Page 45 of Last Chance

She glanced at Sawyer, who gave her a nod, encouraging her to speak the truth. “My brother is angry with me.”

“What is his name, and where does he live?”

“David Moran. He lives in Chile. I was there visiting him at the invitation of his wife.” She grimaced. “I thought David knew and had invited me to his home to mend fences and meet his new bride. It turned out that his wife had issued the invitation on her own, hoping David and I would heal our relationship.”

“Did it work?”

“No.”

“What’s the problem?”

“Money. My brother is irresponsible with money, and our grandmother stipulated in her will that David was not to be given money from the estate aside from the cash bequest she’d left him. David objects to the terms of the will.”

“The estate is substantial?”

Her cheeks flushed. “Yes, sir.”

“So, it’s possible the hijackers realized you are a wealthy woman and wanted to cash in on the ransom, is that it?”

She laughed. “If that was their goal, they were out of luck. I’m wealthy, yes, but I don’t have pots of money stashed in the bank, waiting to be taken out for a spending spree or a ransom demand. Besides, David doesn’t have access to my accounts. I can’t trust him with access to the funds.”

“That desperate for cash?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What happens to your accounts if you’re in a serious accident or die? Who has access to your funds?”

That question caught Sawyer’s attention. He’d yet to get around to that question himself.

“My friends, Rowan and Brent Maddox. They are my beneficiaries. If something happens to me, they’ll get everything.”

“Does your brother know that?” Sawyer asked.

“No.”

“You should tell him,” Harmon suggested.

She flinched. “I don’t believe my brother wishes me harm.”

“You mean you don’t want to believe it, but people have killed others for a few dollars, let alone a substantial amount of money.”

“The estate still is worth a good bit. I only took enough money from the estate to set up Natural Bliss. I’ve been living on the profits from the store.”

“Why does your brother need money?”

“I’m not sure. He insinuated he needed cash to get ready for their baby. Maria is due in six months.” She sighed. “I don’t understand his desperation. David works for an engineering firm. He makes good money and the cost of living is less in Chile than it is here. He should be fine.”

“Does he have any vices?”

Janie hesitated.

Sawyer wrapped his hand around her. “Sweetheart, you need to tell us everything. The danger won’t stop unless we track down the source and shut it down. Help us do that.”

“I don’t want to get my brother in trouble. He’s the only family I have left, Sawyer.”

“He’s a grown man, Janie,” Harmon said. “Protecting him could cost you your life. Don’t give him that kind of power over you. Besides, he may not be responsible for what happened on the plane or the doll. If he’s not responsible, how can answering a few questions hurt him?”

“He’ll see it as a betrayal. David already hates me.”

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