Page 44 of Taming His Honeydoll
“Other than it being obvious that he searched the house in a hurry, the only thing he left was this. I didn’t want to give it to you in front of Emma.” Nat handed Sawyer a pocket knife with a note attached inside a plastic baggie. “Don’t take it out, it’s evidence for the police.”
Sawyer read the note through the plastic.
Levi is mine and I will have him—no matter who gets in my way.
He exploded in anger and started swearing furiously. Finally, he wound down and ran his trembling fingers through his hair. “Who is this asshole? Do you think it could be the guy Emma married? It sounds like he’s working for Marlene. Why would a random stranger want Levi?”
“You’re right. It does sound like he’s working for Marlene and maybe Henry.” Nat frowned. “We found tracks behind the barn of a four-wheeler headed towards the mountains. This person was able to turn off the security alarm and then take out the electrical box behind the house. He was in a hurry because he screwed up and the barn breech went off. For whatever reason, he wasn’t expecting that.”
Nat went on. “If Oliver actually finds Henry at the Wal-Mart, then it couldn’t be him who was at the house just now,” he said slowly. “It doesn’t mean he’s not in league with someone else though. The thing is, he just doesn’t give off that kind of a vibe to me. Not in the few times I’ve met him. He was rarely at a family event though, always begged off with a work excuse most of the time.”
“What have you found out so far? Anything useful?” Sawyer asked, still fuming and turning the note over in his hands.
“I need that back for the police,” Nat requested, indicating the note and the knife. He put it in his pocket and then answered Sawyer.
“Henry Brassington is from old money. The old man is very staunchly British and he’s the one with the real money. His wife was the daughter of a less wealthy Lord who bought his title and passed it down through the generations and now Marlene thinks she’s royalty. Especially since she married above her so-called station in British aristocracy.
Sawyer snorted.
“Brassington is actually a Duke with a real pedigree and he has worked hard to keep the family coffers filled. He’s good with investments and banking. They have no history of criminal activity, but a friend who works with Scotland Yard swears his wife is a nut-job. The police have been called to the house a few times regarding domestic arguments neighbors overheard but the police don’t do anything about it because of their titles and wealth. Plus, they stick together and provide a united front when anyone questions their behavior.
Marlene likes to use that wealth and influence to get things she might not otherwise be able to—like a priest she didn’t like discharged and one who catered to her put in his place. That sort of thing. She isn’t well-liked, obviously.”
“Small wonder,” Sawyer muttered. “Why did they move back to England? If she wanted a grandson so badly, why leave him?” He and Emma had yet to discuss her marriage to Henry. His guess was that she’d married him because she was pregnant and the thought made his gut clench. There was something strange about the whole deal, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
“I believe I can answer that question.”
Sawyer turned around to see Emma standing behind him.
Chapter 11
“You know why they moved?” Nat asked, surprised at Emma’s response. He’d dug deep into their financials and hadn’t found any plausible reason that would have forced them out of the country. They had just suddenly decided to move back.
She nodded, her face pale. “There is something that no one was aware of but me and Henry.” She bit her lip as she stared at Nat, then Sawyer. She hadn’t wanted it to come out this way, but things were happening so fast and they needed to get things figured out to protect Levi. And before Henry arrived.
“What is it?” Sawyer asked, taking her hand in his for reassurance.
