Page 92 of Enticing the Fixer

Who was going to marry who? Sweat breaks out on my palms as everything snaps into place. Marge’s niece. She was buying a toaster for her niece. Her niece is Carla. And they must be talking about my father.

I swallow hard over the ball of dread in my throat. And if I had to guess, Carla just admitted to killing my father so he couldn’t marry Valeria. How did I miss all of this? Valeria was in love with my father. And Marge was in love with my father. Or at least with his money. And if Marge couldn’t have him, no one else could.

“He wasn’t going to marry her. And he would have sold. Eventually.”

“No, he wasn’t. Don’t be daft. Killing him was the only option, and making sure Kinsley was set up as a criminal was a brilliant decision by me. Everything was set for a hostile takeover, and you would have gotten a nice chunk of change. And now she’s in my house, tied up like a hog on a spit. What am I supposed to do with her? Everything was planned to perfection. And now, what? Kill her? Won’t that look a little obvious?” Sarcasm drips from tongue like a pile of snow in 95-degree weather.

“I didn’t know what to do. She kept refusing to sell, and Ethan was hedging. If he didn’t agree to follow the plan, everything would be shot to hell.” Her voice turns sharper. “And I loved Jack. I didn’t want him dead.”

Carla snorts. “You wanted his money in the first place.”

“No, I didn’t. I loved him.”

Ignore what they’re saying. Don’t let it get to you. You’ve got to figure a way out of this mess.

I wiggle my fingers and my toes. Good. At least my body is not numb anymore. There are no sounds of traffic in the background. The only noise is the ticking of a clock.

“Right. Let me ask you a question, Aunt Marge. How will you sell the company if she isn’t there and Ethan hedges?”

One set of their feet slaps across the floor. I inhale. Five steps. And a horn honking in the distance. I’m trying to take in as many of my senses as possible. I don’t know how it will help me, but I’ve got to do something.

“It’s simple. I’ll explain to them that IT informed me the data breach originated from her office, that you discovered the missing money, and that it was going to an account in her name. Due to the confrontation, she’s disappeared. It was too much for her to let her father down. The board will jump at the chance to sell before the whole house of cards falls. Then we’ll alert the police that she was stealing from the company, and when she’s caught a few days later, no one will believe a word she says.”

“You’d better hope that’s true because Lincoln is starting to get suspicious.”

“Then use a different guy.”

“Surprisingly, it’s not that easy to find a spineless jellyfish who will do whatever you ask for a blow job,” she growls.

Focus. Remember everything you hear. If they let you go, you’ll need to remember everything.

Stay calm. Leo will find me. My shoulders stiffen. No, he won’t. he thinks I’m mad at him. There’s no way he’ll look for me this soon. He’ll give me space. Or give up on me.

A tear slips past the crack of my eye. Don’t. They’ll realize you’re awake.

“You’re going to make this work. You put me in an impossible situation.” Marge’s voice is hard and clipped. Apparently, she’s found her own backbone and is tired of her niece implying she’s useless.

“I’ll do what I can.”

“You will, or I’m going to the police.”

“And do what?” Carla laughs in a high-pitched tone.

A dog barks to my right. It’s faint but still audible. Does she live in a house or an apartment.?

“No one would believe you,” Carla continues. “What do I have to gain from Jack’s death? Not a thing. I’m not a stockholder. I’m not his daughter or his girlfriend who’s in line for his millions. I’m a lowly accountant.”

How am I going to get out of here? I fist my hands and strain my arms against the restraints. The strands of the rope hold my hands together, biting into my skin.

Come on. Do something before the company is gone and you’re dead. Or in prison.

One heavy footstep after the other slaps on the floor. Tile? Wood? Linoleum? Definitely linoleum. It has a distinct tap to it.

“I’m not a murderer.”

“Well, you aren’t pinning Jack’s murder on me. I was helping you.”

A whimper emits from my lips. These two are the biggest wastes of human flesh I’ve ever met.

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