Page 87 of No More Lies

For the hundredth time, Diane doubted her decision not to tell Steve. But he would find the note, and he would have seen the text messages by now. He must be going out of his mind. He wouldn’t stop until he found them. Of that much she was certain.

“Tell me, Mrs. Williams. What exactly does your husband do in the Navy?” Volkov stood beside the table glowering at her as he handed his daughter off to another man who took her from the room.

Diane swallowed. Shit. Had he found out about Onyx?

“He’s a petty officer,” she said.

She didn’t see it coming. His hand connected with her face. The hard slap snapped her head to the side. She screamed, clasping her stinging cheek.

“You think I wouldn't find out? He’s a Navy SEAL. One of the US military’s most elite.”

Diane faced him, determined not to cry.

“What does it matter what he is? He has nothing to do with the hearing and the work I am doing for you.”

“No, he doesn’t, and yet his team are now involved in my business. Just how much did you share with your husband?”

“Nothing. I take attorney-client privacy seriously.”

This time she was ready. She instinctively braced. When his fist landed just above her right eye, the skin split.

“Don’t lie to me. Tell me what they know.”

“I have no idea. Steve doesn’t discuss his work with me, and I don’t discuss mine with him. I’m your family lawyer. Why would I share custody details with him?”

“You were digging around in my business, asking about Arnold Janssen, poking your nose in where it didn’t need to be. Were you trying to find information to pass along to him? Or the FBI? Tip them off about the sarin?” His voice had risen considerably, but he stopped abruptly, as if realizing he’d said too much.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Diane said. “I don't understand what I’m doing here? Where’s Megan?”

When Volkov’s fist connected with her head, she fell off-balance and crashed to the floor. She lay there, eyes closed, and listened as Volkov spoke to Oleg.

“You destroyed her phone?” Volkov asked.

“Yes, but that does not mean they won’t be able to access the photos and text you sent. You should—”

“Don’t tell me what I should and should not do. They are already on to me. They know! They are probably watching every airport and border, waiting for me to show my face.”

Volkov sounded slightly panicked. Diane remained still, straining to hear.

“Hakim is moving forward with the attack, we have to be on that plane by three today. I do not want to be here when they release the sarin. Hakim assured me the plane would be ready and untraceable.”

“Are you sure you trust him?”

“Yes. We made a deal. A plane out of here for Mrs. Williams. The Aziz brothers are going to use her to draw the SEALs to him, so they can finish them once and for all. I have no doubt the plane will be there.”

“Very well. And Natasha’s lawyer?”

“We will let the sarin take care of her. Then she cannot tell anyone anything.”

Diane held her breath in a moment of silence. Who the hell were the Aziz brothers? Hakim?

Suddenly, she was hauled up and taken from the room. Oleg marched her through the kitchen to a set of stairs which he pushed her down ahead of him.

The basement. The space was unfinished and being used for storage. Light came through the small windows at street level, but some were blocked by boxes. Melanie Costas and Natasha were sitting together on an old sofa. Natasha was crying and Melanie was trying to comfort her.

“Where’s Megan?”

She turned to face Oleg, only to see him closing the door at the top of the stairs and locking her in with the others.