Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Bonnie—Waitress at Curly Joe’s. She knew Nathan (one of the victims), they slept together. Reddish-blonde hair, freckles, green eyes. Called in sick to Curly Joe’s as she hasn’t been feeling well since she learned of Nathan’s murder.
Ted—Waiter at Curly Joe’s. Loves whipped cream and loves to supply Lilah with all she likes of it. Fifty-something, tall, thin, and bald, wire glasses framing deep-set eyes.
Calvin Pierce—Manager of Curly Joe’s. Bushy hair and a good thirty pounds and three inches on Ted. There’s a bit of an air of authority to him.
Landry Williams—Connected to the case via the Kellermans’. He went to school with Kellerman Senior, and Grayson Kellerman (a victim) was murdered along with Natalie Smart who was Landry’s real estate agent as well.
Ghost— One of the deadliest assassins on the planet. Went up against Lilah before during her first case back in the Hamptons when she faced off with the Society. Tall, muscular, and confident, his grace is that of a practiced soldier. His dark brown hair is short, but not short enough to read as military. His temples are streaked gray, perhaps thirty-six or seven. Pale green eyes. High cheekbones, a straight nose.
Gabriel—One of Kane’s men who helps protect him and Lilah. His father worked for Kane for five years. Military background, recently honorably discharged. Sniper.
Enrique—One of Kane’s men who helps protect him and Lilah.
Laslo—One of Kane’s men who he has dubbed to take over the cartel when Kane can finally get rid of his uncle.
The final chapter of
Happy Death Day
What the hell just happened? And in what universe did I ever believe Kane would save my father’s life? But that’s what just happened. Kane returns to my side, and I say just that, “What the hell just happened?!”
“I don’t know.” Kit steps to our side, and Kane speaks to him in rapid Spanish, the general gist being to get word on the street. Find out who did this.
Chaos is an understatement, and my father demands both me and Kane be by his side. Kane offers Enrique and Jay to my father, who couldn’t be more appreciative. That was always the plan, of course, but not like this, not with an unknown enemy shooting bullets at my father and for all we know, us as intended targets, as well. But the win here is what the win was always supposed to be. Now Kane has trusted men guarding my father, watching what is happening inside a Society operation.
I coordinate with the police, talk with Chief Houston, and work through the safety issue, and somehow, forty-five minutes after the attack, the chaos has calmed down. When that happens, and despite my objections, my father convinces the hotel and the police that he must go on, even if it’s only on camera. After which, he will host a slimmed-down afterparty. And so, that’s what happens. He stands on the stage and gives a speech to the cameras that I expect will now end up on every television in the city. Everyone in this city will be spellbound by the television and what happened tonight. A part of me wonders if my father set this all up to ensure this attention came his way. I decide if anyone did this, it was Pocher, or my father would not have accepted Kane’s protection.
I’m more convinced of this than ever after my father’s speech, and before the party, that my father didn’t set-up today’s attack as a publicity stunt. Kane and I are inside a private room with my father when he shakes Kane’s hand again. “You saved my life. I don’t know who’s more surprised, me or you.”
“As long as she wants you to live,” Kane replies, “I’ll protect you.”
There is a not-so-hidden meaning punched into those words, as long as she wants you to live.
My father isn’t stupid. He gets it. This story works in reverse. If I want him dead, Kane can make that happen, as well.
Much later, the afterparty has turned into much more than a small party, with at least two hundred guests, and waiters working the room with trays of champagne and finger foods. Kane’s on the menu too apparently, as my father pulls him into conversation after conversation about energy and oil. An hour into the torture of it all, a waiter pauses next to me and hands me a note. I open it to read: Alleyway behind the kitchen –Andrew
I show it to Kane and he frowns, but I don’t give him time to object. My brother knows what I know. Tonight was all about an agenda, and we need to know who was behind it all. I hurry through the crowd and into the kitchen, continuing on to the rear alley doorway. I step outside to find Andrew there, waiting. He motions for the security guard, an off-duty cop, to step inside for a minute. When he resists, I flash my badge and he complies. When we’re alone, Andrew says, “What the hell was that?”