Chapter 55
Sean pulled Roman Grayson aside, speaking to him near the doors leading into the dining room. “I told you before not to keep anything from me.”
Mr. Grayson frowned. “I haven’t.”
“Your company is bankrupt,” Sean replied. “The news drops on Monday, and you will be left with nothing.”
Mr. Grayson stiffened. “My wife doesn’t know. And I’d like to keep it that way. She’s under enough stress as it is.”
“Put your hands behind your back,” Sean said.
“Are you serious?” Mr. Grayson frowned. “It’s not a crime to go bankrupt.”
“But it is a crime to disrupt a police investigation,” Sean said. “And you have been nothing but deceitful since your daughter was abducted.” He took one step closer. “So, I’m going to ask you again to put your hands behind your back.”
Mr. Grayson didn’t move, and for a brief moment, Sean thought he would have to force the father into submission, but then Roman finally complied.
The moment Sean placed the zip ties on Roman Grayson’s wrists, his wife came running over.
“What is going on?” Mrs. Grayson asked. “Roman?”
“It’s not what you think,” Mr. Grayson answered.
“Or maybe it is,” Sean said. “Your husband has been withholding information from me and you about your family’s financial situation.”
“Roman, what is he talking about?” Mrs. Grayson said.
Roman sighed, and Sean wasn’t sure if the man was going to lie or not, but Sean was glad to hear him speak the truth.
The wife stood there in stunned silence, and Sean wasn’t sure if she was going to break down and cry or if she was going to hurt him. In the end, she did neither and just walked away.
Sean said nothing as he escorted Roman to the security room to be placed in confinement with other suspects.
After the father was dropped off, Sean turned for the door, and Mr. Grayson stopped him.
“I love my daughter, Sheriff,” Mr. Grayson replied. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her. I would give my life for her if I needed to. I would never, under any circumstance, hurt her.”
Sean stared at the father, and all he could think about was how many parents he had spoken to who had said the same thing. And how often all those good intentions had led to disastrous outcomes. “I’m sure you believe that,” Sean said, and with that, he stepped out of the room.
When the door shut behind him, Sean shuddered with doubt. The sun was fading, time was running out, and with no more resources, Sean feared he wouldn’t find the girl before the sundown deadline.
“Sheriff?”
Sean glanced to his right, noticing the receptionist, Emily, standing nearby. He hadn’t noticed her there before and wondered how long she had been there. “Everything all right?”
Emily nodded, but it was clear by her body language that she was holding something back. She was hunched forward, writhing her hands nervously. “I just, um, I think, I should tell you something.”
“Okay,” Sean said.
“Um, the journalist, Jonathan Travis?” Emily said. “I saw him in the Grayson room last night during dinner.”
Sean perked up. “Did you see what he was doing?”
“No,” Emily answered. “He was coming out as I was coming in. But…he wasn’t alone in there. He was there with Mrs. Grayson. I don’t know what they were talking about, but when I saw Mrs. Grayson, she was angry.”
“Did she say anything to you?” Sean asked.
“No, and I didn’t ask,” Emily answered. “You have to understand that most of the people who stay here are wealthy, and they expect a certain level of…discretion. If I had known what was about to happen, maybe I could have?—”
Sean placed his hands on Emily’s shoulders, and she calmed. “You did the right thing telling me now,” Sean said. “That’s all that matters.”
Emily nodded, then looked at the closed door. “Roger’s really been running drugs for the mob?”
“Yes,” Sean answered.
“Wow,” Emily replied. “I really know how to pick ’em.” She chuckled softly to herself, and then she cleared her throat. “Sorry.”
“It’s all right,” Sean said. “Relationships depend on honesty. The whole world depends on honesty. Without it, everything crumbles.” He smiled at her. “It’s not your fault that you trusted him. It’s his fault that he lied to you. Never forget that.”
“Thanks, Sheriff,” Emily said, and then she laughed. “You wouldn’t happen to have a younger brother, would you?”
“I do,” Sean answered. “But I’m afraid he’s more bad news than Roger.”
“Right, well, a girl can dream,” Emily said.
Sean watched the young woman walk away. He hoped this wouldn’t make her more callous, but in a world that was hell-bent on making you feel like you didn’t belong, it was hard not to bristle at the prospect of it.
But at least Emily had told him about the encounter between the journalist and the victim’s mother, something that Mrs. Grayson had omitted.
After blowing so much smoke about her husband not doing anything, Sean was curious to see what Mrs. Grayson and Jonathan Travis had been talking about.