Page 85 of Deadly Revenge

“It’s hard to believe anyone would kill just to purchase land on the off chance the dam would actually be built.”

“Unless whoever owns TerraQuest was pretty certain the dam was a done deal, and they were going to reap a profit,” Jenna said.

“Still ...” Alex teepeed her fingers. “How much money do you think we’re talking about here?”

“I don’t know. I do know on the deeds we checked, the state offered TerraQuest more money for their property than they offered to those who held out, but we didn’t check them all.” Jenna took out her phone. “I’ll do that now.”

She brought up each deed and checked the purchase price.Wait a minute.“That can’t be right.”

Max looked up from his phone. “I think you’re seeing the same thing I am.”

“What are you two talking about?”

Jenna exchanged glances with Max. “You tell her while I double-check something.”

She opened her calculator app and entered numbers while Max continued.

“On the ones I checked, the government paid almost three times the price for the land they purchased from TerraQuest as they did from individual landowners.”

“You’re kidding. Maybe the acreage was different.”

Jenna shook her head. “The acreage varied, but in the ones I just calculated, TerraQuest received almost three times as much per acre.”

“Okay,” Alex said. “We need to find out just who owns TerraQuest.”

“And then locate and talk to the original property owners,” Max added. “I think I’ll text Harrison Carter to see if he’s familiar with the company.”

“Wait until we talk to him at the funeral,” Jenna said. “I’d like to read his body language when you bring it up.”

“You think—”

“I don’t think anything, Max,” she replied. “Except we shouldn’t rule out the possibility he’s involved.”

“You’re right.”

Jenna handed Alex a list of people who’d sold to TerraQuest. “Do you know any of these people? We wanted to talk to them.”

Alex looked over the list. “Some have died, but I’ll get you an address for those who haven’t.”

“Thanks. Just text it to us.” Jenna checked her watch and stood. “Granna is looking for us in twenty minutes.”

“What are you expecting to learn from her?” Alex asked.

Max had stood as well. “She started to tell us something about Carter when her son came over and she clammed up.”

“Interesting.” Alex tapped her fingers together. “She should know—Eva Hart has her finger on the pulse of almost everything going on in Pearl Springs.”

Jenna sighed. The problem would be in whether Granna would share what she knew.

43

The Pearl River Reservoir came into view. His hands cramped from gripping the steering wheel so tightly. Hatred boiled up from his chest.

If it hadn’t been for the dam and reservoir ... It was time to finish his plan. Draining the lake and killing Carter were the last two items on his list.

He flipped the sun visor down and turned the white pickup with a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation logo adhered to the door onto the access road. The truck eased past the parking lot for visitors and continued on to the chain-link fence blocking access to the dam.

His insides were like a sugar-loaded kid on steroids. What if the guard recognized him? Never mind that he hadn’t recognized himself this morning with the fake mustache and gray crew cut wig.

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