Page 138 of Deadly Revenge

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“Drop the cell phone!” Jenna yelled as she pulled herself inside the treehouse and held her gun on him.

“Too late. It’s already ringing. Third ring and the bomb blows.”

“End the call!”

She heard the second ring coming from the phone.

Jenna launched herself at Donelson, knocking the phone from his hand. She scrambled to get it from where it landed on the floor. Donelson grabbed her.

The third ring whirred from the phone.

He turned his head toward the dam.

Feet rang on the steps, and Alex tore the flap from the opening.

“Todd Donelson, you’re under arrest.”

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The cell phone rang a second time, and he yanked the wires from the C-4.

Max held his breath.

After the third ring, it stopped. Adrenaline surged through him. They were alive.

He released the breath and pressed his palm against his chest.Thank you, God.

He hopped off Mark’s back on wobbly legs and sagged against the wall.

“You did it!”

“Wedid it,” Max said.

A couple of hours later, he joined Jenna at the park, and they drove to the dam. Darkness had fallen and the fireworks display was going ahead as planned. Max spread two beach towels on the grass, and he sat next to Jenna as she wrapped her arms around her knees.

“I’m glad both ordeals are over,” she said.

“Yeah.” They were both quiet a minute, then Max said, “I understand Donelson is under suicide watch.”

“Yeah. He completely lost it.”

“And I missed Harrison Carter’s speech. Did he say anything important?”

“He made the announcement that an auto parts manufacturing company was locating in Pearl Springs.”

“That’ll mean jobs for the area,” he said. “So, Carter has done some good.”

“But at what price? And if he’s elected, how honest is he going to be?”

Max leaned back on his elbow. “He might not get elected. I got a call earlier from the lead FBI investigator who’s looking into TerraQuest. The state appraiser involved in the land purchases for the dam and reservoir is asking for a deal—he’ll name names in exchange for no prison time. Not sure if the DA will meet those terms, but the very offer indicates there’s something there. It might be enough to derail Carter’s campaign.”

“How about Earl Donelson’s and my grandfather’s deaths?” Jenna asked.

“Short of Carter confessing, I don’t think we can build a case—everyone but the former mayor and Eric Darby are dead, and I’m not sure if the DA can build a case on what Darby overheard. I’m sorry.”

“Me too. Even so, you did a good job today, TBI Agent Maxwell Anderson.”

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