
I call Brandon.
“Sir.”
“Ashford is heading your way. ETA eighteen minutes.”
“I thought I’d have more time to—”
“You won’t, but that’s all right. I want him to see you at the decoy.”
“Sir?”
“Change of plans, Brandon. I know how to turn the tables on that piece of shit, so listen carefully and do exactly as I say. This is how we get Detective Ashford, the real Butterfly Man.”
CHAPTER 20
Jacob
