Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26659 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26659 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
So, the minute I was in my car, I dialed a number I didn’t think I’d be dialing so soon, if ever again.
When Joshua answered, he sounded relieved. “Eva, thank God. Listen, I—”
I usually hated interrupting people when they were speaking, and I was aware I’d done it to him a lot yesterday, but I didn’t want to hear what he was going to say.
“No, I don’t have time. I’ve just been to visit my mom, and she’s given me some information that might be able to help. I just need to stop by somewhere to pick something up, and I’ll call you back.”
“I don’t want you getting involved in this, Eva. Tyson Randall’s a piece of shit, but we don’t know how he’ll react to being backed into a corner. I can’t risk you getting hurt.”
“Who’s Tyson Randall?”
There was a moment’s silence, and then he sighed loudly. “Roy Green is Tyson Randall.”
I frowned as I reversed out of the space and put the car back into drive. “Interesting. Anyway, you and Harry involved me in this, remember? Plus, I’m not just doing it for you guys, I’m doing it to clear my mom’s name.”
“Clear her name? Eva, she stole and blackmailed people. It was proven in court, and finding the money isn’t going to absolve her of that.”
I didn’t say anything back to that. I just cut the call and turned the volume of the radio up when it switched back from the phone call function, my anger, heartbreak, and irritation keeping me company the whole drive over to my sister’s house. At least there weren’t any more tears, though.
Anger I could work with.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Joshua
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
She wasn’t at home or work, and I hadn’t passed her when I’d driven in the direction of the prison Connie was in, so she hadn’t broken down or crashed. Where was Eva at?
Making my way back to Addison, I drove to her house, my relief almost overwhelming when I saw her car parked in the driveway.
Before I could even reach her door, it opened, and she stood with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Thank Christ you’re home. Eva, I’ve been going out of my mind since you hung up on me. Where have you been?”
She raised an eyebrow at my frantic questions, looking unimpressed. “What I do with my day is none of your business, Joshua. However, as it happens, I’ve got something to show you.”
This cold, remote woman was a far cry from the warm, constantly amused one I’d first met and fallen for. I hated it, but at the same time, I could understand why. I’d asked myself on many occasions since we’d met if I’d been in her shoes, would I just open up that information immediately to someone I didn’t know and was dating? The answer had swung from yes to no until I’d had to admit last night that I likely wouldn’t have and would probably have looked for a way to do it, just like Eva had.
I just hated that I couldn’t explain what she meant to me. I mean, I could, but I had to come up with a way that would resonate with her and that she’d understand, accept, and find a way to forgive me.
Walking back into the house and leaving me to follow behind her, she said, “While I was talking to Mom, I remembered that Roy—or Tyson—had dropped by the house the day after she’d been taken to the prison, claiming he wanted to help us box her stuff up. We were moving boxes over to our new place so the new tenants could move in, and we left him there while we did it. That must have been when he either planted or accidentally left that bank statement there that you found.”
“Eva, wait just a minute. Please, I need to explain something.”
Not paying me any attention, she picked up a black leather notebook and shook it at me. “Mom remembered today that he’d left this at ours once, so she’d hidden it in the spare wheel compartment of her car, which was parked at my little sister’s house. I went and retrieved it today and had a look through it. I think I know where James’ money is.”
I didn’t reach out for it, so she’d understand she was my priority and the reason why I was here, but I stayed quiet while she continued explaining.
“I’m still not sure if the bank statement was deliberate or not, but I found something in here that looks like a reminder to set up payments into it every three months, all for different amounts.
“It got me to thinking, with Mom already going through the trial and having admitted to doing most of what she’d been charged with, the new account would either serve as a nail in the coffin if they found it. It’d be a good way to begin moving money around if the authorities didn't, though. Almost like he was playing chicken with the detectives, and then if they didn’t find it, he’d have an account he could change the name on and put money into.”