Page 71 of Huntress Unleashed
“Okay, that works. How about a scenario where I went to see her,” Dane said. “I can get into her house freely.”
“I can too, though I always knock first. Maybe I was worried when she didn’t answer because we were supposed to be getting together. We have keys to each other’s homes, Mom and Dad, mine, Jacqueline’s,” Robert said.
“The way we’ll handle this is Robert came to see his sister for a prearranged get together and Robert called Dane and me to tell us that Jacqueline had been murdered,” Tobias said. “Then Dane and I arrived at her home.”
“What about killing Dane?” Zeke asked.
“You can tell X that you can try to locate Dane at his home later tonight because he wasn’t at his home when you last checked,” Tobias said. “Speaking of which, if you have any idea that they are tracking your vehicle, you might want to drop by Dane’s house first before you call him.”
“Wait. We killed Jacqueline on her back porch. How will we be able to explain how we reached the backyard if X asks?” Zeke asked.
“The gate isn’t locked. I have a yard service so I never lock the gate,” Jacqueline said. “But how did you get in through the security gate at the entrance to the development?”
“X gave us the code.”
“Then he might know someone in the development. What if he has the friend or associate, most likely a hunter, watching my place?” Jacqueline asked.
This was getting more complicated by the minute, Dane was thinking.
Everyone was quiet.
“That could be a problem.” Tobias rubbed his chin in thought.
Michael said, “Zeke, you and your friends go to Dane’s house, pretend to gain entry into his home, then leave and go to the compound. But before you do, leave your phones off somewhere.”
“At home. We’ll go there after we drop by Dane’s house as a ruse first, then go home to pack the stuff we’ll need and leave our phones, then go to your place. Oh, and we’ll make sure we don’t have any tracking devices on the car,” Zeke said.
Michael said, “Other hunters in the group can shop for you if you need anything else that you might forget to get once you are settled in at the compound.” He gave them the address.
“Okay, thanks,” Zeke said.
“I’ll join you all at the compound later. I need to meet personally with the members of the council about all this,” Tobias said.
Then Michael and the others left the house, and they heard them drive off. Dane sure hoped all of this worked out like they had planned, as much as they kept having to improvise.
“What about the police? Wouldn’t you and or Tobias call the police when you found me dead?” Jacqueline asked.
“Uh, yeah,” Tobias said.
“I have a police detective friend who often handles these cases. I can call him, and we can see if he will keep our secret,” Dane said.
“Hopefully that will work,” Tobias said. “After we speak to the detective, if the two of you think you’ll be all right until these scumbags are picked up, I’ll leave. But if you believe you would be better off at the compound, you’re welcome to join us.”
Dane and Jacqueline shared glances. “I’m good here or with Dane,” Jacqueline said, “if he feels the same way.”
“Yeah, we’ll stick together,” Dane said, assuring her he was going to be there for her. “We can call Adonis, who can be here in a flash.”
“And Stacey and Anne,” she said.
“Zachary, Pasha, Michael, and Danai too. They’ve been on standby all this time. If you change your mind about joining us, just let us know and we’ll have a house set up to accommodate you. We don’t want to lose any of you. And we don’t want you to get yourself into trouble because they come after you and you have to terminate them,” Tobias said.
“Right, but if they do, we will. It will be self-defense,” Jacqueline said.
“I totally understand. But we would prefer it if hunters who haven’t been turned take them down should they come after you, just to keep you safe,” Tobias said.
“But they’re going on a list, right?” Dane asked, frowning.
“Yes, with a warning to apprehend them at all costs to begin with. We want them for questioning. If they fight any of our hunters?—”