Page 49 of PenPal Hero

“Yeah, I’m not sure why he said that.” Alice pursed her lips thoughtfully.

“And he most definitely called me a second time.” Bonnie tapped her cell phone screen to turn it on. “There’s the phone call I missed from you.” So, so, so sorry! “And here’s the second call I received from him.” She held out her phone so Alice could see what was on her screen.

Alice looked troubled. “I can’t explain that.”

Bonnie stared at her. “If it wasn’t him, then who was I speaking to?”

“I don’t know. May I?” Alice reached for Bonnie’s cell phone, presumably to take another look at her call history with Mr. Blackstone. “I’m thinking this might be something we should mention to Holt. He’ll run it past K&G Security, and maybe they can trace the calls or something.”

“Maybe.” Bonnie nodded dismally. “Whoever it was, their stinking elevator music was worse than Mr. Blackstone’s. It knocked me out.” In light of everything else that had happened, it felt ominous. Like whoever had called her had deliberately gotten her out of the office for the sole purpose of beating poor Mr. Blackstone on the warehouse bid. Since she was supposedly meeting with Mr. Blackstone, Alice had safely assumed that he’d still be getting his bid in ahead of the out-of-town competitor. She’d had no reason to stall the paperwork.

Bonnie’s heart ached for Mr. Blackstone. He was such a nice guy. He deserved better than this.

She and Alice dialed Holt together and put him on speakerphone to describe what had happened. He looked into it and called them back.

“The phone number the imposter used is a dead end,” he reported grimly. “It’s no longer in service.”

“You’re kidding,” Bonnie gasped. Please tell me you’re kidding! She was starting to feel like she was losing her mind.

“I wish I was.” He was silent for a moment. “It looks like some sort of prank call, Bonnie. I’m sorry. K&G Security is looking into the warehouse deal to see if there’s any connection between the two incidents. Alice, if you’ll send us everything you’ve got on that out-of-town customer…”

“I’m on it,” she promised in a brisk voice.

Bonnie’s gut told her there was a connection. Whether she or anyone else could prove it remained to be seen.

Three weeks later

It wasn’t easy, but Jackson managed to negotiate a seat across from his sister on their way to Alice and Zayden’s wedding. They were in the back of the tall, black armored vehicle that the K&G Security crew fondly referred to as The Tank. One of the co-owners, Lyon Garret, was driving it.

Bonnie shivered as she caught Jackson’s eye. “Are you having fun yet?”

Instead of answering, he raised his eyebrows at her. He was in no mood to joke about what was at stake today. Beneath his gray pinstripe suit, he had no less than two handguns, a hunting knife, and four solar flares strapped to his person. Thanks to a loan, he was also carrying ten thousand dollars in cash. If things went south today, there was no telling how long he might be on the run.

Or who I’ll have with me.

Whatever Bonnie read in his expression made her shiver again and drop her gaze.

“Cold?” Looking concerned, Holt shrugged out of his beige suit jacket and draped it around the bare shoulders of her berry-colored halter dress.

Normally, Jackson saw ten shades of red anytime a guy looked twice at his sister. That hadn’t been the case with Holt Winchester. The guy was so smitten with her that it was laughable. He was also clever, resourceful, and wildly protective of Bonnie. She was in good hands with him.

Or would’ve been if the two of them weren’t still living beneath the long, dark shadows of their captors. It blew Jackson’s mind that a group of criminals existed out there somewhere for the sole purpose of preying on good people like Bonnie and Holt.

Was there something about their intrinsic goodness that made them more susceptible to mind control? Or had they simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Two random victims caught up in a scheme that was so much bigger than themselves?

Bonnie pulled the lapels of Holt’s suit jacket more tightly around her. “Not cold, per se. I just wish we could’ve ridden in the back of one of the limousines like we were supposed to.”

Her haunted expression made Jackson wonder if the dimly lit, closed-in feel of The Tank was tickling the darkest edges of her memories again.

Holt slid an arm around her shoulders and cuddled her against his side. “I hear you, babe.” He caught Jackson’s gaze, as if knowing he would agree. “But with everything going on today, I’m glad to have you behind bullet-proof steel, if only for a few minutes.”

“Hear. Hear.” Jackson gave him a two-fingered salute.

His words dragged a long-suffering sigh out of Bonnie. “I would much rather have had the sun pouring through the windows on the drive to Town Square.” She wrinkled her nose. “I can’t believe Alice ever agreed to have her wedding included in a sting operation.”

Jackson had been equally surprised. Weddings were supposed to be full of light, joy, and laughter. He probably wouldn’t have been so accommodating if it was his wedding. Not that he had any prospects in sight. He didn’t even have a serious girlfriend.

“I can give you two good reasons.” Holt gave Bonnie a squeeze hug. “For one thing, she’s marrying a police officer. For another thing, she’s anxious to see you and your family get the justice you deserve.”

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