Page 20 of Kill Me Sweetly

“I don’t understand. Most kidnappings are either done for money or something worth a lot of money.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I get that, but why you? Do you draw a lot of attention with your career?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Not really. It’s not a glamourous job, there aren’t paparazzi following me or anything like that.”

“Then why you?”

“Perhaps it’s the fact that I wasn’t in the limelight that they liked?”

That was likely the only scenario that made sense. But something wasn’t sitting well with me.

“Perhaps, but Max, I’m going to be honest. I have suspicions.”

“About what?”

I got up, moved to the fridge, and brought over three bottles of water. Four didn’t even twitch once I placed them in front of him. I’d found out that if you gave Four something to eat or drink, he would consume it.

“The whole thing. You paid them the money where they told you to, right?” He nodded. “They didn’t return her, but you made a deal with the consortium, and not long after that she was found. And you owe them two million—however, they don’t seem to care if they get it, because they ordered your death. So they ended up doing it for nothing?”

Max blinked at me, but as I said the words out loud a lightbulb went off in my mind.

“Holy shit! Do you remember where or how you were supposed to deliver the money to the kidnappers?”

“Of course, why?”

“I assume you had to wire it?”

“Correct.”

I slapped my hands together. “I may have figured it out, but it’ll need to wait until the twins are home. They’re the computer geniuses.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

I drank down half my bottle of water. “Nope, let’s wait to see if I’m right. If I am, I will do the most epic butt dance the world has ever seen!”

Of course Max looked at me like I was crazy. Perhaps I was, but I had a feeling I might have found a way to locate this consortium.

CHAPTER TEN

SHEP

JJ was bouncingin his seat when Mason and I returned to the kitchen. His smile was as wide as it could be and while I loved seeing him happy, I knew something had happened.

“What?” Mason and I asked at the same time.

“I have a thought!” JJ jumped up. “I won’t know for sure until the twins are home, but I think my theory is sound.”

Mason waved for him to continue.

“Max had to pay ransom for his kiddo; he did, and nothing happened. Consortium wanted two million for their interference and retrieval of said childling.”

I chuckled at his wordage. “Okay…”

“Yet, they order his death before getting it because he spoke to someone? Why not do it after getting paid? You’re telling me they did this for nothing?” JJ snorted. “I think not.”

“It is curious.” Mason’s nose wrinkled. “So what are you thinking?”

JJ giggled. “I think the mercenaries that kidnapped Max’s daughter, Georgia, and the consortium are one and the same. Max had paid them. More would have worked, but they got what they sought originally. It also explains how out of nowhere they show up and are all, ‘Let us help you, strange man.’” JJ’s voicebecame deeper and more exaggerated as he impersonated the consortium.

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