This is Love, Baby(41)

My mind is whirring. “No. Where is her mother? Maybe they had to leave town because they found a donor?”

She sighs and shakes her head. “Mrs. Winston passed away a few of months ago. Liver failure. No foul play.”

I attempt to sit up but grow dizzy. My mind is on overdrive as I attempt to piece together what she’s telling me. “What made you ask me if I thought Brandon had anything to do with any of this?”

Her partner and her exchange a look.

Stark clears her throat before continuing. “We found Brandon at the Winston residence a couple of days ago. He was acting erratically and was in a hurry to leave.” She shrugs.

“Do you think he was there the whole time? This entire time while Baylee was gone?”

Stark stiffens and her dark eyes meet mine. “We have our suspicions that he may have been. We’re also concerned about Anthony Winston. He’s a missing person of interest.”

I run my fingers through my messy hair. “I’ve been sending money to them for her mother. They were withdrawing it too. This makes no sense. Baylee didn’t know she died. Jesus,” I groan and slam my eyes shut. “She’s going to be so fucking gutted.”

“Shilling, we need to check into the money. Follow the trail,” she barks out at him over her shoulder.

Shaking my head, I reopen my eyes. “Something is off here. I’d set Baylee up with a secure email to let them know she was okay while I kept her safe from Gabe. Her dad would reply but she’d said he sounded different in his responses. Angry and demanding. I’d assumed it was Gabe attempting to lure her back into his clutches. But now, I don’t know.”

“How do you know the money was being withdrawn, Mr. McPherson? If you wired it, you wouldn’t know if it was being spent or not.” Her eyes are darting back and forth as she attempts to figure out what the fuck is going on.

I sigh and glance at Dad who is frowning. “I’m,” I say, pausing to choose the least incriminating word, “resourceful on the computer. I followed the trail and noticed the money was being withdrawn. Baylee and I assumed it was for her mother’s benefit.”

Stark places a hand on her hip and sends me a knowing nod. “So you were resourceful,” she repeats carefully, “in the same way you were resourceful in finding a way to contact me in an untraceable way?”

I nod and take a bite of the applesauce still sitting on the tray from my forgotten breakfast, hoping to push the bile down my throat. This shit is complicated and every second we waste, Baylee is in more danger.

“Mr. McPherson,” she bites out sharply. “I’m no fool. I have reason to believe you may have been connected in some illegal activities. However, I’m not one to pass up an opportunity to bring a child molester and sexual predator to justice. Additionally, I’m not one to ignore a lead to bringing down an entire sex ring. So, I’m going to take your word that Miss Winston was indeed your girlfriend and that she was staying with you as your guest, consensually. Until she tells me otherwise herself, I’m going to use your help on this investigation.”

Dad and I exchange a confused glance before she continues.

“That is why I’m going to have you use your resources to help us. Are you up to following any leads you have on Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead, the White Collar Trade, Anthony and Lynn Winston’s financial information, details about Brandon Thompson and his whereabouts, and everything you can glean from Gabriel Sharpe?”

Furrowing my brows, I nod. “Of course I am. I want to bring my girl home.”

“Good. My captain would have our asses if I brought the Feds in on this one. I don’t want their help—they’ll trample through this entire investigation with their bureaucratic bullshit and we’ll be removed. Our chances of finding Baylee will be less because they’ll focus on the WCT, not her. Besides, this story will bring national media attention to our precinct. We could finally get the funding we need to put a technical forensic analyst on payroll, which in this digital age, is necessary. At the moment, we don’t have one, which is why I could never track you down after you sent those messages. But now, we have one working for free. You. Pro bono, right?”

Shilling and Stark both stare at me with expectation in their eyes. Dad is frowning and now pacing with his arms crossed over his chest. But when he glances over at me with his lips pressed together in a firm line and nods, I turn my gaze back to Stark.

“Yes,” I assure her, “I’ll do whatever needs to be done as long as we get Baylee back.”

She smiles at me but when my dad stops pacing to glare at her, her smile fades.