Page 164 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set
“Gene Chubb,” the voice says.
“I’m calling for Joseph Hopkins.”
There’s silence on the other end.
Sadie’s looking up at me.
“And you are?”
“A friend,” I reply.
“I think you have the wrong number. No one here by that name.”
“Right.” I hang up and stare at the highway fifty feet away.
“What was that about?” Sadie asks.
“If it was a wrong number, why ask me who I am first?”
“What are you thinking?”
I’m not exactly sure, but I have more pieces of this fucked up puzzle than Sadie does. “I have a hunch. Not a good one, but there are a lot of coincidences. I mean, what are the chances of me falling for you and then your brother ends up dead on my land?”
She frowns. “What are you saying, that I tracked you down?”
I shake my head. “I think that was fate or destiny or something.” It seems weird saying that, but it was the best answer I have. “But I think you ended up in Bayfield for a reason.”
She blinks. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either. Yet.”
I call Chance and set the phone to speaker mode.
“Where the fuck are you? That tractor’s not getting fixed without you,” he grumbles.
“I’ll fix anything that’s broken. Later. Listen, I’m with Sadie. Get Shankle on the horn and tell him to call the DOJ person who’s in charge of the case against Bridger Investments. Tell him it looks like Joey—Sadie’s brother—was working for some company called Racehorse Hauling.”
“Okay,” he says slowly. “What are you thinking?”
“I think he was undercover for the EPA.”
Sadie gasps, her eyes wide. “That he was working for a trucking company because—”
“Because he was trying to find dirt on Jonathan,” I explain.
“And he was killed because someone found out,” Chance adds. “It’s possible. But why does the DOJ want to freeze our assets now? Jonathan’s dead. So’s Sadie’s brother.” He pauses. “Sorry, Sadie. I’m not trying to be insensitive.”
“It’s okay. Overwhelming, but it makes sense. I didn’t know about the investigation. Peterson definitely doesn’t.”
“Have Shankle call the person on the case,” I say. “I have a feeling it might be a guy named Chubb. Maybe they’re doing this to see if something about their missing agent comes up.”
“Or a dead body,” Chance replies grimly.
I look to Sadie, cup the back of her head. “Right. Maybe there isn’t any actual case, only them trying to find a missing one of their own.”
Chance sighs. “I like your thinking. I’ll call him right now.”
“We’re on our way back. Hopefully you’ll have news for us by the time we get there.”
