Page 191 of Protecting Peyton

Simon giggled. “This is the good part. Tell her Pops. Tell her how smart you are.”

“My cousin is a divorce lawyer. He had two rich dudes, really rich, who were being fucked over in their divorces. Real simple deal. Halligan does them, and these dudes pay me a mill each for private investigative services after the fact to look for the killer.” He laughed. “The easiest money I ever made.”

“And then the others,” Simon prodded.

“Over the years, I gave him three other bitches who deserved it. But he broke our deal and kept killing innocent women as well. As long as he had the watch.” He fingered the Rolex. “I couldn’t stop him.”

I wanted to scratch his eyes out. It was repugnant the way he separated the victims into those he said deserved it and those who didn’t.

“I told you I regretted that, didn’t I?”

I nodded.Like hell he did. He was a pig.

He fastened the watch onto his wrist, then came closer and yanked me to my feet. “Time to go.”

“You’ve done the world a service by getting rid of him.”

“I helped,” Simon blurted. “Tassium chlorine.”

“Chloride,” O’Connor corrected him before pulling me away from the couch. “He’s going to Taser you and me on the street, and he’s going to take you up to a pretty spot in the mountains.”

Simon’s evil grin telegraphed his plan. “We are gonna have some fun. Then, I’ll make it quick.” He giggled. “Hey, Pops, I gotta pee.”

“Make it quick.”

Simon disappeared around a corner.

“We should talk,” I pleaded. “I know a super-rich guy in Hollywood who’s having trouble with his wife.” Anything was worth a try to slow him down.

“Spare me.” He yanked me toward the door.

CHAPTER 47

Zane

I wasat the back door of the building Jordy had identified.

The white Tesla was parked next to a Buick.

“Report,” Lucas said in my earpiece.

“Nobody has gone in or out. None of the windows are clean enough for me to see anything inside. Wellbourne is four minutes out and wants you to wait.”

“I’m in position,” I reported with my eyes closed, preparing for the darkness inside. “We can’t wait,” I added even though it wasn’t my call.

“Ready,” Constance said. “And I agree.”

“Ready,” Pete repeated.

“On three,” Lucas said. “One…Two…”

I’d already picked the lock. On three, I pulled open the door, rushed inside, picked a direction and opened my eyes.

“Zane,” Peyton cried out.

I pivoted the other way, raising my weapon.

O’Connor was behind her. He pulled out his revolver and put it to her head. His hand was unsteady, his eyes bulging. “Move, and she’s dead.”