Over the last several months, she’d been able to keep tabs on him through it, and it had come in handy on more than one occasion. The one thing she couldn’t do was listen in on phone calls. Probably, there was a workaround, but after consulting one of the technical analysts at the office about how cloning devices worked, she figured she was better off not even going there. Besides, people talking on the phone was a lost art now that texting existed, and Lane’s messages told her everything she needed to know.
It was late March now, and Sutton had been staying with her brother in Boise, right across the city from where Addie currently sat. At first, Addie had been optimistic that they’d finally wised up and were parting ways.
Of course, she should have known better, because even though Sutton had moved out, she and Lane were still in constant contact. Apparently, the man wasn’t as bright as Addie thought, to continue entertaining a relationship with a woman accused of breaking into and destroying all of those homes in Dusk Valley.
But Addie was still playing the long game, which was why she hadn’t made any moves in the last several weeks. Addie wanted to lull Lane and Sutton into a false sense of security, and it seemed to have worked.
The notifications continued as she got up from the settee and walked across her office to the phone on her desk.
Or maybe it hadn’t worked, she thought as she read the messages.
LANE
Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!
SUTTON
I’ll be at the ranch by six.
LANE
Drive safe. Love you.
SUTTON
Love you too.
Hmm. Sutton was making her return to Dusk Valley.
Addie supposed it was time to enter the endgame phase.
And Sutton’s extended presence in Boise over the last three weeks played right into Addie’s hands. Addie would’ve made her plan work without Sutton’s presence in the city, but it certainly made things easier.
Sutton had no idea what was coming for her, that she’d unknowingly walked into a trap, and Addie was about to snap it shut.
Men and womenin law enforcement had certainly seen a lot of shit over the course of their careers, but Addie felt vindicated when she walked into the Dusk Valley Sheriff’s Department and elicited slack-jawed stares. The concern emanated off the ten or so men and women in waves that slammed into Addie.
The woman at the desk let Addie back when she stated her business, and Undersheriff Johns met her in the short hallway that led into the bullpen.
“Agent Caldwell,” he gasped.
“Hello,” she replied weakly.
“Wh—what happened?”
“I’d like to file an assault complaint.”
When he spoke next, he lowered his voice. “Against who?”
Addie, of course, had no such qualms about letting everyone in the vicinity know exactly who had done this to her.
“Sutton Rausch.”
Gasps left several of the department staff. As far as Addie could tell from her research, Sutton was a goddess around here. She’d dedicated so much of her time and energy to this community and was thus highly respected. The news, Addie’s bomb, was expectedly shocking.
“What happened?” Johns prompted again.
Addie’s eyes darted around, landing on the pairs and small groupings of people who stood around, staring at her and whispering to each other.
