As soon as the door closed behind Alyssa, Mrs. Otis turned her disdain up full blast. ‘Now, Detective, what is so important that you felt it necessary to interrupt my visit with my daughter?’

As if she really wanted to be there. Alyssa leveled her gaze on Mrs. Otis. ‘You were once an interior decorator, is that correct?’

Clearly thrown by the question, Nina Otis scowled her displeasure. ‘Yes, though I don’t see how that has to be any business of yours.’

‘And you traveled often to conferences and such where you met other interior decorators?’

‘What in the world does my career path have to do with my daughter? Or are you just trying to waste my time?’

‘No, ma’am.’ From her back pocket, she retrieved a photo and held it up for Mrs. Otis. ‘Do you recognize this woman?’

A barely discernible wobble swayed Rachel’s mom. She chewed her bottom lip before realizing she was doing it and stopped abruptly. ‘Yes, that’s Tatiana Salazar. I’ve met her a handful of times.’

‘And have you heard her name on the news lately?’

Mrs. Otis waved her hand in the air, clearly implying the question was ludicrous. ‘I don’t have time for such frivolity as watching news reports. If I need to know something, I can look it up.’

‘I see. What about Tatiana’s husband? How many times did you meet him?’

Nick stiffened and snapped his neck toward his mother. Mr. Otis, on the other hand, showed no emotion whatsoever, aside from a mere curiosity.

Mrs. Otis swallowed. ‘A few.’

‘And during these meetings, did you perhaps have an affair with him?’

‘What? Of course not! I demand you leave this instant!’ Mrs. Otis’s shaking hands and mock outrage exposed her crumbling composure.

Though his face remained unreadable, Mr. Otis asked a question of his own. ‘Detective, may I ask why this is important?’

‘Because Tatiana Salazar is our prime suspect. We believe she ran the sex trafficking ring that your daughter was forced into, and it has come to our attention that Rachel was targeted because of your wife’s infidelity with Ms. Salazar’s husband. Furthermore, we believe your wife can help us locate Ms. Salazar.’

‘I told you—’ Mrs. Otis began before her husband interrupted.

‘Shut up, Nina. Just shut up.’ His voice was hard and clipped even as sadness and shame seemed to make him shrink before their eyes. ‘Nina did have an affair.’

His wife gasped, but he ignored her.

‘Clearly, she didn’t realize I knew. But she wasn’t very smart about it. Now, I can verify that, but as for where Ms. Salazar is’ – he turned toward his wife, eyes full of rage – ‘if you do know where this woman is, you will tell these detectives now, or I promise you’ll regret it for the rest of your days.’

A single tear trailed down Nina’s cheek, leaving a streak in her perfect make-up.

Nick swung around as if making certain Rachel hadn’t appeared in the doorway, and when he turned his gaze back to his mother, he stepped closer and lowered his voice into a hiss. ‘You can’t manage to find one shred of decent humanity within yourself when it comes to your own daughter being raped and tortured, but your sins come to light, and now you’re a sniveling idiot? You disgust me. Not only am I done with you, but you will not come near Rachel ever again. Do you understand me?’