Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Helene drew out a matching chair from the dinged oak wood table. “What’s there to understand? We’re going to wait right here until Jarod decides to come get his fiancée. Do you think I don’t know what happened?”
Amka slowly twisted her fingers and winced as rope bit into her skin. “What exactly do you think happened?” Who was this woman?
“I saw how he looks at you. He wants you. Thought he could just drop me like I don’t matter? Like all the time we spent in Anchorage doesn’t matter? Our plan is going perfectly, and he just takes off?” Her eyes flickered. “I don’t think so.”
Amka noted the woman’s bag and the rolling suitcase in the corner with a laptop perched on it. That was Jarod’s. The insurance adjuster had been keeping his laptop? “You’re his friend who has the video.”
Helene drew back, her jaw clenching. “Friend? His friend?” She leaned forward now. “No, honey. I’m his soul mate. You’re our ticket to a decent life.”
Amka tried to add up the numbers. “The life insurance policies? You sold those to him?”
“Yeah, and I signed your name on yours. His was just to make it look like you both took those out. Guess who was going to have a rough hike later this summer?” Red tinged Helene’s cheeks. “That was the plan, and then he took off. We had a little fight because I saw how much he wanted you. I’m sure that would’ve changed once he had you. But then, he’s off pouting. Or whatever. So, he can come and get you…or I’ll end you for him.”
Amka frowned. “What’s your plan here? That Jarod comes back and then, what?”
Helene slowly shrugged. “I think he just needs to see how much I love him. Then we’ll go on with our plan.”
The plan to kill Amka and get the life insurance of a million dollars? “Bad plan.” Especially since Jarod was dead. Very much so. “Wait a minute. Just how crazy are you?”
“I’m not. Love does that to a girl.” Helene flattened her hands on her jeans. “I’m sure Jarod is keeping track of news from town, and when you go missing, he’ll come find you. And me. We’ll settle everything.”
Nausea rolled through Amka’s stomach. “What would you do for love?”
Helene sniffed. “Everything.”
“Did you set those explosives in my storage building and kitchen?”
“Yep.” Helene arched an eyebrow. “You’re surprisingly resilient. Cut your brake lines, too.”
Amka struggled against the ropes. “Why? You know I don’t even want Jarod. Obviously you know about the blackmail.”
“Extortion,” Helene corrected. “He had to be engaged to you for folks to believe you’d take out insurance policies on each other. But he really thinks he wants you. He won’t once he sees how far I’ll go to have him.” Her voice cracked on the end.
What would the woman do if she discovered Jarod was dead? Amka tried to focus. “Did you kill Christian?” He couldn’t be dead. It wasn’t possible. The man was larger than life. Strong. Deadly. Hers.
“Dunno. He sure wasn’t moving when I dragged your ass out of there. I’ve never smashed anybody in the head before and was worried I hit you too hard with the gun. But you seem okay. For now, that is.” She sounded more thoughtful than psychotic, which was terrifying.
Where was that gun she’d referenced?
Could Amka keep her talking? For how long? Jarod wasn’t ever coming back. “You met Jarod after his motel burned down. You were the adjuster, right?”
“Yep. Fell for him right then and there.” Helene brushed a strand of her dark hair away from her face. “He burned down the motel himself. You know that, right?” When Amka shook her head, Helene’s smile widened. “See? He trusted me with the truth. I gave him that payout in an instant, knowing we’d be together forever. But he wanted more money. Wanted you. Thought he could get both.”
Amka tried to work her hands free. Where was that gun? She could try to break the chair, but that’d give Helene time to reach the gun. “The video? It’s on the computer?”
Helene lifted her head, looking down her nose. “Yeah. On Jarod’s computer, my phone, and his phone. Which he should be checking since I’ve left him fifty messages, including the one about meeting him at his place with his meal ticket.” She cocked her head. “I suppose it might be in the cloud, too? I’ve never understood how the whole cloud thing works.”
Amka’s hands were screaming now, the rope grinding her skin raw. Her circulation had vanished long ago. The legs of the chair wobbled every time she shifted. Her fingers were wet—blood or sweat, she didn’t know. Maybe both.
Tears gathered in Helene’s eyes. She sniffed again. “Maybe I should just kill you and leave your body for him to find. That would be a show of love, right?”