“Probably not,” Evan agreed. “I’m betting when the cash started to pile up Simon decided not to ask too many questions. No sense ruining his vision of himself as a hero.”
Presley swallowed the lump in her throat, her stomach in knots. She licked her lips and tried to put her words together so they would make sense.
“I want to talk to Randall.” There. She’d managed to speak an entire sentence. She didn’t feel any better. In fact, she maybe felt even worse. Talking to him was the last thing she wanted to do, but she needed to hear these words directly from his mouth.
Seth was shaking his head. “No way. You’re not going near that guy.”
Evan shook his head as well. “I’m with Seth on this one. Why talk to Simon?”
She raised a shaky hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. It was a nervous gesture but she had quite a bit to be nervous about. “I need to hear this from him. I can’t totally believe what you’re saying. Nora and I have had issues throughout the years, but trying to kill me is taking things to a whole new level. Even for her.”
Nora could be a bitch, but a murderer? Presley needed proof.
Seth captured her chin so she was looking him in the eye. “Presley, I do not want you anywhere near Simon, whether he tried to kill you or not. He’s an admitted criminal. Let the Feds do their job and investigate this.”
“No.” Presley firmed her lips. “I want to talk to Randall. I won’t believe this until I speak with him.” She looked up at Evan. “Can you arrange it? Please, Evan? I think he owes me this much. He was going to set me up for a crime I didn’t commit.”
Evan rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay, I’ll talk to his handlers and see what I can do. It may take a day or two. We’re starting to investigate the new information he’s given us, including your sister’s involvement in the illegal arms trade. We’ll know more very soon either way.” Evan popped open a can of soda. “In light of the new information, technically, we can’t hold you here. We’d like for you to stay under our protection for a few days longer until we figure this out.”
“Do you think her sister will make an attempt on Presley’s life?” Seth asked.
Evan nodded. “I do think it’s possible. I can’t stop you from walking out of here, but I’m asking you to stay. We’ll have audio surveillance on your sister within hours. At that time, we’ll see what she’s up to and what her plans are. If she’s tried to kill you twice, once as far away as Montana, we have to assume she’s determined to succeed at some point.” Evan sighed. “We also have to concede that somehow she knows you’re alive and that she knows you’re in Tampa. As much as we’ve tried to keep the Grand Jury proceedings under wraps, the media has been a circus.”
Seth’s expression was grim. “We’re no better off now than we were this morning.” Seth gripped her hand. “We need to keep you under wraps for a few more days, honey. Until we know more about what and who we’re dealing with.”
Presley nodded and leaned back in the chair, her arms wrapped around her body, her eyes staring into space. She wouldn’t believe any of this until she talked to Randall. Hopefully, it would be soon.
* * * * *
The SUV pulled up in front of the Spanish style house near Moon Lake in Pasco County, just north of Tampa. It was a sparsely populated area with the privacy a federal agency would want to hold a witness. This house didn’t have a neighbor for miles in any direction. The grim-faced agent in dark sunglasses stopped the vehicle.
“I’ll wait here,” the driver said. Evan was in the front seat with the driver and Seth was in the back seat with Presley. The men hopped out and Seth came around to help her out. She took a deep breath as they approached the front door. The home looked like any middle class house in any neighborhood. She wasn’t sure what she expected but there weren’t any cannons in the front yard or black helicopters hovering in the sky.
Presley had spent the last twenty-four hours showing Seth the Tampa Bay area from the privacy of a bullet-proof SUV. Evan and the sour-faced agent had driven them all the way down to Anna Maria Island and as far west as Clearwater Beach. She’d stayed in the vehicle at all times, although when no one was around she was allowed to roll down the window. It had been fun showing Seth her old stomping grounds, and he’d had a much better attitude about it this time than at Disney a few days before.
Evan pushed the bell and the door was opened by another man with hair clipped short and a gun in a shoulder holster. Another agent.
“Evan, you made good time up here. Simon is in the living room waiting for you.”
Seth had insisted on coming with her and Evan had never intended for her to see Randall by herself either. In a way, it felt stupid for them to be there since she didn’t feel threatened by Randall, but if it kept the peace it was a small price. They wouldn’t be here long anyway. She had a few questions and then they could go. This wasn’t a social call.
Evan and the other agent led the way through an entrance hall into a large living room. It was the middle of the day, but the blinds and curtains were drawn, and every lamp in the home was illuminated. Evan indicated she should sit on the sofa. She moved to do that but the man occupying the chair opposite caught her eye. It was Randall. Or it appeared to be someone who looked like him. This man was much grayer and much older.
She sucked in her breath and sat down heavily. She stared at the man and he gave her a weak smile. It was Randall. Her fingers gripped the handle of her purse and her heart beat loudly.
“How are you, Katie? I thought you were dead. You can’t imagine how relieved I was when I found out you were alive,” Randall said. He was drinking from a Pepsi can, his hand shaking slightly, but his voice sounded the same.
She lifted her chin. “I didn’t come here to exchange pleasantries or pretend we’re friends. I wanted to hear the truth from your own mouth. Talk.”
Her words made him smile wider. “But we are friends, Katie. I’m the reason you’re not in jail for selling arms to terrorists. In a way, you should thank me.”
Seth stiffened next to her and she put her hand on his. This was hers to do and do alone.
“I think I’ll pass on thanking you. You’ve told the Feds quite a tale. Is any of it true?”
His expression grew sad. “It’s all true. It’s part of my deal with the government that I tell the truth, but I would have anyway. This has all gotten out of control. All I wanted to do was be a patriot. A good American. You know how important that was to me, Katie.” His voice was urgent and she nodded.
“I remember, Ran.” She didn’t say anything more. He was the one with a story to tell.
He fiddled with the can. “I’ve known your sister for many years. We traveled in some of the same circles.”
Presley was getting impatient. “I know. That’s how I got the job with you.”
Randall shook his head. “No, you got the job with me because Nora suggested you as the patsy for everything. We were going to frame you for what we were doing.”
Presley felt herself tremble all over at the thought of what might have happened. She could have been thrown into a dark jail cell for the rest of her life, never understanding what had been done to her. In a way, the car bomb was a blessing.
“Why, Ran? What did I do to you that would make you want to send me to prison for the rest of my life?”
He smiled sadly. “You could never do anything like that. That’s why I pulled the plug on the idea and sent you to manage the renovations on the house. I liked you, Katie. You were a sweet girl and we had fun, didn’t we? I tried to protect you from her, but I guess it didn’t work. She hates you, you know.”
Presley shook her head and leaned forward, scooting until she was barely sitting on the sofa. Seth tried to pull her back but she pushed at his hands. This shit was important and she didn’t want to miss a word or a flicker of his expression.
“Why does she hate me? What did she tell you, Ran?”
Randall tipped the can back and took a gulp of the
soda. “You took her father’s love away from her. Apparently, he loved you more than he loved her.”
“That’s not true,” Presley protested. “He loved Nora.”
“Maybe,” Randall shrugged. “The reality isn’t what’s important. It’s what she believes. She says her boyfriends would talk about how pretty you were and her father would say how you were going to snag yourself a rich, handsome husband. He bragged about you being Homecoming Queen.”
“So she tried to kill me?” Presley was incredulous. “That’s a reason not to invite me for Thanksgiving dinner, not trying to blow me up or send me to prison.”
“She was very upset when her father left you one of his houses. She said you didn’t deserve it.”
Presley pressed her face into her palms. Her home hadn’t been burnt down to destroy evidence, it had been burnt down because Nora was throwing a fucking tantrum. She felt Seth’s hands on her, lifting her from her perch on the edge of the couch cushion and setting her further back, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. She twined their fingers together.
“I’m okay, Seth. Just trying to wrap my mind around this. I never realized my sister hated me so much. It seems unreal.”
Randall frowned. “I honestly thought you knew Nora hated you, Katie. She never really tried to hide it in front of you. It just went overboard when her husband divorced her. She blamed you for that.”
“What?” Presley jumped up from the couch, shaking Seth’s arm from her. “How am I to blame for that?”
Seth stood and placed a hand on each of her shoulders. “Calm down, honey. Stay with us here.”
Presley took a deep centering breath. Seth was right. She was getting too upset. She needed to stay calm and in control. She could scream later when Randall wasn’t around.
“Her husband liked you,” Randall explained. “That was all it took. In her mind, if he had loved her, he would have hated you. She’s pretty twisted but I never thought she’d try and kill you. When I saw that car bomb on television I was shocked. It was over the top even for Nora.”
Presley thought about all the years she’d struggled to stay close to her sister and make them a family. “Nora’s always been over the top. I’ve been closing my eyes to things I didn’t want to see.”
“No one could foresee a sister trying to kill them.” Evan finally spoke from his spot on the couch arm.
“There were signs of how she felt. I just didn’t want it to be true.” Presley could see it now. Hindsight was always twenty-twenty. Little digs from Nora whenever she had the chance. Slights when their parents were still married. Nora had tried many times to blame things on Presley when they were kids. Looking back, she realized her stepfather had rarely taken Nora’s side. It must have infuriated her.
“All that hate festering away for years. Growing and deepening every day until she just couldn’t take it anymore.” Presley was shaken, and she leaned into Seth, needing his strength.
Presley turned back to Randall. He was far from the eccentric billionaire now. He looked old and worried, his face deeply lined and ashen. “What happens to you now, Ran? Do you get off scot-free? Does money buy everything, even justice?”
Randall’s eyes were haunted. “No. I’ll get a new life, a new name, but nothing will ever be the same. I’ll always be branded a traitor and not a patriot. I’ll spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. I’m glad I got to see you again, Katie. I’ve missed you.”
Revulsion at what he’d done made her stomach curdle. He hadn’t tried to kill her but he’d been willing to bend the law and throw his lot in with her batshit, crazy sister. It made her bad decision history look pretty good in comparison.
“My name is not Katie. Katie’s dead.”
She turned on her heel and started for the door. She’d heard what she needed to hear and she never wanted to see him again. Evan and Seth caught up with her before she hit the front porch and all three of them were silent as they loaded into the SUV and drove away.
Presley couldn’t take the quiet any longer. Her skin was prickly and she wanted to jump up and pace, or run. She needed to move. She also needed to end this chapter of her life.
“So Evan, what do you have planned to catch my sister and how can I help?”
Chapter Twenty
“Have you lost your mind?” Seth thundered. He scraped his hand down his face in frustration. They’d returned to the hotel suite minutes ago and Evan had wisely and discreetly excused himself while Seth tried to talk some sense into the woman he loved.
Presley was going to send him into an early grave. Now she wanted to help Evan get evidence against her sister.
“No, I think I’m finally making a good decision.” Presley’s expression was serene. “Finding out the truth about Nora has set me free. I can finally stop trying to create a family with her and move the hell on with my life.”
“That’s a good idea. Let’s move on with our lives, honey,” Seth urged. “We can head back to Harper. You’re out of protective custody and it won’t be long before Evan has Nora behind bars.”
Presley rummaged in the honor bar and pulled out a soda, holding it up in offering. He shook his head, but she opened it anyway, taking a long drink.
“For how long? She sent killers after me to Harper. I’m done with looking over my shoulder, Seth. I want my life back, dammit. If I can speed up this process, well, why not? Don’t you want us to be a regular, normal couple? Wouldn’t you like our biggest concern to be what movie we’re going to rent for a Friday night? I’d like that.”
That made Seth smile. “Honey, you and I will never be a regular, normal couple. I don’t think it’s in our DNA.”
Presley smiled back. “As normal as we can be then.” She stepped in front of him and went up on her tiptoes so she was looking up into his eyes. “I’ll be surrounded by agents. From what Randall said, it sounded like she hates me so much she’ll love to tell me all the stuff she’s done in the name of revenge. They’ll get it on tape and then they’ll arrest her. Piece of cake, Sheriff.”
Seth wasn’t sure it would be that easy, but he could see the determination in her eyes. She wanted this and he needed to find a way to keep her safe. “There will have to be some precautions. We need to have a foolproof plan, Presley. I’m not risking your life after I’ve protected it all this time.”
There was a soft knock on the door. It was probably Evan back from making his phone calls or whatever he’d been muttering about when he’d hurried away from the blast zone of the impending argument. Seth peered out the peephole and confirmed Evan’s identity before opening the door. Evan’s expression wasn’t any happier than before he’d left.
“What’s going on, Ev?” Seth hated feeling helpless and he sure felt that way right now. Everything was spinning out of his control and he didn’t know how to stop it. Seth offered Evan a soda, hoping he would reveal what was bothering him. Evan nodded absently, his mind obviously elsewhere.
“This case has been a bear from day one. We put audio surveillance on Presley’s sister and we intercepted a phone call between her and one of her minions. She’s hired a couple of guys with long rap sheets and violent pasts. They’re sniffing around the courthouse and the hotels nearby. Nora didn’t tell them directly to kill Presley but with what Simon told us, we can infer it. It’s not enough to arrest her, but it’s enough for us to know there’s still danger.”
Seth closely watched Presley’s reaction. Other than a small flinch at the word “kill” she remained composed. His woman was tough, but all he wanted to do was make this go away. Fix it. Wasn’t that what a man was supposed to do? Protect his woman and keep her from harm?
Damn woman has me talking to myself.
“All the more reason for me to go to her instead of waiting for them to come to me,” Presley stated. “I don’t like feeling like a sitting duck.”
Seth looked at Evan. “I don’t suppose you have a plan?”
“I’ve got some ideas.” Evan’s eyebrows wen
t up in surprise. “I’d like to run them by you. Get your input.” Evan leaned over the back of the chair casually, a smile playing around his face. “You know, a Federal Marshal has the power to deputize local law enforcement and even civilians, if needed.”
Seth grinned. “Deputize me.”
Presley’s gaze shifted back and forth between Seth and Evan. “Wait, you can make Seth a Federal Marshal? Really? Does he have to take a vow or something?”
“He has to take an oath,” Evan replied with a smug smile. “If you get to be a part of the operation, will you let us use Presley as bait? I swear as God as my witness we will keep her safe, Seth.”
Seth rubbed his chin. Presley’s eyes were alight with excitement. She wanted to do this and technically he couldn’t stop her. At least if he were a part of it, he could watch over her.
He turned to Presley. “Do you really want to do this? It’s risky, honey. This woman may be your sister, but she wants you dead. Very dead.”
Presley nodded. “She won’t stop. We have to do this. I have to do this. If I think the plan is too risky, I won’t do it, okay?”
Seth sighed. He knew when he was beat. Besides, she had a point. A good offense was the best defense. He wasn’t a big fan of sitting here and waiting for this woman to make another attempt on Presley’s life. It was better to have control of the situation and be the initiator, take this Nora person by surprise.
“All right, honey. Let’s catch us a criminal.”
Evan grinned and Presley beamed. Seth felt the familiar rush of adrenaline as if he were preparing for battle. It felt good and right to be doing something constructive rather than sitting around waiting for shit to happen. That was unnatural for any man. He’d lost sight of it because he’d been so worried about Presley.
Seth went to the bar and grabbed a soda, this time for himself, popping it open. “Let’s hear what you have in mind. I’ve got a few thoughts of my own.”
* * * * *
Presley had acted pretty macho and brave for Seth but the fact was she was fucking nervous. She checked under her armpits one more time, sure she had a growing damp spot on the cotton shirt. Evan had dressed her in a long sleeved rugby-type shirt, not too form fitting and thick enough to conceal the wires taped to her skin. The agents and Seth would be recording everything said between her and Nora.
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