Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Fae stopped pacing. “What do they say?”
“Vera withdrew 200k from a secret savings account. She also shared multiple brief conversations with a number that tracked back to Thomas’ wife.”
Farrow squeezed the bridge of her nose. “What does his wife have to do with this?”
“Nothing. She had stage 4 cancer. Needed a pricey experimental drug.” He set the paper down. “Gene did it for the fast cash.”
“He was counting on being charged with involuntary manslaughter.” Farrow planted her fists on the table, piecing the rest together. “He knew they’d give him a light sentence in minimum security. Why wouldn’t they? He has a baby and a wife with cancer. It was an ‘accident.’”
“Precisely.” Dan’s face popped up. “Records show Mrs. Thomas made a full recovery after the treatment. While her husband is locked up, various charities help her with bills, groceries, and childcare. She even has a new house.”
Tom whistled. “Five years is a small price to pay for all that.”
Bryan adjusted his camera, finally giving us his face. “We have all the evidence. The receipts. The written communication. Vera thought using a burner phone and VPN would cover her tracks. Turns out, she still missed a few steps.”
The six of us simmered on the info.
Fae broke the silence with a whisper. “But… why?”
“Insurance money.” Tom waved his folder. “I looked through Vera’s joint tax returns with your dad, along with their financial statements. They spent more than they made.” He paused. “Vera liked to buy pretty things.”
Farrow plopped onto the seat opposite me, staring at the ceiling without really looking. “She still does.”
“That may be true, but right now she can only afford them at Walmart.” Deanne produced another document. “Vera spent the insurance money as soon as it hit her bank account.”
“Eugene Thomas.” Farrow rubbed her forehead. “Can you tell me a bit about his background? His family?”
Tom flipped through pages. “Sure.”
As we waited for him to find whatever he was searching for, the plane began its descent.
A flurry of texts dropped from the top of Natalie’s screen in quick succession.
Jilly Bean:
Is your boss still playing hard to get?
Jilly Bean:
Or is he getting too hard…
[Smirking Emoji]
Jilly Bean:
You have to figure out what the housekeeper did to make him screw her.
Jilly Bean:
This is your way in.
Jilly Bean:
Get knocked up, and we’re gold.
We can finally open the company.
I made a mental note to fire Natalie—and not drink anything she handed me—while Tom answered Octi.
“Eugene Thomas. Twenty-Eight. Parents never married. His mom registered him under her last name. He grew up without a dad, since he traveled around the world for work. They reconnected during his court case. Both his parents visit him once a week in prison.”
She edged forward, hungry for more. “What are their names?”
She had an angle.
Farrow always had an angle.
I enjoyed this side of her most. It reminded me of our first official encounter.
Her—hot as hell in lingerie, setting down Go pieces like a savant.
And me—soaking up the view as her tongue swiped across her lips.
Any other time, and I’d be rock hard.
“Mom is Paula Thomas. Dad is… wait, let me find it.” Tom clucked his tongue. “Ah, there it is. Dad’s name is Andras Horvath.”
Farrow closed her eyes.
And all I saw was red.
Andras.
Everything clicked into place.
My temperature hiked up to a level more suitable for an oven. Farrow’s nostrils flared. I suspected the same thought ran through both our minds.
How we’d deliver punishment to Andras and Vera.
Another thing I enjoyed about Farrow—we shared the same thirst for vengeance.
“I know this is a lot to take in.” Deanne collected her phone, holding it to her face. “But there is a silver lining to all of this.”
Fae plopped against the backrest. “Must’ve missed it.”
“Justice, Miss Ballantine. Forget about the lawsuit. Our next step is to bring this to the authorities—”
Farrow waved her off. “Do whatever you need, but I’m confronting Vera as soon as we land.”
“Miss Ballantine.” Bryan shot forward. “That is highly unadvisable. Anything you do or say may hinder our—”
“Cope,” Fae interjected, and I could’ve kissed her then. Beneath the eye. On her beauty mark. I’d wanted to kiss there for a while now. “I’m going to hunt Vera down.”
“The best revenge is justice.” Deanne raised both hands, like she was corralling a wild animal. “Trust me.”
“You’re a lawyer. I would never trust you.”
This time, I did kiss Farrow—on her beauty mark, then down her jaw.
“But—”
“She made up her mind.” I finally intervened, over this. “Any mess this creates is yours to clean.”
Dan collapsed against his seat. “I’m not Superman.”
“For the money I pay you, you fucking should be.”
Deanne sighed. “I liked you better when you weren’t wrapped around a woman’s finger.”
Yes, but I liked myself less.
“See how you like unemployment if you continue to overstep.”
She grinned. “It’s called retirement—”
I hung up and tossed the phone on the couch, tucking my chin on Farrow’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”