Page 19

CHAPTER 19

THE VILLAIN TIGHTENS THE NET

I just knew Sloane couldn’t resist the lure of seeking me out. She’ll do anything to solve a case, no matter who she hurts in the process. What a clueless bore! Doesn’t she realize the tentacles of wrongdoing spread wide and deep? She can’t win them all, no matter how clever she pretends to be.

Perhaps she’s starting to understand just how connected she is to all this tragedy. I wove the perfect trap … or so I’d thought.

Neither Sloane nor her little sidekick were able to figure out the Savannah connection. I’d needed some help there, and I found the perfect stooge in little Andi Leland.

I find myself wanting to stew again to revisit the moment when the flame of hatred first ignited.

When they put my old friend, Hugh Barnes, behind bars down in South Georgia a couple of years ago … well, that was the straw that broke everything. Hadn’t Sloane already done enough damage to my life?

Then Hugh got stabbed while in the slammer, killed by inmates who didn’t take kindly to his penchant for trafficking teenagers.

I just about went delirious with madness when it all went down.

I liked the guy, you know?

Hugh and I had done some business together over the years—most of it illegal, and yes, sometimes related to the selling of little humans.

His death … it felt too close to home.

When he was alive, I’d done the occasional “wet work” for him and a few others across the country. The money I’d earned from those small jobs provided me with an impressive nest egg—known only to myself, of course—allowing me to engage in this little vengeance plan of mine.

Still, I wasn’t pleased when those jobs dwindled to nothing after Hugh’s death. I guess I was too “hot” for comfort. I didn’t blame them; even I worried there might be some fallout coming my way, but it never happened. Other than losing everything that was important to me, of course. Although … those things are not so important now, are they?

What a joy it’s been to take charge of my life at long last instead of wallowing in pity. After months of following her around, searching for patterns, weaknesses, and most of all, formulating the best way to inflict pain. To give it to her good. Just like she did me.

Revenge is like sugar, indeed, especially when it includes stringing someone along, one horrific bump after another, straight to their own demise.

I waited for the perfect storm of events. For the girls’ getaway, for Cade’s getaway—for the universe to flip the switch. I said goodbye to Jackson Hole and jumped straight into Sloane’s personal hell loop.

With glee.

But things—like the notes I’ve written—haven’t unfolded like I thought they would. So far, no slow, agonizing burn.

Not the cryptic messages.

Not the risky near-misses while they visited that fancy mountain resort.

Not the dropped postcard.

Not even the obvious fact that Sloane’s associates were going down like dominos.

For a private investigator, she was a disappointment.

Well, nothing to do about all that except to juke.

And juke I did … with young Andi’s help. Such a pretty thing, that Andi Leland, even though she must be about eighteen years old now. Too old to be the valuable toy she once was years ago.

But I digress …

Turns out, Andi was the biggest help of all in luring Sloane to my web.

Andi called Sloane, like I knew she would—thanks to my urging while we both just happened to be in line at her favorite coffeeshop. I made sure the newspaper headlines recounting that drag queen’s death was front and center in my hand. We got to talking—two total strangers—as people often did in the South.

Indeed, Little Miss Andi had heard about Grady’s death and was “deeply saddened.”

Boo-hoo.

I did a great job of acting, like, Oh my, you’re the girl who helped bring down that human trafficking ring.

“Hmm. I wonder if those two women are still around,” I’d said, tapping my chin. “I remember their hard work had made all the difference in catching that awful Hugh Barnes. Well, with your help too … Andi.”

The Leland girl got a faraway look in her eyes and said, “You know, that’s a good idea.”

Then it was her turn at the counter, and I skittered out the door.

Mission accomplished.

Sloane and Maddie are here.

And now it’s time to tighten the net.