Page 113 of Beguiled

“Roman. You’re coming with me. You know the streets and the cops in case we have an issue.”

“Why would we have an issue?”

“Because we’re going to visit the dead.”

* * *

“It’s just that… and my dad thinks… He won’t… I don’t know what to do. Marrying… And I won’t live.”

Checking the SUV had resulted in almost nothing of use except for the hat. It was possible there was DNA that could prove useful. Both Roman and I checked every inch. The fingerprint kit had also been used. As anticipated, the assailant hadn’t bothered to try to hide his identity.

The prints would be sent off to our criminal experts, as I liked to call them. We had our own department of hackers and computer experts, several with a background in law enforcement. Their skills had come in very handy in the last few months.

“He’s decided. I have no choice. I’m… nothing but property… meant to sell to the highest bidder.”The audio recording was terrible, but if the ambient noise was taken out, maybe a few additional words could be provided. Saige’s phone would go to our experts as well.“…to show you. It’s… and my father…”

“Sounds like an arranged marriage to me,” Roman said. “We still have those in this country. Even with rich, spoiled assholes.”

Chuckling, I eased from the passenger seat, my weapon easily accessible. It was now after three-thirty in the morning, almost no lights on in the surrounding buildings. But I could see one on inside Saige’s apartment. “We have those in Russia as well. In my opinion, they’re ineffective.”

“You’d be surprised how often they’re used in this town. Shocking.”

“Up the back. Let’s be quick about this.” I had taken the time to walk Saige into her apartment and left out the back door, so I was familiar with the building. Roman followed me around the building and even before I closed in on the back entrance, I could easily tell someone had broken in.

He noticed about the same time.

“Keep a watch down here. I’ll check the apartment.” I took the stairs two at a time, ripping out my weapon as soon as I reached her floor. It didn’t take me long to see someone had been searching for information. Or they’d simply wanted to leave a message.

The door was ajar. With a swing using one finger, I moved inside. The place was trashed, every piece of furniture turned over, every pillow and soft surface slashed with a knife.

A stark meow caught my attention, her cat running toward me and instantly rubbing her face against my leg.

“I’m glad you didn’t escape.” Great. Now I was talking to a cat. I scanned the area, trying to ascertain if the perpetrator had been looking for anything in particular.

Even Saige’s laptop had been knocked to the floor. As soon as I picked it up, the screen popped on, the hard drive still humming.

There were signs Saige had been working on the report I’d asked for, including notes now strewn all over the couch and the floor. I grabbed a handful, realizing she’d used some of the information she’d taken, including a printed copy of the blackmail list.

“Fuck,” I gritted out, squeezing what I had into a crushed ball. There was no way of knowing whether some pages were missing. All the asshole had needed to do was take screenshots from his phone.

Damn it. I should have known she’d had time to print a copy. Whoever he was working for, if not one of the companies located on the documentation, would have a task list that if implemented, gain them access to a huge portion of the Fortune 100 companies in New York.

Just like she’d hoped the Chertov Corporation would consider. Not that I hadn’t thought of doing so, but Kazimir hadn’t wanted to take over the New York financial industry by force.

I moved quickly throughout her apartment, realizing by the erratic behavior that the perpetrator had been angry. It also indicated there was a second person working with the one I’d eliminated.

After grabbing a suitcase from her closet, I haphazardly pulled out clothes I thought she’d need, moving into the bathroom and tossing in toiletries. If I’d forgotten anything, I’d purchase the items for her.

She wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

If ever.

I grabbed some things for the cat, finding a soft-sided carrier. At least Beatrice didn’t argue with me, accepting her ride without incident.

With the laptop in my hand, I closed the door, every muscle remaining tense.

Once downstairs, I motioned to the vehicle.

“Did you find anything?” Roman asked, narrowing his eyes and chuckling when he noticed what I was carrying.