I lean back in my seat and cross my arms, watching him a moment. I believe he’s telling the truth. He’s too calm, too confused, almost. It’s pretty obvious he has no idea what I’m talking about. But I’m not ready to give up. “What about Viktor? Is it possible he contacted the tabloid?”
“No, Blackwood,” Tobias says, exasperated. “Why would I make myself known to a goddamn tabloid? Why are you asking me these ludicrous questions?”
It’s something I considered, too. Logically, him talking to a tabloid doesn’t add up. Which brings me back to my original thought that something else was going on here, besides Tobias’s involvement. “You did plant the bugs in O’Keefe’s Pub, yes?”
Tobias gives a bitter smile. “Find those, did you?” I nod, biting back a few choice words, as he adds, “That was Viktor’s suggestion.”
“Why would he make that suggestion?” I ask.
He pauses, and his expression looks like he’s eating a lemon. Obviously, I’ve got him by the balls and telling me the truth is the last thing he wants to do. “Well, once we heard that you were a regular at the pub and tended to have very private conversations there, the plan came together,” he explains. “Not only would we know private details of the senator’s life, we would also know your schedule so we knew when your guard would be down. And we also discovered Hadley’s involvement with that club, which worked to my benefit for a while.”
I clench my jaw, wondering who would have known that I attended Gabe’s pub regularly and had private conversations there. I’m at a loss. The leaks to the tabloids still don’t add up. Someone had taken a photo of Hadley and me on her private balcony and had given that photo to the tabloids. That person is exactly who I need to find to clean up this tabloid mess once and for all. “Did this person who planted the bugs also follow Hadley?”
“Of course.” Tobias gave a dark smile, lacing his fingers together, clanging the metal against the table. “I wanted to ensure that she was taking my threat seriously. When I heard you two were together, I assumed she was.”
I draw in a deep breath and lean forward, looking Tobias right in the eye. “So, let me get this straight: You hired someone to plant those bugs to keep an eye on me, and this person also followed Hadley as per your request, but you never asked them to sell any photographs to the tabloids?”
He nods. “That’s right. Are we done?” I stare at him, finding no deceit in his posture. He’s relaxed, breathing slowly. He makes eye contact when he answers. There’s no sweat beading on his skin. I hate to admit it, but he’s telling the truth.
Then who is doing this to me and my friends and why? runs across my subconscious.
Because why would this person whom Tobias hired and paid—probably well, I’m sure—go one step further to sell the photographs to the tabloids? There are still pieces missing in all this, and that’s something I can’t have. “Just one last question. Who did you hire to plant the bugs?”
He tsks me, as if I’m some child beneath him. “Really, after all you’ve accomplished, you would think you’d have figured this out by now.”
I ignore the mocking nature of his voice. “Who. Is. It?”
His lips part, and what he says next stuns me so much that I say nothing to him as I grab my phone from my pocket and text Gabe.
We need to meet. All of us. I have a name for you. But I need a few hours. I’ll text you when to come to headquarters.
Gabe texts back: I’ll gather the troops. We’ll be ready.
“You will hold up your promise and leave my sister alone,” says Tobias, dragging my focus to him.
Sometimes in the game of life you have to pick the lesser of two evils. I needed this information, not only to create peace in my life, but because I made a promise to my friends that I would find out who our mole was. “I will.”
Chapter 21
Hadley
Later that afternoon, I lift my head after my nose has been stuck in my phone reading all the news articles about my father, me, and the governor to find out that my mother has driven me to Blackwood Security. “This isn’t home,” I gently remind her.
Mom puts the Audi SUV into park, then turns to me with a sly smile. “Maybe it should be.”
Oh, Lord, not this again. “What are you doing here, Mother?” I ask, crossing my arms. Now is not the time for some Mom intervention. Well, never is the time. But especially not right now.
“I’m doing nothing here.” She turns to face me better, giving me the classic “sweet mom” look that all moms seem to possess. “You, however, are going to go into Ryder’s house, because like I said before, I know when a man has been hit by the love bug. Besides, Hadley, you should know better. I’m always right.”
I eye his front door and then the door to headquarters. Thankfully, I don’t see him anywhere. But his truck is right there. “I am not going in there because you have a gut feeling. Let’s go. Right now.”
“It’s not just my gut feeling, honey,” she says gently. “A mother always knows best—”
“Oh, my God, Mother,” I snap at her. “Go!”
Mom laughs in her easy way, as if she’s not trying to murder me by embarrassment. “Okay, okay, I’m just trying to prove my point.” She pats my arm gently. “You can calm down. Remember that phone call I got earlier?”
“Yeah.”