I tense at the gravelly voice of the Russian. “What the hell for?” I’m not taking Liza where Tolyan can grab her and keep her away from me. I swear the man’s worse than a dog guarding a bone.
“Your aunt and uncle died.”
At first I don’t understand. Then it clicks. “What?”
“Chuck and Dorothy Brown died in a car crash. Police suspect driving under the influence. Witnesses said the couple was behaving erratically before leaving the restaurant where they had their dinner.”
“Erratic how?”
“Drugs,” he says tersely.
“No way.” Dorothy and Chuck are many things, but drug users? They won’t even touch pot because they don’t want anything to come back to haunt Chuck’s career.
“Correct. If they were users, I would’ve found out by now.” Tolyan’s cool, somber voice hints at regret. I shudder to think what he would’ve done. Didn’t Liza say his preferred mode of action is blackmail?
“This accident is too convenient,” Tolyan continues. “Four weeks after I warned them to rein in their son, and now this?”
“Do you think Andy has something to do with their deaths?”
“Most definitely. The three went to dine together, but Andy left early, ostensibly to see some friends. Then his parents die, driving while impaired. It’s infuriating how the police have no idea he ought to be their number one suspect.”
“Then why does Liza need to be in L.A.? That’s exactly where he is.”
“It doesn’t matter where he is right now. He knows where she is.”
“So? Aren’t you keeping an eye on him?”
A beat of tense silence. “Not currently.”
“Then find him. Do something, damn it.”
He must be feeling like shit, because he isn’t telling me to fuck off.
“Can’t. My men and I lost him after he went to police headquarters to talk with the detective in charge.”
“Can’t you trace him through his phone or something?”
“He ditched his phone in a bathroom before leaving the station. He also isn’t using his credit or debit cards.”
God. Tolyan’s looking at those too? That’s probably illegal, but I don’t care as long as I can keep Liza safe.
“He’s probably using cash. He knows he’s being watched, which means he’s going to be more careful. He may be a psychopath, but he’s not stupid.”
No, he isn’t. And he’s meticulous and organized, which is what made him such a good internal auditor.
“He doesn’t care who gets hurt, and he has no moral compass or code. When he gets on your little island, you won’t have any place to hide. My only priority is keeping Lizochka safe, do you understand? Once she’s in L.A., I can arrange security for her.”
The idea of her being surrounded by Tolyan’s men… But I have to keep her safe. “I’m sending the details to my head of security. You can coordinate with him.”
“That confused Frenchman who thinks he’s British?” Tolyan snorts. “Don’t procrastinate. If you don’t bring her to L.A. in the next twenty-four hours, I’m flying out to bring her back myself.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Elizabeth
“You know what happens to girls who don’t play nice?”
I scramble back, my butt dragging on the cold floor.