Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“I see. Would you have anything that might corroborate that? An email with a timestamp, perhaps? A saved file?”
“No. I was working on some correspondence in a Word document. I didn’t finish until well after midnight, which is when I last saved the file. Now, Detective, if you’ll forgive me, I’m a busy man, and I need to get back to work, so unless you have something—”
“I hear you’re interested in purchasing the property your mother left to your cousin.”
At that, Archibald Phillips seemed taken aback. “Who told you that? Josie?”
Zach didn’t answer.
“That woman has issues, Detective. It’s true that I made an offer on the property, but only because I feel sorry for her. Do you know who my cousin is?” He lowered his voice as though what he was about to say was almost unspeakable. “She’s the woman who was held prisoner by that sicko nine years ago. The one who chained her up and raped her for a year. She had his baby. How disgusting is that?”
Zach’s vision turned red, a slow simmering anger boiling through his blood. He detested Archibald Phillips. He’d known guys like him all his life. He was mean and self-centered, and he used his size to intimidate, to bully. But the minute you came for him with any kind of fight, he’d become the victim. Zach would have disliked him in any scenario, but the fact that he was adding to Josie’s stress at the very least, and the idea that he might have broken into her home and placed a bloody, dead rat on her kitchen table, made him feel violent. “I’m aware of the crime perpetrated against Josie Stratton,” he said slowly, his words controlled.
“Then you understand why she has the mental problems she does. And a woman alone trying to fix up that ramshackle old place?” He made a disbelieving hissing sound. “She doesn’t stand a chance. She’ll be bankrupt and out on her ass in no time. I was simply trying to do her a favor.”
Zach forced his lips upward. “How benevolent of you.”
Archibald narrowed his eyes, assessing Zach and obviously realizing Zach wasn’t buying what he was selling.
“What’d you offer her?”
“A fair price.”
“Really? Half a million dollars? Because that’s what it’s worth. Acreage like that in the area she’s in. I looked it up. But I think you already knew what it was worth, didn’t you, Cousin Archie? And my guess is that you lowballed the hell out of her. Tell me, did it make you angry when she refused?”
Anger clouded his expression, answering for him. “If I lowballed her, it’s only because she manipulated my mother into leaving that property to her in the first place. A vulnerable old woman with dementia. How’s that for benevolent?”
“So the way you see it, that property should be yours?”
“Damn straight. I told Josie I was considering getting the courts involved, and I meant it.”
“I bet. But if she decides she doesn’t feel safe there, decides to take you up on your offer after all and head out of town, it would save you the hassle and the lawyer’s fees for a case that you’re not likely to win.” Zach held up his hand when Archibald opened his mouth. “That’s okay, it was a rhetorical question. Do you still have a key to Josie’s house?”
“No.” Archibald schooled his expression quickly, but Zach had seen the flash of something in his face that made Zach believe he was lying. Archibald glanced pointedly at the large watch on his wrist. “Will that be all, Detective? I have a call with a client in ten minutes.”
“How’s business, Mr. Phillips? I couldn’t help noticing your reception area was empty.”
Anger simmered just behind Archibald Phillip’s eyes, but his thick lips turned upward in the semblance of a smile. “I do the majority of my business on the phone and on the computer, Detective. I see clients when need be, of course, but the office is often quiet. It’s a nice perk, honestly.”
“So if I checked into your financials, I’d find that everything was fine and dandy?”
Archibald’s face darkened. “My business ebbs and flows,” he gritted. “Just like many businesses. Now”—he stood—“I’m going to have to ask again if that’ll be all. I’m a busy man.”
Zach took his time coming to his feet, and as Archibald began to pass him, he stuck his foot out, so the big man tripped. Zach swung his arm out as if he might steady him but pushed him backward instead. Archibald slammed against his desk with a whumf, papers flying out around him. Zach leaned over him. “Oops.” His lips turned upward in the mockery of a smile. “I’d suggest staying away from your cousin, Mr. Phillips. Because if I find out you’ve done anything to even so much as annoy her, I’ll nail your ass to the wall.” He grabbed the front of the man’s suit and yanked him to his feet. “Try to be more careful where you step.” He smiled, a real one, as he headed for the door.