Under Pressure

He nodded back. “You have guts.”

How in the world could he think that? She’d been an awful coward. Rather than see justice for poor Georgia, she’d run away. She’d valued her own life more. She’d—

“Give me the names of the other men.”

Uh-oh. Here’s where it got bad. Refusing to cower, Cat faced Leese without blinking, and lied. “I don’t know their names.”

He gave her a brief but intense scrutiny. “Yes, you do.”

“Sorry, I don’t.”

He crossed his arms.

Why was that so damned intimidating? “Please understand, Leese.” Her palms started to sweat, especially with Sahara and Justice now scowling at her. “The entire reason I’m in danger is because—”

“The other man is a public figure,” Leese guessed. “Recognizable name with a lot to lose if you share what you know.”

Tread carefully, she warned herself. As if she didn’t know more, Cat said, “He was with my stepfather, he’d been to the island, so yes, I assume he has amazing contacts everywhere, including with the police.”

“Local police?” Sahara asked.

If only it was that simple. “I know Webb has influence with the highest levels of law enforcement.” Like...all the way to the US attorney general.

With one finger under her chin, Leese brought her gaze back to his. “You can’t keep it secret forever.”

That had initially been her plan, to prove she wouldn’t squeal until everyone calmed down. At first, it was the only thing she could think of, a blind panic sort of decision.

But it haunted her, what happened to that poor girl and how cavalier the men had been about robbing her of life. Staying silent wasn’t the answer because the coward’s way never worked.

If only she’d realized that sooner.

“We need the names of everyone in the boathouse that day,” Sahara insisted.

“I know.” She really did. “The other guard was familiar. I might be able to remember his name. I just need some time to think.”

Not at all fooled, Leese said, “And your stepfather’s associate?”

The public loved him, saw him as kind and caring. How could she trust they’d believe her, and even if they did, then what? “I’ve probably seen him before, but I don’t remember.” Please let them believe me. “I’ll try to work it out.” For too long, survival was all she’d had. Now, thanks to Leese, she could sit down and really decide what to do, and when to do it.

Just giving them names wasn’t the answer; that’d only put them all at risk.

There was more Leese needed to know so he’d truly understand. Hopefully, in telling him some truths, she could keep him from breaking down her lies. “I ran that day, the same day I overheard them talking. Literally, I mean. I turned and ran as fast as I could. Webb called my name but I didn’t acknowledge him. I kept waiting for a bullet to hit me in the back.”

Leese went more rigid.

“But it didn’t. They didn’t even chase me that hard. I got to my car and then I wasn’t sure what to do except drive. I was barely on the road when my cell started ringing.”

“Your stepfather?”

She nodded. “He told me to come back, that he could explain. He promised we’d work it out. When I refused, he warned me that no one would believe me, that it’d be really stupid for me to start spreading tales about things I knew nothing about.” Tension crept into her neck and shoulders, making her temples throb. “It was so stupid of me, but I told him what I’d heard, that I knew he’d planned to cover up a murder.”

No one said a word.

“He laughed at me. Actually laughed.” It had been a sick, almost hysterical sound that escalated Cat’s fear. “He said I misunderstood, that’s all.”

“Is that possible?” Justice asked.

God, how she wished. “No.” Best to get it told quickly and have it out of the way. “I said I was going to the police. He stopped laughing real fast and instead told me the police were owned and I’d end up the victim if I ever again said anything that stupid. That’s when I realized Tesh was behind me. When I told Webb that, he literally begged me to pull over, to let Tesh bring me home.” Home. Once, long ago, that’s what it had been to her. Even after she’d moved out, she’d still considered it home.

Never again.

“He said if I went to the police, he couldn’t help me. That it’d be out of his hands. But with Tesh so close behind me, I couldn’t think of another option to get away. Then I ran through a red light and Tesh tried to follow.”

“Tried?” Leese asked.

“He got T-boned by a van.” She met his gaze. “I slowed down long enough to see the driver of the van get out, then I took off again. Until I saw Tesh this morning, I didn’t know if he’d survived that day or not. So many men had followed me, but none of them were Tesh.”

“Maybe because he was the most recognizable,” Leese said.

“Probably.”

Sahara crossed her legs, her fingernails tapping on the desktop. “I take it you didn’t go to the police after all?”

“I was closer to my house so I went there first.”

“Cat,” Leese chastised.

And yes, she felt like a fool. “It was stupid, I know. But I couldn’t think straight. I wanted to get inside and lock my doors and maybe call someone.”

“But?”

“Men were already there, peeking in the windows and trying the door, so I didn’t stop. I called my brother, Holt, but another man answered and before I’d even spoken, he told me I needed to return to Webb. It was like a nightmare.”

“No one got to you?” Leese asked.

She shook her head. “I didn’t give anyone a chance. I realized then that if I went anywhere obvious—”

“Like the police station?” Justice asked.

“—more men would be waiting for me. I called Webb back and said I wouldn’t talk. I hoped it would buy me some time, but he said there wasn’t anything to talk about. Either I came home, or I was on my own.”

Those words had felt so final, and so fatal.

“I told him I’d been on my own for a while. He really did sound apologetic when he reminded me that everyone knew how I’d separated from the family. Past actions, he claimed, had already discredited me, and if I forced his hand, he’d let the whole world know how...unstable I am.”

“What did he mean?” Sahara asked. “Was there a big blowup when you moved out?”

“No, nothing like that. I just moved out, as many young people do.” That no one had protested, or seemed to care, still hurt her. “I continued to visit with my family, but I didn’t do any more of the parties, the fund-raisers, the galas. It was never my thing anyway. I’m more comfortable at a McDonald’s talking to the other people in line or instructing my class of nine-year-olds on a project than I ever was at a big fancy party.”