Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“There’s more, I’m afraid,” Kingsley announced. “The amount stolen was large—one of the largest bank thefts in New Zealand. The money was never recovered. Edmund swore throughout his incarceration that he was swindled by someone he trusted. He wouldn’t reveal who that person was, even when given additional time.”
“That’s crazy. And they’re not watching him closely to see if he goes after the money?” Phoenix asked, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the table.
“After a month, the authorities quietly decided that he must not know where the money is,” Kingsley shared.
“That’s ridiculous. He’d already waited twenty years in jail. Edmund just had to wait a short period of time, and he was free to go after the money,” Rocco said, shaking his head.
“Do we know where Rivers is currently?” Hawking asked.
“No,” Kingsley said bluntly.
“Kingsley, what aren’t you telling us? Why did you call?” Magnus asked. Most of this information had already been communicated.
“Exactly four hours ago, Edmund Rivers contacted Juniper’s neighbors and collected her email and phone number,” Kingsley informed the group.
“Fuck! He’s going to come after her.” Magnus whirled in the far corner and slammed an open hand against the bookshelf, jolting the decorative items placed there.
“It appears so. He must believe that Juniper is his last possible link to finding the money.”
“I need to talk to her,” Magnus announced, heading for the door.
“Wait,” Kingsley said, stopping Magnus in his tracks.
“Is there more?” Magnus asked impatiently.
“There are a few details I intentionally left out of the report about Juniper Hazen. I have my reasons. There is no need for you to snoop into her past, Magnus. Trust me on this for now.”
Magnus’s jaw dropped as he stared at the speaker in the middle of the table. “Okaaay…” He didn’t know what to make of Kingsley’s request, but he didn’t have time to worry about it right now.
As Magnus turned once again to flee the room, Hawking stopped him. “Magnus, get me a picture of Edmund Rivers as fast as possible. It will take some time to make sure everyone around the resort is on alert.”
Magnus nodded. That needed to be his first step. He knew Juniper was safe for the moment, and they needed to know when Edmund Rivers neared Danger Bluff. He met the other men’s gazes and left when Rocco nodded. They would finish the conversation with Kingsley and update him. Right now, he needed to grab that picture and then find Juniper.
Still debating whether she’d actually felt the lever move, Juniper retreated to her room. She’d spend a bit of time there before heading out to the pool. Grabbing her tablet, she automatically checked her online mailbox. An email had come in from an address she didn’t recognize entitled, “Urgent, your father’s estate.”
Rolling her eyes, Juniper considered just trashing it. After her father’s death, she’d gotten all sorts of scam messages, but they’d been mixed with important things she’d needed to take care of. Taking a deep breath, she opened the email and read:
For twenty years, I’ve counted every day. You know where your father hid it. Turn everything over immediately, and I will leave you alone. Otherwise…
Juniper read and reread that message over and over. What was he talking about? Her conversation with Magnus about the man who’d just been released from jail popped into her mind. Magnus had promised to keep her safe.
Suddenly, the hotel room was too small. She needed to walk and think. Juniper stood and almost ran to the door. Heading to the elevator, she fidgeted as she waited before giving up and dashing to the stairs. Her footsteps resounded in the empty space as she hurried down.
Reaching the main floor in a short time, she hesitated. There was the door labeled Lobby. Something made her check under the stairwell where another door hid in the shadows, almost as if it had been concealed in the most inconspicuous spot.
She yanked on the door handle, and it didn’t move. It had to lead to the basement. What was down there now? Was it just storage?
After pounding on the door, she waited. Nothing.
Juniper turned to leave and spotted the camera. She walked to it and looked directly into the small lens. “Magnus? I need to talk to you.”
She jumped as her phone rang. Fumbling in her back pocket, Juniper pulled out the device and answered, “Magnus, I’m scared.”
The door beside her opened, and she saw Magnus framed in the doorway. Light streamed from behind him, obscuring her vision in the shadowed alcove of the stairwell. She walked forward into his arms and felt them wrap around her.
“Come in, Little girl. I was coming to find you.”
He gathered her inside and led her down a flight of stairs to a large, comfortable seating area. Sitting down, he pulled her onto his lap, not allowing her to shift off his hard thighs. “Stay.”