I didn’t wonder for long.
“Colin has been found,” Jonah said.
A chorus of gasps came out of all of our mouths.
“How did you find him?” Jade asked.
“It’s a long story,” Jonah said. “I went after one of your abductors yesterday, Tal.”
“Say what?”
“You heard me. I know who another one of them is.”
I kept my eye on Marjorie. She was chewing on her bottom lip. She knew as well, but no one had told Talon yet.
“Who the hell is it?” Talon said through clenched teeth.
“It’s pretty unbelievable, Tal. I didn’t believe it myself at first, but we have proof. It’s Tom Simpson. The mayor. My best friend’s father.”
Talon stood, clenching his fists. “The fucking bastard.”
“It’s true, Talon,” Marjorie said. “I’ve seen his birthmark. It’s exactly how you described it.”
“And nobody told me any of this?”
I itched to say something. Raising voices would do no good, and I, as a psychotherapist, could be the voice of reason. But I wasn’t a member of this family, at least not yet, so I kept my mouth shut.
“We didn’t have any solid proof, other than the birthmark.” Joe rubbed at his chin.
“Who the hell else would have a birthmark just like the one I remember?”
“That’s fair enough,” Jonah said. “But I have proof now. I found the motherfucker.”
“Jesus Christ!” Talon grabbed a fistful of his hair. “Where the hell is he?”
“Well, that’s the bad news. He got away.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Talon sat down hard.
“Talon,” Jade said soothingly. “Let’s hear him out.”
Jonah inhaled and let out a slow breath. “Mills and Johnson found the address where Simpson was holed up. He disappeared about a week ago. Bryce told me. Anyway, I went there to confront him. He had a bad dye job on his hair, but it was him. He finally admitted who he was. And Tal? Where he was holed up? I’m pretty sure it’s the same place you were held.”
Talon’s forearms tensed. “The same place?”
“I’m pretty sure. It’s just how you described it.”
“How did he get away?” Talon asked through clenched teeth.
“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t have a choice. When I first got there, Tom wasn’t there. So I searched the house. When I went down to the basement, I found that they were keeping yet another prisoner. This was a grown man. His head had been shaved, and he had been beaten and abused.”
Jade clasped her hand to her mouth.
Jonah nodded at her. “Yes. It was Colin.”
Talon shook his head. “I certainly can’t say I like the guy, but I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”
“Anyway, I was in the process of untying him and I got him unbound, but then I heard something upstairs. I told Colin to stay still and, if I didn’t come back in half an hour, to get the hell out of there if he could. He looked so weak though, I wasn’t sure if he’d be able to move.