AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Desperate people do desperate things. You must go. You might not have another chance.”
Though not quite sure what she meant, Bethany had believed her. Crying as she’d hugged her, Bethany had promised to return with enough money to whisk her away to a new life.
Arriving in Manhattan with a fake ID and two-hundred dollars in her pocket, Bethany managed to land a job as a cocktail waitress in a high-end gentleman’s club. The money was surprisingly good, mostly because of the tips, and it was there she’d met Michael Aiken.
He’d hired her with the title of Executive Assistant, but it wasn’t an office job. She ran errands, delivered envelopes and packages, picked up mail at various mailbox facilities, and sometimes even followed people. After a few months he’d moved her into a decent apartment, bought her nice clothes, and started taking her to dinners when he entertained business associates.
Surprisingly, he’d never tried to sleep with her, or even kiss her.
Then he’d presented her with what sounded like an impossible task.
She had to convince a well-known real-estate developer she was his daughter, then persuade him to buy a large house in a place called Elk Valley. Once she was in the man’s life, there’d be further instructions.
She realized immediately the mission was why Michael had hired her. Though she was dubious, he promised her ten-thousand dollars if she succeeded. It would be enough to save her mother and begin a new life for the both of them.
Throwing herself into the difficult undertaking, she not only managed to win over Tom Mitchell, she presented the house in Elk Valley armed with a comprehensive market valuation and all the relevant facts he needed. But after Tom bought the house, Michael’s orders continued. She had to make sure the office at the top of the winding staircase underwent extensive renovations, and she was to search for a hidden cabinet during the remodeling. Inside she’d find a briefcase.
When she’d come up empty, he’d provided drugs to ensure Tom would sleep through the night so she could hunt through the rest of the home undisturbed.
But Tom’s daughter was becoming suspicious.
Michael wanted her scared so she’d leave.
Bethany had succeeded there too, then Tom’s Head of Security had shown up, and now everyone had been ordered to vacate. The clandestine operation was falling apart, and along with it her chances of being paid and rescuing her mother. It didn’t help that she genuinely liked Tom and she hated being part of such an despicable deception.
Sipping her bourbon, she thought about all the places she’d searched. Michael had even provided her with a state of the art radar scanner that could literally look through walls.
“What the hell can I do now?” she mumbled as the lights in the room flickered. She wished she was still in the house. It had its own generator and the place was empty “Shit! There’s no-one there!” she suddenly exclaimed.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Curled up on the couch in the living room, Ellie and Noah were watching the ongoing coverage of the storm in front of a roaring fire. Though the ranch had been spared, much of Elk Valley had lost power. But the news was good. The heavy winds and thunderstorms were moving out.
“I’ll bet there’s snow in the mountains,” Noah remarked, stretching his arms above his head. “With the temperature still dropping I wouldn’t be surprised if we got some too.”
“You’re right,” Ellie declared, pointing at the television as the forecast popped up. “How did you know?”
“I’ve lived here a while,” he replied with a grin. “I’m off to check the horses then call it a night.”
“Okay,” she mumbled, fighting a yawn. “I’ll be in bed waiting for you.”
“I like the sound of that,” he quipped with a wink. As he pushed himself up from the couch, Sherlock barked and ran towards the kitchen. “Not tonight! We’re goin’ the short way through the front door.”
The little dog barked again, then trotted back through the living room and headed into the hall.
“He’s such a smart little guy,” Ellie remarked with a grin. “Don’t let him get blown away.”
“Never. If it’s bad I’ll carry him.”
Sherlock’s waterproof cover was on the top shelf in the hall closet. After making sure it was wrapped securely around the dog’s body, Noah pulled on his heavy winter coat and rubber boots, then headed out into the weather. The wind had eased, but as the motion detector lights lit up the courtyard, he grimaced. It was a mess. He’d need Cody to come back to help him. Continuing to the barn, he stepped inside and walked up to Stetson’s stall. The big horse whinnied a welcome, then nickered.
“Hey, big boy,” Noah said, picking up some carrots from a nearby bucket.
Dropping a few into the feeder, he continued down the aisle sharing the treats with the other horses. None were sleeping, but they didn’t seem agitated. Relieved, he perched on a bale of hay and pulled out his phone, then abruptly realized he’d forgotten to tell Ellie the truth about Cody’s sudden departure. Promising himself he’d explain as soon as he retuned to the house, he placed the call.
“Hey, Noah,” Cody said, answering immediately. “Is everything okay there?”
“The yard is a mess, but otherwise no problems. What about you?”
