Chapter 56

“You wantthe tech version or the short version?” Rohan asked.

“Dazzle me with your brilliance later,” Ash said. “Give it to me short.”

“I followed the convoluted trail of hit money to Seb Grimball.”

“How convoluted could it be, going to Marion, North Carolina?” Phin asked, referring to the bank account Grimball’s so-called brother had opened.

“Marion was the final destination. Getting there was like taking a grand tour through the worldwide banking system.”

Impatience pounded through Ash’s blood. “Who hired Grimball?”

“A company called Gradient Enterprises.”

Recognition flickered in the back of Ash’s mind, but he couldn’t make the connection.

“The security firm?” Phin asked.

“Among other things,” Rohan said.

“Why would Gradient contract a killer with a signature?” Cruz asked. “That’s the height of stupidity.”

“They knew law enforcement would find the earring, attach it to a known serial killer, and case closed,” Zeke said. “They’d say Grimball acted on compulsion. No reason to look any further or excavate his finances, like Rohan did.”

Ash clenched his teeth. “We’re not all a bunch of bungling idiots, grasping at the first bit of evidence we find.”

“If you have such respect for those in your profession, why did you ask for Rohan’s help? Why not involve your colleagues?”

“I did, dammit. But the Bureau only has so many analysts and I’m one request in a long queue.” He refocused on Rohan. “Who owns Gradient?”

“Evan Barclay.”

“Barclay?”

“You know him?” Zeke asked.

His mind whisked back to the night of the governor’s murder.

Mr. No-Neck. A friend of the family.

Shit, shit, shit.

Ash closed his eyes and pictured Kayla’s expression at the moment she learned one of her beloved aunties was linked to her godmother’s murder.

Devastation.

Opening his eyes, he pinned Rohan in place. “You’re absolutely certain?”

His brother nodded.

“Sybil Barclay’s son. He tried to recruit me the night Stokes was assassinated.”

“She’s one of the four founders of Service,” Zeke said.

“Sybil, Elsie, Jillian, and Victoria,” Ash confirmed.

“What would make this Sybil turn against one of her partners?” Phin asked.

“Maybe two partners,” Cruz said. “With Jillian missing.”

“Kayla said their mission was to place honorable, compassionate, valorous, and strong women in positions of power.” His gaze tapped on each of his brothers as possibilities whirled around his mind. “What would drive Sybil to torch such a longstanding association?”

No one had an answer, and the room went silent but for Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse” in the background. “I can think of one person who might know,” Rohan said, a brow arched in Ash’s direction.

Kayla.

“She’s already lost her godmother, her mother is missing, and her bodyguard betrayed her. How do I break the news to her about Sybil?”

Zeke slouched back in his chair. “Wasn’t it Kayla who recently climbed up my ass about trusting Liv to be strong enough to deal with bad news about her friend?”

“You can hardly compare the two.”

“Oh, I can, brother.”

Phin chimed in. “Kayla’s at her best when she’s working a problem. She’s probably pulling out her hair right now because she,” gleaming teeth flashed at Rohan,” has a lot of frayed ends and nothing to grab on to.”

“She has the support she needs to survive this,” Cruz thumped his index finger against the table, “in here and an even fiercer group inside the Friary.”

“She’s got eleven semi-intelligent minds focused on this case,” Zeke said.

“Semi?” Rohan and Cruz said in unison.

“You can make this promise to her,” Zeke continued. “We’ll get the bastards behind this. Every single damn one.”

“Twelve,” Phin said. “Don’t forget Neuman.”

Ash stared at the grain in the wooden table, overcome by their support. A large hand grasped his right shoulder and another his left. Their strength poured into him, lifting his head, straightening his back.

“Do me a favor,” he said to Zeke.

“Name it.”

“Figure out how deep this rot goes into Service.”

Zeke glanced at the others, who nodded unison. “Consider it done.”

Ash stood. “Thank y’all.” Then he took the first step on the longest walk of his life.