Page 81 of Sentinel's Kiss

“Just like Beverly,” Sentinel said.

“He kept pulling a paycheck throughout the ordeal, direct deposited. Which made it hard to narrow it down, but when he escaped there were two large deposits for twenty thousand each.”

“Hush money?” Warden asked.

“I think so. But here’s the thing. Based on the deposits, he was still their prisoner when Sarah was murdered.”

They all looked at each other.

“So he didn’t kill Sarah?” Sentinel said.

“I don’t see how. Unless he escaped before that and they kept paying him. Did Beverly say how long he was held captive?”

“She didn’t know.”

Ryder took a deep breath. “I think I need to be the one to take down Lewis. I have the necessary interrogation techniques to make him give up information.”

Sentinel gave a harsh laugh. “You think I’m above getting my hands dirty?”

“I think you don’t have the temperament for torture.”

“And you do? You’re not a fucking monster, Ryder. Not like I am.”

“Why? Because I don’t have a penis? I got news for you, Sentinel. The shit I’ve done would make you look like a choirboy. One more isn’t going to make a fucking dent in my soul.”

Sentinel looked away. He hated that. He would take that pain from her if he could. She didn’t deserve to feel like he did.

“All right, let’s calm down,” Evil cut in. “We’re all sociopaths. No need to compare dicks.”

Ryder smirked.

“Maybe all of us can talk to Lewis,” Evil said.

“That’s a recipe for disaster with Munson on our asses and Reporter Barbie sniffing around him.” Warden jerked a thumb at Sentinel.

“She’s a liability. You have to cut her loose,” Evil said.

“Fuck you.” Sentinel was damned if he was going to give up the one bright thing in his life. “I can keep her under control.”

“She’s going to be a problem,” Warden said. “I’m with Evil. Let her down easy. This life isn’t for her. Ashley is a nice girl. Look what happened to Jenny.”

Sentinel winced. Jenny had thought she was in love with him. She was too sweet for him, and he had made it clear he wasn’t interested in anything but sex. Lucy’s brother killed her and tried to frame Sentinel for it.

He looked at Ryder. If she voted with Evil, he would be outnumbered. The SOBs had club rules dating back twenty-five years. Majority rules. He’d have to either break it off with Ashley or break it off with the club. That decision might actually break him instead.

“If we could handle Lucy, we can handle Ashley. Leave Sentinel alone,” she said.

Sentinel closed his eyes briefly. “Thank you,” he said. “Where is this guy?”

“I tracked an ATM withdrawal in Massachusetts. Coincidentally, one of the hunting club members has a pregnant fiancée in Worcester. Here’s their address and the ATM’s address.” She texted it to him. “Here’s what he looks like based on the camera from that ATM, and the car and license plate he drove off in. I used the traffic cameras to track him to the Radisson. He’s in room 319 under his real name. Whether he’ll stay there tonight, I can’t guess. But I have a drone in the area watching the car.”

“How the fuck did you manage all of that?” Warden asked.

“Don’t ask.” She shook her head.

“I’ll get to the bottom of this.” Sentinel stood up from the table. “I can be in there by dawn and get to him before he wakes up.”

“You want company?” Warden asked.