Dana shook her head. “The case went cold. No evidence anywhere, and Scot left Seattle after graduating from law school. Took a job with a big firm in New York, where at least one more woman disappeared.” Another blonde, this one in her early twenties, came up on the screen. “Lucy Wilcox, who interned at the law firm where Scot worked. Absolutely no connection found between them. Not a one.”

“Isn’t that a coincidence?” Malcolm asked, sarcasm heavy in his dark tone. “Three blondes, all disappear around the good ole senator. This guy is dirty. We have to prove it.” His phone buzzed, and he lifted it to his ear. “West.” His eyebrows rose, and he straightened up. “Well, shit.”

Brigid stopped breathing.

* * *

The gun felt heavy and final in Raider’s hand. Tom was gone, so that left him with three men to subdue. Eddie was probably armed, but he hadn’t pulled a gun out, so Raider could knock him out quickly. Jonny P was unarmed, so again, fighting would be fine. But Josh seemed pretty damn comfortable with the gun in his hand. If Raider rushed him, he’d shoot. Even if Raider got to Josh fast enough, Eddie would have time to pull his weapon out and shoot him in the back.

None of Raider’s options were good.

For now, he bluffed. He kept his gun pointed down and walked over blood spatter to the stubborn man. “Your daughter loves you, and I put you somewhere safe. Why in the hell would you risk that?” he asked, trying to buy time.

Sean’s green eyes nearly glowed. “I figured I could handle it, and I still can. Why don’t you go get a drink or something? You’re not needed here.”

Raider circled him as if enjoying the moment, but bile kept rising in his throat. He couldn’t let Brigid’s dad die. Angling his head, he checked out the bindings. Simple zip ties. Now all he needed was a knife. He looked toward the ceiling and each corner.

“What’s the holdup?” Eddie asked, leaning back against the wall, his hands free.

“Lookin’ for cameras,” Raider returned. “This feels like a setup, Eddie. Me shooting this guy in the head could get me the chair.” He pretended to look around, hopefully giving Force and Wolfe information—if they were in range. “This back room isn’t a good place to do this, either. Too much splatter and forensic evidence.”

“Oh yeah?” Eddie snorted while Jonny P barely smiled. “There’s so much evidence in here already that I might have to burn the place down and rebuild.”

Raider shook his head. “That’s not how to do it.”

“Then how?” Jonny P challenged.

“In the middle of nowhere, outside, where the elements wash away the blood,” Raider said as Sean’s glare got stronger.