Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“Laurel has it figured out,” Abigail said. “She’s smarter than you are, by far.”
Zeke’s eyebrows drew down. For once, he’d taken out the blue contacts, showing his true eye colors. Which matched Abigail’s and Laurel’s. “She is bright.”
“As am I.” Abigail had figured it out the second Delta Rivers had been identified as the first victim. Of course, she knew Zeke and Laurel didn’t. So it had taken Laurel longer to put the pieces together. “All of this was a lead-up to your killing Deidre Snow, Laurel’s mother.”
He flicked lint off his pants. “Yes, I suppose it was.”
“You meant to frame Huck?”
“He was in the way.”
There were much easier ways to get rid of Captain Rivers. “I couldn’t agree more,” Abigail said. “You underestimated him.”
“I most certainly did. I’ve ruined my life, and now you’re going to have to help me, daughter.”
“I am?” Abigail asked. “Why would I do that?”
His eyes glittered, probably with anger. Or fear. Who the hell knew. “Because you have a lot of money, and I need to get to somewhere that doesn’t have an extradition agreement with the US.”
“Ah,” she murmured, righteous fury flowing through her veins. “Are we talking the Maldives, Indonesia, or Montenegro?”
He blinked. “You really don’t know—there’s never been a need for you to know.”
“I’m thinking Seychelles,” she said. That’s where she’d go. In fact, she had plans in place should she ever need to run. He wasn’t smart enough to realize that she was giving him this information because it would never matter for him. “I don’t plan on helping you.”
“But you will.” He reached into his front pocket and drew out a small, black USB that he tossed on the counter behind him.
She followed his gaze. “Wow. A USB. That was dramatic. Why?”
His nostrils flared. “Do you honestly think I don’t have cameras set around my church?”
Her body chilled, and then her brain took over. “There are no security cameras around the Genesis Valley Community Church.”
“Yeah, there are.” He smiled. “They’re mine, and nobody else knows they’re there. I mainly have them in the trees. They’re much like the ones Fish and Wildlife use. Isn’t that handy?”
She blew out air and quickly calculated her odds of getting out of this current predicament without having to leave Laurel.
“Yes, dear daughter, I have you on camera. Poor Teri Bearing. But I owe you for that one because it gave me an alibi for the other crimes. It’s almost as if you wished to assist me.”
She’d had no idea the bastard had killed the first victim. Hadn’t had a clue. If only she had discovered the identity of Delta Rivers before deciding to fuck with him. Teri Bearing had seen Abigail with Jason back during her last charity event, and she might’ve heard Abigail messing with the moron’s head. Abigail had been meaning to take care of her for a while, and after the finding of the first body, she figured she’d copy the killing. It was infuriating that she hadn’t known the full truth.
Zeke sneered. “I can’t believe you wanted to ruin my television show by leaving that woman’s body by my church. I could’ve had a megamillion-dollar church.”
She shrugged. Of course she’d wanted to ruin his big moment, which was why she’d dumped Teri’s body behind the church. “You don’t deserve a television show.”
He stared at her. “The USB shows you committing murder. How about ten million dollars wired into this account?” He rattled off the numbers. “We both know you just memorized those.”
The rage felt cleansing in her body, causing her blood to rush faster to her brain. Supplying more oxygen to that brilliant organ. “Of course I did.”
“I also need papers, a couple of passports, some credit cards, and a false name. Give me a rich-sounding one. I’m going to need to find dates down there, wherever it is I’m going,” he ordered.
“I don’t have ten million in liquidated cash, you moron,” she hissed, sounding properly angry.
“You own a pot farm, and I know you’ve invested wisely through the years. Make it happen, or that USB immediately ends up with good old Rachel Raprenzi at The Killing Hour. She’s very involved in this case, as you know.”
“I know.” Abigail stood. “Fine. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Oh, no, no, dear daughter. You won’t see what you can do. You will do it.” He also stood. “You’re lucky you’re alive. You’re lucky your sister’s alive. She’s tough.”
A rage enveloped Abigail such as she had never felt before. It was shocking, really. She hadn’t thought it possible to feel this much hatred for a simple human being. “You killed the baby. Our baby,” she spat.
He blinked. “Laurel was pregnant?”
“Yes.” The pain felt blinding.
He shrugged. “Whatever.”
One word. One simple word. Abigail went stone cold. Icier than those rivers he’d used to kill. “This isn’t over.” She shifted her weight.