Page 20 of Ransom for His Secret Son

Remi nodded. “Tarrant wanted her to destroy the witness statements and the security-camera footage from the bar. Without that, the case would have likely fallen apart, and Tarrant could have maybe gotten off with a slap on the wrist.”

Brody blew out a long breath. “Grace had to make a hard choice. Allow a killer to walk so she could get her baby. Or refuse to break the law and maybe never see her child.”

Remi made a sound of agreement. “And in the end, it cost her everything.”

Brody’s chest tightened, grief mixing with the anger. Because now his precious sons had been pulled into this. Not by Tarrant but rather by someone hell-bent on putting a permanent end to the SOB.

“We’ll need to talk to Eloise Davenport, too,” Remi added a heartbeat later.

Brody glanced at her, the name clicking into place. “Andrew’s mother?”

Remi nodded. “Yes. She’s been vocal about wanting Tarrant found. She wants him punished for what he did to her son. She’s got money and influence, and she’s not the type to quietly let things go.”

Brody let that sit for a second before giving a short nod. “We’ll talk to her.”

First on the agenda, though, was Christina, and he slowed at the entrance to her neighborhood. Brody wasn’t surprised to see the towering iron gates and the guard booth standing like a fortress checkpoint.

He rolled down his window, flashing his badge before the security guard even had the chance to ask.

“Sheriff Walker,” Brody said flatly. “We need to speak with Christina Turner.”

The guard’s eyes flicked from the badge to Brody’s face, then to Remi in the passenger seat, before offering a tight nod. “I’ll let you through, but I’m required to notify Ms. Turner of any visitors.”

Brody’s jaw clenched. “Of course.”

As the guard picked up the phone to call Christina, Brody’s mind spun with a worst-case scenario. The last thing he needed was to give the woman a head start if she was guilty of orchestrating this nightmare with his sons.

His fingers tapped against the steering wheel, the frustration knifing through him. Don’t run, he thought. Don’t give me a reason to chase you. Because if Christina Turner tried to flee, it’d be all the confirmation Brody needed that she wasn’t just some grieving sister looking for justice. She’d be something else entirely.

The guard hung up the phone and gave them a nod. “You’re cleared. Ms. Turner is expecting you.”

Brody didn’t say a word as he rolled up the window and drove through the gates. But every muscle in his body stayed tight the whole way in.

The neighborhood was all manicured lawns, towering hedges, and houses that weren’t really houses, more like monuments to wealth. But Christina Turner’s place made the others look modest. The mansion stood at the end of a winding drive and looked like an English country estate with ivy creeping up stone walls.

Brody pulled the cruiser to a stop, cutting the engine. He didn’t hesitate. The clock was ticking on his baby’s safety so he barreled right out. Remi did, too, and she fell into step beside him as they approached the door. It was massive, made of dark wood with wrought iron accents. Brody didn’t even have to ring the bell. It swung open before he could raise his hand.

Christina Turner stood there. Brody knew it was her since he recognized her from her DMV photo that he’d accessed before they’d left his place. Her auburn hair was pulled back, flawless in that effortless way some people seemed to manage. But it was her eyes—cold, assessing—that held Brody’s attention.

“Remi,” Christina greeted her.

The woman’s gaze shifted to Brody, lingering on him just long enough to make it clear she already knew who he was.

“You’re here to talk about your missing son,” Christina said, her voice flat.

Hell. Hell. Hell. The shock of her words rammed right into Brody and nearly robbed him of his breath. “What do you know about him?” Brody demanded.

Christina sighed and stepped to the side so they could enter. “Come in,” she insisted. “Because we have to talk.”

Chapter Six

With Christina’s words echoing in her head, Remi stepped into Christina Turner’s mansion with Brody.

You’re here to talk about your missing son.

How the heck did she even know about the baby? Remi knew they were about to find out.

After Christina shut and locked the door, she led them through a sprawling foyer with high ceilings and polished floors that probably cost more than Remi’s entire house. The space was elegant—cold, however—with clean lines, modern art and furniture that screamed money.