Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 91212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
"Same," Jericho says. "I think he's just a cold-hearted asshole, and although a part of him might be glad his sister is no longer around to cause problems, I don't know that he ordered her hit."
"Plus, I don't think he'd be stupid enough to order the beatdown of a federal agent either," Jericho says before I can answer.
"Stop," I say holding up my hands. "The warning was personal. I don't know that the ordered hit and what happened last night is even connected. They told me to stay away from her."
"Those were the exact words?" Hemlock challenges, his eyes narrowing as if he can read my mind.
"It was a little more personal than that," I mutter, unwilling to put such personal business out there in order to protect Cora.
"I see," Jericho says, not even bothering to make an attempt to hide his smile. "Interesting. So, it's true then? You are in love with her?"
I glare at the man but don't respond. Denying it feels like a lie, but I don't know that I've fully accepted it either.
"It doesn't matter. I need to know if she's in danger," I growl.
"An old lover maybe?" Jericho asks, his eyes locked on my face as if he's expecting some sort of reaction at the mention of her having a life before I came into the picture.
"Or a current one?" Hemlock adds.
"Do you want me to fuck you up?" I snap at him, and I watch his face transform.
He isn't pissed I just threatened him. The smile that spreads across his face is telling.
"Damn," he says. "How the mighty have fallen."
"Are you going to keep giving me shit or are you going to help me?"
"Keep giving you shit," they say in unison.
"At least for a few more minutes," Jericho adds as he steps closer like I'm a science project he's required to take notes on.
I slap at his hand when he pokes my shoulder.
"It looks like Agent Edward Yarrow," he says.
"Sounds like him, too," Hemlock says, joining in on harassing me.
"I hate both of you fuckers," I mutter, taking a few steps back. "This is serious."
"Love always is," Jericho says, an abrupt sadness in his voice.
We all have our reasons for doing what we do, but I get a feeling his goes a little deeper than just wanting to put bullets in bad guys’ heads.
"It is possible they are connected?" Hemlock asks, the first of the two jerks to get back on task.
"With what reasoning?" I ask.
"What if there's someone connected through Cora, a stalker maybe? The sister died not long after the argument they had, right? Maybe this is some sort of fucked-up peace offering," Hemlock explains.
"That would explain the heart card connection."
"I don't think that's the line of reasoning the Agency has unveiled," I argue.
"The Agency doesn't know everything. Why do you think I cut ties?" Jericho challenges. "They get a whiff of something and predict the outcome before looking into the details. Their investigations lead them where they want not where they would organically go. You should know that as much as I do."
"I can see what he's saying," Hemlock says. "If the connection to the suit of hearts is love, then the stalker's love for Cora could be the Full Deck Killer’s reasoning for using that one."
"So it would have to be someone in her personal life? A different suit would mean a different connection," I say.
"Not necessarily. I think that seeing it that way narrows your scope too far. They could be a business associate who also loves her," Hemlock says. "I think the deep dive into William's history is where it went wrong. We should be focusing on every associate all three of them have."
"Even Chris?" I say, not wanting to waste time on looking into shit that won't pan out.
"I say we start with Cora and work our way down. There has to be that love connection," Jericho says.
"Or the killer wants us to think it is. What if someone hired the hit to frame the brother, knowing he’s a complete asshole, because they're wanting to prevent him from taking office?" Hemlock asks.
I pull in a deep breath. "Would the killer compromise his calling card to suit someone else's needs?"
"He makes a living killing for money. How committed to the deck of cards do you think he actually is?" Jericho challenges.
"Plus, everything they know about him has to do with one confession and the rest is speculation. If they got anything from the guy who caved, then they could've caught him by now," Hemlock adds, making complete sense.
"So we're right back at square one, not knowing a fucking thing?"
They both look at me with sad faces.
"I have to go back to South Carolina," I say. "I can't leave her unprotected."
"They have security on the house, don't they?" Hemlock asks.