Elon pressed his lips together. “She didn’t, but that’s all right. Lilach is my one true love, and I will stay married to her for as long as I live. I only wanted to know if she’s happy, which is why I allowed my in-laws some leeway with this little investigation. But we will never know, I fear.” He shook his head in mock concern.
Unreal. Carson couldn’t believe the lies that were coming out of Elon’s mouth, but worse, he couldn’t stomach him saying the name, Lilach. Carson had just learned Lila’s real name the night before, and he was still enjoying it coming off his own lips. He didn’t want it tarnished by this motherfucker.
“Hmm, so you’re not in favor of your in-laws following through with their search? Because I may have a lead,” he said, deciding to give Elon exactly what he didn’t want. He would make them think the case was close to being solved, forcing Elon to put an end to it all. And more than likely he could follow Elon to exactly who he wanted…Lila.
Elon frowned. “I think their health is more important, don’t you?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, Elon. Your wife, their daughter, is out there somewhere. She didn’t just disappear into thin air. I’d think you would want them to find her, see that she’s happy for themselves.”
Carson continued to prod and provoke, toying with the jerk’s mind. If Elon had the slightest inkling that Carson might have a lead on his wife, Carson knew he would fire him.
Bingo! That was exactly what happened.
Elon’s face tightened and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Yes, while I agree we should find her, I’m taking over. I’m hiring my own investigator. My in-laws have run out of funds, and I’m choosing to work with someone less judgmental. I’m taking control of the situation. I will decide what information my in-laws receive,” Elon threw back at him.
Even better than a confession of guilt. It was done. Carson found himself off the case without having to do it on his own, and there was no better proof of Elon misleading Lila’s parents than Elon dismissing him from the case.
He knew Elon didn’t have any real plans of doing a search for Lila’s parents’ benefit. It would be for himself, and Lord only knew what he would do to Lila.
Carson needed to find Lila, and Elon was his first clue, now that he was free to watch the fucker.
He needed to continue to play poker, though, so Carson simply said, “That’s your choice, but I do need to hear it from the people who hired me.”
Elon pointed toward the sitting room just off the hallway, where Lila’s father sat in an armchair. He’d obviously overheard the entire conversation.
Mr. Dasher nodded his head, but wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Yes, I’m sorry. We’re out of funds, and have handed the reins of the search over to Elon.” Lila’s father’s gaze flicked to Elon, as if looking resigned to Elon being in charge.
Thank God. Now he needed to get the hell out of there and find Lila, rescuing her from this crazy-ass situation for once and for all.
But where the hell was she?
Unfortunately, he knew Elon would end up being the biggest clue in finding Lila, so he couldn’t free himself of the ass-wipe. He needed to stay close to the bastard in order to learn what he intended to do now that he’d taken Carson off the investigation.
After saying his good-byes, Carson walked down the steps of the house back toward his car, dialing Ray along the way. He knew deep in his gut that none of what Ray had to say would be good.
“Talk to me,” was all Ray said upon answering the phone. He knew it was Carson from the Caller ID.
“You talk to me, buddy. I’m trying to find my girl, who coincidentally turns out to be the person of interest in my recently fired-from-as-of-a-minute-ago case.”
Ray exploded. “Shut the fuck up, man. How did you fall for the person of interest? Christ, I thought you were asking me for favors only for your case, I didn’t know you were emotionally involved. Could this be any more unlike you?”
He let out a long sigh which Ray heard, but thankfully he didn’t see the way his body shook. “Not the time for this, Ray. I didn’t know she was the same girl I was hired to find because I’m a dumb fuck.” Carson moved the phone to his other ear as he got into his car and started it.
“I was working a case out west, looking for a religious nut, a young woman gone missing in the middle of the night seven years ago. The family who hired me sent me on a snipe hunt, and didn’t bother to tell me about the estranged husband, Elon, until last week. Probably because he wanted me out of the way, the bastard.”