Page 66 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set
“How many?”
“So far? Five.”
“Five?” I tip my head back and stare at the ceiling.
Five transport routes gone.
“Who’s the owner of Sea-Air again?” I ask.
“Frank Parcell,” she replies.
“Right. The asshole hears about me going to Montana and… what? Decides to finish us?”
I hear her frustrated sigh through the miles.
“He knows I’m sick. That’s not news at this point. I don’t know how he learned about your father’s will though.”
I think on it. “It’s got to be Ed.”
“From the dock?” Surprise laces Mom’s words.
I nod even though she can’t see me. “He was there when Shankle showed up. I can’t remember how much Shankle shared before we took off, but I do know he overheard that Jonathan Bridger died.”
“So he put two and two together.”
“I did leave within the month,” I remind her. “I doubt Ed did anything on purpose. He probably just mentioned my situation to Frank in passing. I mean, we’ve known him forever.”
Mom is quiet for a minute. “What are we going to do?”
“You’re not going to do anything. Not even worry,” I say.
She laughs.
Carly, Chance, and Miles are staring at me, concerned.
“Is your mom okay?” Carly whispers.
I put my hand over the phone. “She’s fine. The fucker we hired to fill in was a mole and stole our routes.”
“You’re not alone,” Mom says, apparently realizing I’m updating the others. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
I take my hand away. “It’s fine. It’s Chance, Miles, and Carly.”
“Who’s Carly?”
Yes, I hear the curiosity in her voice. The one that always comes out when a woman is involved, because that’s the key to her desire for grandchildren.
“You want to ask me that now?” I pose.
I need to get Mom back on track. She wants to know about the woman in my life when a sneaky bastard is taking advantage of her and stealing our business.
Mom sighs again. “It’s done. He’s fired. Obviously.”
“Obviously.”
“But without a pilot, no flights are going up now. I had to cancel the passengers for today, which means they got their money back and went to another company.”
“Sea-Air probably,” I grumble. “I can send you money to pay bills, but without routes—without a pilot—we’re doomed. I’d say hire another one but who knows who we can trust at this point.”
