Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
“You believe he’s dead.”
“He’s disappeared, and the men who were waiting for him disappeared as well. There is no confirmation that he’s dead.”
“That’s what you’re worried about. Wilder’s an extremely intelligent man. You’re worried he’ll figure out that you set him up and he’ll come after you.”
“He would likely make that mistake, yes,” Blom said. “He has to be stopped. It would be good if you took on that job, Rainier.”
Harlow couldn’t believe the arrogance of the man. He was certain he had the right to decide which of his agents should be killed, and he set them up. That might solve the puzzle of Stella’s nightmares. As far as Harlow was concerned, Blom fit the description of a serial killer. He just used his position to set his victims up rather than kill them with his own hands.
“Oh my God!” Vienna whispered. “He blatantly admitted he set up Wilder to die. And he had no trouble admitting he set up Rainier and Zale as well. He thinks he can do anything he wants. Doesn’t he have to answer to anyone?”
“Most likely he’ll be answering to the men he tried to have killed,” Raine said. “And he deserves whatever he gets.”
Harlow had to agree, but she didn’t want Wilder anywhere near the man. As far as she was concerned, he could hide out at her house forever. He’d be flying under the radar if he did.
“I’m going to pass on taking that assignment for you,” Rainier said. “I’ve told you several times, I’m done with that work.”
Blom gave a heavy sigh. “This is different, and you know it. If you want me to hire your security company officially, it’s done. We can negotiate a price.”
“I’m not a hit man, Elliot. I don’t take contracts to kill innocents for money.” There was the merest thread of something lethal in Rainier’s voice.
“I’m going to say it again. Hawkin Wilder is going to end up in the news if someone doesn’t stop him. If I had to name the most dangerous man out there right now, it would be him.”
“I hear you. Maybe you’ll get lucky and your ambush worked.”
“I need to know who is behind that door.”
“I’ll tell you this much. Vienna is in that room, along with several other women visiting a friend of theirs. That friend is my client, and she’s a woman, not a man. That’s the only explanation you’re going to get.”
There was a long silence and then the sound of retreating footsteps. Harlow couldn’t help but compare that measured tread to the silence Blom’s agents used when they walked. She was just grateful the man left.
“Coward,” Vienna whispered.
“He should hire bodyguards twenty-four seven,” Stella said. “That man knows he’s in big trouble if Wilder is alive.”
Chapter Ten
Harlow spent hours going through the photos she’d taken of the barn, looking for the perfect shot that matched what she had but included the black widow spiderwebs. She was fairly certain she’d found a couple that might be ideal, but she needed to blow them up and view them in the right lighting. She was so lost in her work she didn’t hear anyone enter the studio, and Misha didn’t react at first.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when a hand fell on her shoulder. She whirled around, throwing her arms up to protect herself. Wilder stood there looking even healthier than he had when she’d left for the studio in the early morning hours. Rainier wasn’t far behind him.
“You have to stop sneaking up on me like that,” she reprimanded them. “Wear a bell around your neck or something.”
Wilder gave her a small grin in acknowledgment of her humor, but Rainier didn’t smile. “Great, your non-expressions bode ill. Really, you two? Can’t we get through a week without a crisis of some kind?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Rainier said. “You women are trouble magnets.”
She waved her hand toward the lounge area. “We may as well get comfortable. Do either of you want anything to drink?”
Both men declined, and she sat in her favorite chair, facing the two of them. “What’s up?”
Rainier steepled his fingers and looked at her over the top of them. “I’m certain you know Chelsey Sarten.” He made it a statement.
“Of course I do. She worked at the Sunrise Café and then started working for the local hotel. She’s been dating Sonny Leven. He’s a security guard at Stella’s resort. A local and very well thought of, although a bit of a prankster. It was such a surprise that they started dating because all of us thought he had a huge crush on Nellie.” When she was nervous, she tended to either chatter or go completely silent. In this case, she was extremely concerned for Chelsey. Why would they bring her up?
“Tom and Judy rent out the little two-bedroom house in the back. They’d been renting to Janine Hale, but recently she moved in with Edward, and Chelsey took over the house,” Rainier said.