But at the top of his list was the person whose faultthiswas.
Samantha Price.
Oh, he wouldn’t be able to do Samantha right away.Wouldn’t be able to do them all too close together.That’d be too obvious.
But he certainly couldn’t waittoolong.He wasn’t a young man anymore.
“Glenda doesn’tspeak,” Wheeler was saying.“But she communicates.She’s got a written statement the prosecution is going to introduce soon.And if the prosecution sets her up as a credible witness, she could certainly refute whatever it is you think you’re doing.Also, DNA can confirm—”
“I don’t need DNA to confirm what Iknow.What happened.”He liked the story he’d created so much, it made so much sense he almost believed it.And by the time he took the stand, he would.
So everyone else would too.
“I’m testifying, Wheeler.You can either let me up on that stand, or you can walk.Doesn’t matter to me.I’ve seen how to fix this.Now you can either make sure my plan gets enacted, or you can get out of my way.”
“Ben, you’re acting like I’m your enemy.I’m acting in your best interest.Us winning this case is inmybest interest, and I know how to win a case like this.Trust me.Let’s give it a few days.See where the prosecution goes.Let’s consider this… idea of yours a last resort.”
Last resorts didn’t work.Last resorts got people killed.He had to go on the offensive to win.He had to set the groundwork.He had to use every tool at his disposal.
Not sit around andwait.
And Benjamin Bennetwon, even after he stumbled.Especiallyafter he stumbled.“I’ll be taking the stand, Wheeler.One way or another, they’ll hear my side of the story.”
And everyone would believe it.Absolve him.Everything would go back to the way it was, the rightful way.Benjamin Bennet.Respected rancher.Good father.Goodman.
Because that was what he was.
And he’d fuckingkillto make sure everyone saw it.
Chapter Seventeen
Marietta, Montana
The gray winterday was turning dark, and no matter where they’d gone over the course of the day, neither one of them had spotted a tail.
Sam glanced at Nate as she sat at a stoplight.She couldn’t quite read his expression.Whatever he was thinking or feeling was carefully schooled away.But she couldfeelhis alertness.The way he looked for any potential sign of someone taking any undue interest.
But it was getting dark.Sam was hungry.Andbored.“Maybe we should just head back to the office.I don’t think we’re catching that tail today.”
“Maybe the bad roads kept him indoors,” Nate said, tapping his fingers on his bad leg.“If he’s not from Montana, maybe he doesn’t know how to drive in a little snow.”
Sam considered him, then returned her focus to the road when the light turned green.“Maybe the hulking guy in the passenger seat had something to do with it.”
“Hulking,” he scoffed.
“You’re not tiny, Nate.And the fact of the matter is, Iam.And if a guy doesn’t know me, he might take me for an easy mark.Alone.But not withyouin the passenger seat.”
“If that’s a suggestion you should drive around alone trying to entice a stalker, I’m going to have to ask what sort of brain injury you’ve suffered recently.”
She couldn’t glare at him since she was focused on the road, but she scowled.
“And I swear to God, Sam, if you say you can take care of yourself I’m going to…”
“You’re going to what exactly?”she asked sharply when he trailed off.
“Hell, I don’t know.Have an aneurism?”
She laughed in spite of herself.She didn’t want to beamusedwhen he was being… well, not high-handed exactly.She couldn’t even call it overprotective.In fact, if shereallysat with this feeling and was honest with herself about it, she was just… uncomfortable.She didn’t know what todowith someone actually worrying about her.Especially the way Nate did it.
