“Like I said, it’s protein-related. At my suggestion and on Trish’s order, the drug lab created a similar prion, and we added it to his food—sushi I brought over to him, steak tartare Justin brought, the braised ribs Greg dropped off. It took a while, about seven months, to do the job, but he grew increasingly out of it, so no one paid him any mind. And when he finally died, it came as no surprise.”
“And now you’re going to kill me and abscond to Mexico to live a life of luxury on your drug money.”
Kelly rolled her eyes as she rose. “Don’t sound so holier-than-thou, Helia. Some of us don’t have a family support net to keep us from hitting rock bottom. Now, where’s your passport?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Collin untangled a string of beads as he watched the window. Helia and Kendall had stepped inside five minutes earlier, and they couldn’t come back into view soon enough.
“I get the sense there’s more going on than we know,” Harry said.
He was tempted to look away and meet the man’s eyes, but he couldn’t tear his attention from the water tower.
“There is,” he replied. “We can’t say anything about it, but we don’t think Helia’s in danger anymore.”
“Which is why you’re as nervous as a chicken with a fox circling the coop.”
He started to smile, but the buzz of his phone stopped him. He anticipated a text from Mantis telling him they were leaving. His blood pressure leaped when Kendall’s name displayed on the screen.
Kendall:Hiding under the couch. Kelly is here
“Fuck.” The word burst from his mouth like a beast breaking its chains.
Monk:Can you get out?
Kendall:Not leaving her
Monk:Are you safe?
Kendall:As can be, but wouldn’t mind a little rescuing
If he were in another state of mind, he might have smiled at that, but he didn’t.
Monk:Calling the guys, we’ll be there in ten
His hands shook as he sent out a group text to his brothers. He’d barely hit Send before a reply came in.
Mantis:On our way. Dulcie knows the land best, he’ll get us there unseen. Will text a meeting spot
Monk didn’t reply but headed to the room he and Helia had claimed and found his gun safe. Unlocking it, he pulled out his weapon of choice, gave it a quick once-over, then shoved it into the back of his jeans.
“Collin, what’s going on?” Vanessa asked. She and Harry stood in the hall wearing identical looks of concern.
“I shouldn’t have let her go on her own. There’s…a situation. Call the police. No,” he said, pulling out Agent Perry’s card. “Call her and tell her we need her stat.”
Harry took the card, eyeing it with confusion. He didn’t have time to stop and explain why the DEA needed to be involved, though, and he pushed by the couple. To his chagrin, but not surprise, they followed him out. The echo of the gate bell rang as he made his way down the stairs. If that was Patrick and Kaden, maybe the couple would distract Harry and Vanessa enough for him to slip into the vineyard.
His phone vibrated with another text.
Kendall:She tied Helia up, searched the first floor. She doesn’t know I’m here. I should be safe
Monk’s jaw tightened. She’d be safer if she got out, but at least she’d given him an update.
He paused at the bottom of the steps.
Monk:Stay quiet
Kendall:Duh
