No one in that backwater town of Nevada had seen him break into Emma’s new rent house.
He’d placed the cameras and speakers in the air vents. After a quick check that he could operate them from his laptop, he’d left. He’d driven the rental car back to the motel in Elko to grab a few hours’ sleep before heading to the airport for his flight back.
The bitch thought she could get away from the voices, but she was wrong.
He smiled.
Hiring that fucking slut at the bar who could imitate celebrities had been a cakewalk. The cunt was desperate for money and affection, playing right into his hands. It had taken the woman less than a week of studying the videos he’d borrowed from Emma and her grandparents to sound exactly like Lily and Samantha. Once this whole thing was over, he would kick the mimic bitch out of his bed for good.
God, it was so good to know that all his hard work was about to reward him with millions.
Once he got Emma committed for insanity, he would get custody of their two snot-nosed girls. Playing loving daddy made him sick to his stomach, but he would only have to keep up the charade for just a little longer. Autumn and Andrea would be sent away to boarding school once he had control of their grandparents’ land, which was worth so much more than any of them had a clue.
Working as a geologist for the oil and gas industry, he’d been in the know about the tests his company had conducted in the area around Helen and Leland’s land. Several months ago, he’d snuck onto their property and conducted his own tests. His analysis was conclusive. Emma’s grandparents’ farm was in the very heart of the biggest oil reserves in the entire state. The top oil companies would soon be trying to snatch up control of the oil by offering lucrative leases to landowners. He had a couple of months, maybe less, to finish his plan. He estimated that Helen and Leland’s lease offer would net two to ten million over the next five years. He would be set for life.
Those old fools were still on their guard with him, but that wouldn’t matter once Emma was out of the picture. No one would suspect a thing. Being a geologist, it would be easy for him to make it look like the two ancient fucks died in their sleep. Carbon monoxide.
The flight attendant returned, smiling broadly. “Would you like another? On me.”
He grabbed the ugly bitch’s hand. “Why not?”
Chapter Eleven
Emma walked into her girls’ middle school’s auditorium with Bane and Adam. The stage was filled with seats for the student musicians and a grand piano filled the center of the platform, which she found odd.
She scanned the seats and saw Andrea sitting with her grandparents four rows back from the stage.
“There they are.” She pointed to her loved ones. “Remember, we’re just friends.”
“Just friends.” Bane nodded. “Got it.”
Adam winked.
She knew they were more than friends after all the time they’d spent with each other, but was glad Adam and Bane were willing to keep that quiet for now.
They headed down the aisle.
“Mom, you made it.” Andrea jumped up and hugged her.
“Of course I made it, sweetheart. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
“Autumn is going to be so happy,” her grandmother said. “We saved three seats for you and your friends.”
Emma had called ahead, telling her grandmother that she was bringing Bane and Adam to the concert.
Bane held out his hand. “Mr. Harris, Mrs. Harris, nice to meet you. I’m Bane Taylor.”
Her grandfather shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, too. Am I seeing double, Mr. Taylor?”
Bane grinned. “No sir. This is my twin brother Adam.”
Adam shook hands with her grandfather and kissed her grandmother on the cheek.
“Thank God. I thought Helen was going to have to take me to the eye doctor to get my glasses checked.”
“Leland, hush up.” Her grandmother smiled. “Thank you for helping Emma with her move. It’s good to know she has such nice friends.”
Adam turned to her daughter. “And you must be Andrea.”