Page 34 of Spock’s Snare

“It’s complicated.”

“Only because you make everything complicated,” Wildcard mutters.

Despite the sick feeling in my stomach, I almost smile. Spark ignores them and turns the laptop so we can see the screen again. Darby Archer’s name is highlighted in the database.

“Her name appears here,” Spark says. “It’s also in the journal. Same spelling. Same project address. I called Juliet to find out if she knew why her cousin might be connected to Red Rock.”

“And?” Puma asks.

“Darby and two of her friends hired Red Rock to build a commercial project. They pooled their money to buy the property and finance construction. According to Juliet, things started going wrong almost as soon as work began.”

“What kind of things?” I ask.

“First it was unexpected site conditions. They needed special equipment to demolish the original building. Then unexpected county ordinances added costs. Material problems. Change orders. Other delays. Red Rock kept coming up with more reasons to increase the costs.”

That sounds disturbingly familiar.

“They suspected Red Rock was conning them,” Spark continues. “Juliet said that Darby asked her for help. She was hoping Avery or Juliet could investigate the company,” Spark says, before explaining to me. “Juliet is a computer whiz. Not at my level, but she’s good.”

Wildcard smirks. “You tell her that?”

“I like living.”

Alisa laughs softly, but Puma remains focused on Spark. “Anything else?”

“I don’t have the full story yet. Juliet didn’t want to explain everything over the phone.” Spark checks the time on his laptop. “She’s on her way here with Darby now. I told her it was important. If Darby’s name is in both records, Red Rock was watching her for a reason. She may be able to tell us more about how the scheme works.”

“Or tell us who approached her when the money ran out,” Spock says.

Spark nods. “Exactly.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: SPOCK

I lean forward in my chair, my elbows resting on the scarred tabletop as silence settles over the room. Nobody speaks for several long seconds. Red Rock Construction isn't just another shady contractor. They're predators.

They don't simply underbid jobs and hope to turn a profit. They deliberately bleed developers dry with endless change orders, engineered delays, surprise "structural concerns," and conveniently discovered code violations until the owner can't keep funding the project. Then one of their business partners swoops in and buys the property for pennies on the dollar. This is a huge white-collar scam. If not for Chloe, we wouldn’t know about it or care. But something keeps nagging at me.

I glance toward Chloe.

She's sitting beside me, listening intently, her brows drawn together as she processes everything.

I reach beneath the table and wrap my fingers around hers.

She squeezes back automatically.

I look back toward Spark.

"I've got a concern."

Every head turns toward me.

Puma nods. "Go."

I tap the table.

“It’s obvious that those running Red Rock Construction are assholes, but that doesn’t mean they’re the ones who are threatening Chloe. There isn’t any evidence that they’re behind the attacks at Riversedge Apartment.”

"They could be," Rush says.