Page 85 of Seduced By a Billionaire

Her eyes welled up, but she knew this wasn’t the time to collapse into emotion. She had to keep a clear head for Kyle but more importantly for Finn.Finn!Oh my God please no! Let him be all right. Please let him walk up laughing and sharing a funny story.

But he never came.

Ella’s legs felt wooden as they ran to the jeep. Her heart was racing, and she felt bile rising up in her throat. Kyle seemed to be an island unto himself, isolated...alone. It hurt that he was shutting her out, but this wasn’t about her. Ella hopped into the driver’s seat and Kyle climbed in, robotically fastening his seat belt.

Kyle hunched forward and buried his face in his hands. My fault, I put myself before my son, I shouldn’t have been distracted…He couldn’t even comprehend what was happening. As if from a long distance away, he heard Ella talking but he couldn’t understand what she was saying to him. It felt like he was living in a nightmare…his worst nightmare, but unfortunately, he was wide awake.

35

When they arrived home, Kyle contacted Dave Adams, a retired navy seal and the head of his personal security team, who immediately sprang into action. He made it there in record time and they gathered in Kyle’s office, waiting to hear from the kidnappers. Richard Drake, who had also been filled in, was doing his part to help, entering the war-room with a pot of coffee and mugs.

One look at Kyle’s anguished face had told him all he needed to know. Richard asked, “Would you like me to stay sir?” Kyle just nodded his head yes.

Kyle drug his hands across his haggard face. “Should I call my father for help? He’s still in town on business. He may have some connections that I don’t.”

Dave said, “Yes, I think that’s a good idea.”

Richard offered to make the call and Kyle accepted gratefully, “Yes, thanks Rich.”

Ella sat quietly, available if needed, but unwilling to insert herself again unless asked. Richard stepped out for a moment to make the call to James Bennett.

“Ella, I want you to think about the last several weeks. Has anything unusual happened, anything out of place, even if you think its unrelated or insignificant,” Dave asked.

“No, nothing that I can think of. There have been lots of changes lately. I’m sure as head of security, you’re aware that I’d been living here until two weeks ago, as a temporary nanny and Kyle’s nurse. I was with Finn a lot. We had some outings but mostly hung out around here after he got home from school.”

“Any unexpected visitors?”

“The only visitors I saw were Kyle’s law partner Pete, his sister Faye, and a childhood friend Charlene. I never entertained any guests here myself.”

“Kyle this could be about your father’s development. You’ve got people vehemently opposed to it. The construction site has been sabotaged repeatedly, who’s to say they haven’t decided to escalate?” Dave said.

“I’d thought of that, the only problem I see with that theory is that as far as they’re concerned, they’ve won. We’ve halted all construction. Pulled the foreman off the job and he’s been reassigned. I just don’t see it.”

“What about the anthrax scare? That was pretty sinister.”

“Yes, and we still don’t have any answers,” Kyle said.

Ella’s forehead creased, her palms sweaty with nerves with what she was about to say, “I hate to bring this up, really I do, but I’ve been getting a really bad vibe from your partner Pete. He seems so angry and bitter. I know you’ll probably hate me for saying this, but has anyone checked out his alibi for the vandalism and anthrax prank?” She bit her lip waiting for Kyle to blow up at her.

When he didn’t, she continued, “While you were laid up, he certainly had opportunity, not sure about motive though.”

“He has been more of an asshole than usual, but this? I don’t believe it,” Kyle said.

“But he was there today… at the festival.”

“So were a million other people.”

They all seemed to be at an impasse. Nothing made any sense.

“Kyle, Pete was at the helm while you were recovering from your accident. Could he be in some kind of trouble…trying to cover up something else?” Dave said, warming to the idea. “Does he have money problems? Gambling addictions?”

“He likes to gamble but I wouldn’t classify it as an addiction.”

“Maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree, but he’d be one of the first people I’d look at,” Ella said.

Dave took notes; looking up he added, “We have to consider him, Kyle. Ella, I asked for you to mention anything that you thought could be significant. Don’t feel bad for speaking up. It’s important that we all think outside of the box. The sooner we find our suspect the better.”

Ella now on a roll said, “And another thing, did anyone ever check to see if there was more to your accident? I know the other driver ran a stop sign but wouldn’t you have had time to stop? I mean you had to be going pretty fast. You told me the cops said that there were no signs of skid marks at the scene. Did anyone do forensics on your car?”

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