Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
“Are we really thinking of buying the property?” Zahra asked. “I thought that was a ruse just so Guadalupe wouldn’t be suspicious.”
“I like the property,” Stella said. “I think we could develop it under the right circumstances. Water, electricity, ability to rent it as an Airbnb when we’re not using it. Things like that. It’s a great location for wildlife, and it has two amazing boulders that few could ever climb if they didn’t have permission and access to the property.”
“Kind of like what we’ve been doing already,” Harlow said.
Stella laughed. “Exactly. Back to what you found out about Guadalupe.”
“I believe she was trafficked, and her husband was part of a coalition on this side of the border. Border officials, law enforcement and several of the very prominent ranchers and landowners were part of the ring, along with the Delgotto Cartel. There was some speculation that Guadalupe’s husband fell out of favor with the cartel and was killed. The fire was used as a cover-up. Those investigating originally wrote that in their reports—the detectives, the fire marshal and the local ME. Those reports were buried. The new reports all said the same thing—it was an accidental fire. A terrible tragedy. There was no mention of Guadalupe’s husband’s head injury in the later reports.”
“Was there any evidence that Mr. Brown abused his wife?”
“Over the years, yes. They often went to charitable functions, and every time she was seen laughing, dancing or speaking to another man, he would lose it and chastise her publicly, sometimes verbally and other times physically. When it was physical, he was so brutal that several of his friends would interfere and try to stop him. Many witnesses reported that it seemed as though he would instruct Guadalupe to interact with the men, speak to them or dance with them, and then he’d be angry with her for doing as he insisted.”
They exchanged long looks, each trying to puzzle out what that could mean. “Do you think he used her to further business deals for him, and then made it look as if he had no idea what she was doing other than flirting with other men?” Zahra asked.
Vienna inclined her head. “It sounds like he would give an order to her, tell her to entice some man and maybe make a date with him for later that evening, but he didn’t want anyone to know he was doing it, so he made a scene.”
“I believe he was using her, forcing her to sleep with other men. He most likely filmed it or had her do it, and then he got what he wanted out of the business deal,” Raine said. “It’s a common tactic. He appeared to have been very brutal when he got physical.”
“It would explain why she didn’t leave him and why she refused to tell the cops that he was pimping her out. She probably knew the cops were involved,” Stella said.
“You know who is connected to the mastermind,” Shabina said. “It’s so instinctive because you’re totally in survival mode.”
“There is one thing she did several times when she was out showing property. She received a phone call, but not on her own cell. She carried a second phone with her and would speak briefly to someone on that line and hang up. It was clear she didn’t want anyone to see or hear her. She’s definitely got a burner phone,” Raine reported.
The back door swung open, and Rush’s powerful frame strode toward them.
“Do you think she still has ties to the cartel?” Harlow asked hastily.
“You don’t just walk away from a cartel,” Raine said, hastily closing her laptop.
“Even though she’s been here for years?” Stella asked.
“Even then,” Raine said, and slid her arms around Rush’s neck as he carefully lifted her.
Harlow put Raine’s things in the computer backpack and gave it to Rush. He transferred it to the hand farthest from her leg and turned and walked out without a word, just as Raine had predicted he would.
Chapter Fourteen
Harlow, Shabina and Rainier entered the Grill using Alek Donovan’s private entrance. The door led into the massive kitchen Alek had just renovated along with the interior of the restaurant. Shabina kept turning around to inspect the kitchen so much, instead of walking forward, following Alek, that Rainier had to grab her shoulders and put her in front of him to keep her moving.
“The kitchen wasn’t touched,” Alek announced. “I don’t know if they were spooked and made a run for it before they did more damage, but they completely destroyed one wall of the diner, all the artwork on it and four of the table-and-chair sets closest to that wall.”
Alek had called Harlow early that morning, waking her from a sound sleep, so upset she couldn’t understand him. He wanted her to come to the Grill right then. Someone had broken in and splashed paint over his walls and the consigned artwork. She managed to talk him into waiting before touching anything, saying she would come immediately but was bringing Rainier with her. Even as she assured Alek, she could see Wilder didn’t like that he wasn’t accompanying her.