"Hello?" she answered, keeping her voice neutral.
"Ms. Prescott." Richards' smooth tone sent a chill down her spine. "I hope you've had time to reconsider my offer."
"I've been thinking about it," she said carefully. "But I'm not sure I understand what you're really proposing."
"Why don't we discuss it in person? Say, tomorrow at the Waverly property? I'd love to show you our vision for the place."
Heather's pulse quickened. This was exactly what the agents had predicted. "You mean the property you’re trying to buy out from under me? I have my own visions, Darren.”
“I’m sure you do. But think about what we could do if we put our heads together?”
“I’m willing to hear you out, but that’s all I’m promising.” She heard him laugh and her stomach clenched. She wasn’t one who tended toward violence, but had he been standing in front of her, she might have slapped him. And felt really good about it. “What time do you want to meet?"
"Two o'clock? Bring your realtor if you'd like. Make it official."
"I'll think about it."
"Don't think too long, Ms. Prescott. Opportunities like this don't come around often. I’d hate for you to stand too long on that independent streak and end up being sorry."
He’d already hung up by the time Lyle reached her side. He had Joe on speaker, holding out his phone so his brother could hear their conversation. "What did he say?"
She relayed the conversation while Joe called Agent Martinez. Within minutes, they had a plan in place.
"We'll have agents in position," Martinez assured them during a hasty conference call. "But you'll need to keep him talking long enough for us to gather evidence of the connection between him and McGowen."
"And if Bret shows up?" Heather couldn't quite keep the tremor from her voice.
"We'll be ready," the agent promised. "Just stick to the script we discussed."
Later that afternoon, Heather sat with Lyle on the front porch, watching Charlotte play with the puppies in the yard. The little girl's laughter carried across the space, a reminder of everything that was at stake.
"I don't like this," Lyle said quietly. "Using you as bait."
"We need to end this, whatever it is," Heather replied. "I won't live in fear anymore."
He reached for her hand, his grip warm and steady. "I know. Just... be careful tomorrow, okay?"
"I will be. Besides, I'll have the best backup team in Texas." She bumped his shoulder playfully, trying to lighten the mood.
"Uncle Lyle!" Charlotte's voice interrupted them. "Come quick! Pepper found something!"
They both stood, heading toward where Charlotte stood near the edge of the training yard. The black and white puppy was pawing at something half-buried in the dirt.
Lyle crouched down, gently moving Pepper aside. His expression darkened as he brushed away the soil.
"What is it?" Heather asked.
He held up a small electronic device, no bigger than a quarter. "A listening bug."
Heather's blood ran cold. “Why would the FBI have a listening device by our barn?” It barely registered with her that she’d claimed Lyle’s barn as theirs.
“This isn’t federal equipment, Heather.”
"You mean…has Darren Richards been monitoring us?"
"Joe!" Lyle called sharply. Within moments, his brother appeared, took one look at the device, and pulled out his phone.
"Agent Martinez? We've got a situation."
