I ignored her question and asked, “How did you end up in the basement unconscious?”

“After he made sure I gave the police enough information to have Keiran arrested, he locked me in the basement. The last thing I remember was him coming down here and shoving a needle in my arm.”

Dash met my gaze over her head as we shared the same thought.

This was all so fucked.

We helped her from the tub when she seemed stable, and Dash wrapped a towel around her.

“Did Keiran really confess to Mitch’s murder to you?”

“N—no. Greg told me everything I had to say.”

I shook my head as my mind filled with bitterness. “The one person who probably could have helped your daughters you put behind bars.”

“I’m sorry. I wish I could take it back.” She really looked as if she wished she could take it back.

“You can.” I bit the inside of my cheek in order to calm down. I didn’t want to traumatize her any more than she already was. I also remembered Keiran’s advice that if we wanted this woman to stay on our side, we’d need to finesse her.

“I thought your husband’s name was Robert?” Dash questioned before I could continue. “You said Greg told you everything to say.”

“Greg is Robert’s brother and a private investigator. Robert isn’t smart enough to deceive the cops.” She laughed humorlessly.

“Tell us about him.”

“Robert?”

“His brother,” Dash gritted. I knew he must have been drawing the same conclusion as I, but what could the odds have been?

“There’s not much to tell. He’s sort of a drifter. He used to do PI work with his partners until recently. They were murdered while on a case. Greg himself had been recovering from an attack.” She shuddered at the memory. “I don’t understand how anyone could want to hurt him. Greg’s always so kind and attentive.”

Dash and I shared another look as she went on about him.

There was something in her eyes when she talked about him. Each time she said his name, her eyes brightened and her voice softened.

“You’re in love with him.”

“I think it’s the worst kept secret, and I fear even Robert knows. He would never chance us being alone together and kept him away from our home whenever he could. Last week was the first time I’d seen him in a while.”

“Is there anything else you’re hiding?”

“Yes… Greg is Maddie’s father.”

* * *

We took Laurie to the hospital against her protests. I ran over everything in my head during the drive, and while she was admitted, we came up with only one possible conclusion.

“We’re screwed,” Dash stated as soon as they wheeled her back. He had voiced my very thought, but a stronger part of me didn’t want to give up so easily.

“Not necessarily.”

“I don’t need to see the motherfucker to know this Greg is the same private investigator Keiran put in the hospital and who killed John.” Dash didn’t react to the news of John’s killer, so I knew Keiran must have already filled him in. “Then we get her to make a statement.”

“She’s in love with him. He’s the father of her youngest daughter. She’s not testifying against him. If she finds out Keiran was the one to put her precious lover in the hospital and killed his team, she won’t testify for us at all.”

“So what do we do.”

He sighed, leaned his head against the wall, and squeezed his eyes closed. “I don’t know.” Just then, my phone rang with a call from Q. I answered and took a seat next to where Dash was standing.

“I’m guessing I don’t have to ask if Keiran was bonded since I’m calling you,” he griped.

“They said his proven history of violence was too extensive to take the risk.”

“I wanted to let you know I can’t get leave this time.”

“I don’t think there’s much we can do. They think they have a confession from Keiran about Mitch’s murder, and our one chance at getting him out is a hopeless romantic.”

“Wait. What?”

“The PI who killed John is Laurie Finch’s brother-in-law and also her lover.”

“No, I mean why would Keiran have confessed to the murder?”

“She lied. Greg told her what to say.”

I heard him release a deep breath he must have taken and then silence filled the line. “Lake, I have to tell you something, but I need you to remain calm. Is Dash with you?”