Chapter 43 West
“Nick. It’s nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand for the man to shake.
“Wish it were under different circumstances,” he says somberly, taking my offered hand.
“You and me both.” I sigh.
Nick arrived this morning. The man isn’t what I expected. I assumed he was an older guy, but he’s probably only a few years older than me. His hair is free of grey, and he has an air of authority around him.
I lead him over to Garrett’s desk. “This is officer Montgomery’s desk, but you can take it over while you’re here.”
“Sounds good.”
Garrett’s desk is a fucking mess. Scooping up all the files and garbage, I open his drawer to throw them in when a small picture floats down to the ground.
It looks like it’s been cut from a newspaper. The picture is black and white, and on closer inspection, I see it’s a photo of a man carrying a lifeless girl. My eyes squint, and all air in the room seizes. This is a picture of Jade from the night of her attack.
And the person holding her is a younger-looking Garrett.
I pick up the photo and slam it on the desk in front of Nick. “Who is this?” I demand.
The man reaches for the picture bringing it closer to his eyes. “Oh, that would be Officer Garrett. Wait.” He turns his head to me as bile starts to form up my esophagus. “Did you say this desk belonged to a Montgomery? As in Garrett Montgomery?”
All I can do is nod while my mind tries to catch on to what’s happening.
“Wow. What are the chances? You know he’s Adam’s step-brother?”
All of a sudden, the pieces begin to click.
Garrett squeamish after the first victim.
Garrett looking at the article Ian saw.
Adam’s brother.
It’s not Adam that has her.
No. It’s Garrett.
But why?
I’m about to fucking find out.
Nick must come to the same realization, because he jumps from the desk and mutters, “It’s not Adam,” as his wide eyes fly to mine.