Chapter 15 #3
If Mads was involved with getting Lawrence on a Seal, then Lawrence sure as hell wouldn’t have paid him to watch over me.
Which meant Mads had been stalking me of his own volition, for other intents and purposes than ‘keeping an eye out for me’ for the sake of my brother, and while that was concerning, it also meant he must have known something about Solomon’s Seal, and that he had answers.
Mads was dangerous, but the information he held had the potential to keep me safe and make informed decisions.
So, this made being alone with him in the middle of nowhere an opportunity.
I could get to the bottom of what he knew, how deep his stalking and manipulation went, and find out who else was involved. Ideally, getting him tucked away behind bars where he could no longer interfere with my life in the process.
But in order for that to happen, I’d need proof of arrest-worthy activities. And proof was what I intended to find. Whether the agents liked it, or not.
“Who doesn’t know who you are?” Mads broke the silence.
“Hmm?”
“The phone call. You said ‘he doesn’t know who you are, but that’s what you expected’.
” Mads didn’t take his eyes off me. Creeping further into my space, he walked half a step behind me, which was a power move if I ever saw one.
He was in a position where he felt in control, where he could easily grab my neck and re-route me to his preferred destination.
“That’s really none of your business.”
“It is my business if this all comes back to me. This visit was supposed to be off the radar, Delilah.” He was checking to see if anyone was expecting me. He wanted to know how isolated I was.
“Nothing is off the radar, Mads. I’ve basically got a tracking chip built into me, thanks to this.” I waved my phone in the air. An intentional move on my part. “I needed an excuse to return to Eureka, and avoid raising flags with my two watchdogs.”
“Ah.” Mads gave me a knowing look. “Got it. I’ve got it now.”
“You’ve got what?”
“The excuse you gave to your handlers.” Mads relaxed. “I’ve gotta hand it to you. It’s a good one.”
“I don’t know what you think you know—” But I hoped he felt smart for putting the pieces together. It would put him at ease thinking he found out something I didn’t want him to know.
“Visiting your senile old man in the nursing home. You’d get your name on the sign-in sheet and everything. Gotta give you credit for that.” He scratched at his chin. “The agents must be bigger softies than I realized. Or you’re really good at pulling their heartstrings.”
“They owed me a favor. I called it in.” Turning into the parking lot, my stomach knotted.
I knew this was where Mads would make his move, his chance to turn the tables.
I just needed to keep my wits about me and stay one step ahead.
And I did have an advantage, I knew he wanted to get me alone, so his attempt to coerce me really shouldn’t come as a surprise—
Oh, come on. Really?
I’d been expecting something clever, an excuse to get me alone, a fake emergency where Mads suddenly needed my help, or an offer to get me out of the watchful eye of the FBI if I left with him.
But convincing me and forcing me into a compromised situation were two different things.
And it looked like Mads had somehow persuaded someone to slash my tires.
“What the hell?” I hurried around the rental car. All four tires were slashed. I didn’t need to point out that there was not a scratch on Mads’ car. “Who the hell slashes someone’s tires?”
“I wouldn’t know.” Mads shrugged. His car unlocked, and he placed his half of the cash in the recessed tire well in his trunk. “I saw a mechanic on my way in. I’ll drive you there so they can get you sorted.”
With the trunk still open, I steered well clear of being within dragging distance of Mads, especially since his hands were now free. Circling to the front of his vehicle, I knew there was only one way I could get answers and be in a position of relative power.
“I’m driving.” I held out my hands for the keys. “I know where to go.”
“My car, my rules. I don’t have to offer you a ride.” Mads walked around the car towards me. “I was just being nice.”
“You know what? It’s fine.” I was laying my trap.
There was no way—if Botan was as concerned as he seemed to be—that Mads should let me walk away from this scenario.
“We should go our separate ways anyway. You’ve got your cash.
You don’t need me anymore. I’m sure I can find what I need online.
” I turned to leave, and pulled my phone from my pocket feigning a search.
One Mississippi. Two…
“Fine.” Mads opened the driver’s side door and held it for me. “You win. Here. Lawrence would have had my head if I left you alone to deal with this.”
Yeah, sure.
As I slipped into the driver’s seat, I tossed the bag of cash into the footwell behind me. If Mads wanted it, he could have it. Money would be no use to me dead. So, I needed to make sure that when I got out of the car, it was on my terms. Conscious, and preferably, with answers.