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“Well, maybe once we end this thing, he’ll be able to be free to find much better,” Davis pointed out.
“That is if he doesn’t go to jail for being an accomplice,” Erik countered, “and that’s another thing. We’re a little farther away from our end goal than you might realize. Even if we have proof they want to take over the Strauss property together, we still need them to admit to their other crimes. The fire, the paint, the bear. They have to admit it all, and we have to have proof of that admission.”
Frieda winced. She’d been so focused on the spying part of the equation and finally able to do something to help that she’d forgotten about that part. That was going to be the hardest and most important part to ending all of this chaos.
“So, what do we do now?” she asked, putting down her takeout box of lo mein, no longer hungry.
“Now we wait until Jimmy gives me a call and confirms the time of the meeting,” Regan replied. “Where is this contest being held tomorrow night?”
“At the Chamber of Commerce building at six,” Frieda explained. He nodded.
“Okay. They still might try to pull another trick, so we’ll have Tucker, Pierce, and Davis stand guard at the hotel. The rest of us will go to the contest and do what we can to try to intercept anything that might seem wrong.”
“My sister is speaking at the ceremony tomorrow,” Frieda stated, feeling her heart squeeze. “I don’t want her to be a target.”
Regan gave her a protective look and nodded in understanding.
“We’ll make sure nothing happens to her. To anyone. We’re going to get ahead of this and stop it.”
Frieda was not an emotional woman for the most part, but the tone of Regan’s voice and the look in his eyes made her want to lean against him and finally let herself feel all of the stress she’d been secretly storing in a dark corner of her subconscious. She was tired, and she so much wanted to rest. Regan made her feel like that was possible.
“Good,” Frieda agreed, standing up. “I need to get to the hotel and let my sisters know what’s happening. It’s better that I tell them in person.”
“I’ll give you a ride,” Regan quickly offered, standing up next.
“We could all go to the hotel,” Wendy offered.
“Not yet,” Frieda replied, giving her an apologetic smile. “We’ve got to keep up appearances until this is all over. We’re so close to ending this. I don’t want to lose because we got sloppy.”
“I have to agree,” Erik added, placing his hand over Wendy’s. “Come on, I’ll get you home.”
“I don’t want to go back there yet.” Wendy sighed, her shoulders drooping. “I feel like I’m going to see Jimmy every time I look out my window.”
“You can stay here a few more hours,” Davis offered, getting up. “I, on the other hand, am allowed to visit the hotel, so I want to pop in and see Heidi. You’ll have the place to yourselves.”
Frieda caught the look of relief Wendy and Erik both seemed to share, and bit back a smirk. The two were gaga already. Ugh. As she shook her head, she caught sight of Regan doing the same thing, and almost chuckled out loud.
“Are you sure that would be okay?” Erik asked Davis, his eyes flickering from him to Wendy. Davis nodded as he walked by and clapped Erik on the back.
“Of course, man,” Davis replied. “Just lock up if you decide to leave before I get back.”
“Cute, aren’t they?” Regan whispered by Frieda’s side as they made their way outside.
“Downright adorable,” Frieda murmured back, rolling her eyes. “Come on, let’s get to my sisters. We need to fill them in.”
* * *
“You didwhat?!”Birgit exclaimed.
Frieda winced and then held her finger up to her lips.
“Shhh! We’re in the lobby!” she whispered back, her eyes quickly darting around.
“Oh, there’s no one here.” Birgit sighed, shaking her head. “Frieda, seriously, why would you do that? You could have gotten hurt! We already know these people are crazy and paranoid. What if they would have suspected you?”
“But they didn’t,” Regan chimed in, his tone calm but protective.
“Frieda gave an amazing performance and it turned out very well,” he continued. “Jimmy called me back on the ride in, and we’re meeting this Jansen guy at two tomorrow along with Wendy and Anita. The plan worked, Birgit, and now we have insider perspectives for what’s going to happen next.”
