Page 63 of Two Hearts' Ploy

“Let me know when you find her,” Kate said, sounding meek.

Without another word, Jeff switched off the phone, moving into action.

Chapter Forty-One

Another hour later, reality suddenly hit after Wren sat for a while on a ledge at the peak of Crystal Rock, near the beach at Dragonfly Pointe. Jeff had promised that they’d walk to the top sometime, but so far, they’d never had a chance because of all the security measures they’d had to follow.

The view of Crystal Rock Lake was breathtaking, she had to admit as the sun descended, a glittering ball of fire on the horizon.

But it had definitely been unwise for her to leave the house, and incredibly stupid to hike up here on her own, where she would leave herself totally isolated.

And as she stood to begin her walk back down from the top of the cliff, she heard the hollow thud of footsteps from someone approaching along the path. Reaching into her pocket, she tugged out her phone which she’d just finished using to take a few pictures, switching the video button to record before stuffing it back into her pocket.

It took more than a moment to finally recognize the identity of the man she’d noticed at the Riverbend Lodge weeks earlier. In his hand was a Glock, which he pointed right at her.

“So,” she muttered. “It really was you that I noticed at the Riverbend Lodge before we began filming the video. You’ve put on some weight since high school. Quite a bit, as a matter of fact.”

Even though she hadn’t recognized him until now, he might think twice about whatever he had in mind if he thought she’d mentioned his name to anyone else after she’d noticed him at the Lodge.

“Hello, Wren,” Garret Mason Junior said in a steely voice. “It took long enough for you to come out in the open. I knew that if I was patient, you’d get tired of hiding out with your latest boy toy.”

“Before you do whatever you’re planning on doing, could you explain to me what’s going on? I really don’t get it,” Wren admitted, trying not to show her fear.

Her only hope was that Jeff had come home and called Jake Loughlin to check on her tracking coordinates. God, it had been so stupid for her to leave the house.

Junior shrugged. “Dad had so many opportunities. For years I kept waiting for him to find a way to grab a hold of some of that money you had him handle for charities. The size of those accounts had become very tempting as interest accrued, despite all the payments going out through the years. And then there was your will and its addendums.”

“So what did you do –killhim in hopes that you would gain control?” she asked.

His smile was snide.

“I can’t believe I didn’t figure it out until now,” Wren admitted grimly after exhaling an unsteady breath. “He really wasn’t that old. Not to mention a small-town lawyer doesn’t necessarily have to work at too speedy a pace.”

“He had some heart troubles that no one really knew about except for me,” Junior responded matter-of-factly. “All it tookwas a little foxglove. Easy enough to research. Heck, every mystery show on TV kills someone off with it. And in a podunk little town like Lawton, the coroner isn’t going to bother with an autopsy when he’s also the town doctor.”

“Explain to me what the scheme was.”

He glanced around.

“No one knows I’m here,” she said dryly. “We’ve got time.”

“It would have been a hell of a lot easier if you would have been at that recording studio like you were supposed to be,” he muttered. “But all this newfound success of yours should pay off even more in the long run. I’ve got to say, I never expected the big comeback. I thought for sure your career was on its way into the gutter.”

“I still don’t get it,” Wren admitted, puzzled. “If you’ve already taken control of the charity funds since your father died and I’m regularly paying into them, what would be the purpose of getting rid of me? According to my last will, everything would automatically revert to charity once I die, even any recording proceeds.”

“I’d gain your complete inheritance of course, because I made sure that it wouldn’t revert to charity. There was a clause in that will of yours. Any direct remaining heirs would inherit everything, including control of any charities your money was designated for, which of course – as you just figured out – I haven’t updated for you since your dad died. I’d have access to any paperwork saying otherwise since I’d have control of your entire estate. I made sure that you never knew you had a sister. And then I married her.” He stepped up to the edge of the cliff, sneering as he glanced at the rocks below. “Of course, falling off the cliff right here would be the perfect way to die, since it will have to look like an accident.”

There was some movement behind Garrett, and Wren realized that it was Robin, creeping up behind him.

Of course.Wren.Robin. Mom had once had a fondness for nature, which was why she’d named her Wren, according to her dad.

Robin had to be Wren’s sister.

When she noticed Wren had seen her, Robin held her index finger to her mouth as she continued to creep up on Garrett.

But if she was working with Garrett, why was she sneaking up on him?

“I suppose you’ll find a way to eliminate your wife once you gain control of my millions,” Wren said, trying to distract him.

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