Page 65 of Allie's Shelter
She had Ross outside waiting for any excuse to come in, guns blazing. The sheriff’s team of volunteers had closed off the entire block, also ready to leap to her aid. She looked at Eva, who looked more annoyed than anything. Eva was counting on her.
Confidence. Composure. And gratitude that Bradley had let everyone else leave the restaurant.
“Stop right there,” he said in a voice smooth as silk.
His confidence and composure undid a bit of her own. Forcing her mouth into a smile, she did as he asked, trying to act as if they were still friendly colleagues instead of mortal enemies.
“You’ve got me now. Let Eva go.”
“Of course not,” he replied, his derision raking over her. “I want the account access you owe me first.”
She nodded. “You’ll have it. But it will ease a lot of the tension out there if you let her go.”
“Why would I care how uptight any hick in this town is? I’m headed for an ocean view villa in a country without extradition agreements. The password, Allie, before I have to do something rash.” He pressed the gun barrel to Eva’s temple. “You don’t want me to leave a big mess in your aunt’s tidy little eatery.”
“Why are you doing this, Mr. Roberts?”
“Don’t pull that mannerly ‘Mr. Roberts’ crap on me. This is your fault, Ms. Williams. You and your goody-two-shoes compassion.”
“Then I guess you’d better let her go or you’ll miss your flight.”
“Not without my money.”
Please don’t let the mic fail. Allie straightened her shoulders, heard Ross coaching her in the back of her mind. She had to keep him talking, had to get him to confess to his manipulation of agencies and protocols for the authorities who would listen to this recording. It was the only way to be sure he paid for his crimes.
“I can write down the codes for you. The newest ones are in the safe in the office.”
Bradley yanked Eva up and out of the booth, used the gun to gesture that Allie walk in front of them. “Lead the way.”
She hesitated. “I give you what you want and you’ll leave me alone right?”
“Oh, trust me, we’re done after today. Once I have access to my money, you won’t ever have to worry about me again.”
Allie didn’t trust him or his slick words at all, but she started moving toward the office and the safe. “How did you get away with your shady dealings for so long?”
“Practice.”
The small office was cramped with the three of them, but she opened the safe and pulled out the black backpack. She was about to pull the thumb drive with the bank records out of its hiding place in the lining when he snatched it away and dumped everything on the desk. Spotting the flash drive, he shoved it into his pocket.
“Thought you didn’t care about the proof of the faulty research and risk analysis?”
He shook his head, his mouth twisted in a half smile. “Not my problem anymore. But insurance is a good thing. I did my job and I’m off to enjoy a well-deserved, extremely well-funded early retirement.”
Something was wrong. She recognized the calculating look on his face. It was the same expression he’d worn in board meetings when he had an ace up his sleeve about numbers or timelines. What was his ace here?
A man who’d covered his tracks so carefully, who’d gone to such lengths to frame her for his crimes, would have considered his approach carefully. Especially when he was backed into a corner. Bradley took risks, but only after thoroughly considering the best possible outcome for himself.
Ross said desperate men made mistakes. Roberts was too confident and, unlike her, he wasn’t acting. Making him feel desperate, forcing that mistake, was her only chance to get Eva out of here alive. “You’ll never get away with this.”
“I already have. Quit stalling. Give me the password, I’ll verify it and be on my way.”
“She leaves first.” Allie ignored the quick look from Eva, keeping her gaze locked with Bradley.
“Still worried about the underdog.” Bradley sighed theatrically as he stepped aside, clearing the way for Eva to leave the office. “Go!”
Eva hesitated. Bradley fired and blood blossomed across Eva’s sleeve.
The gunshot was too loud, or maybe it was Allie’s scream that deafened her as Eva hit the floor. Bradley lurched forward and seized Allie’s arm in a brutal grip. His smile was absolutely predatory. “The passwords.”