Deadly Revenge (Pearl River #3)

Chapter 31

31

Sebastian stood just inside the dense woods joining Jenna’s property, listening for tires on the road. Satisfied nothing was coming, he dashed to the back of her house and pulled on nitrile gloves. He didn’t know how much time he would have before Hart and the TBI agent returned. Hardly did any good to put a tracker on her vehicle if she didn’t use it. He’d have to find a way to put one on the TBI agent’s truck.

He jerked the key to Hart’s house out of his pocket. Running into the TBI agent was all Ross’s fault for insisting that he check on the farm crew. They were his men, the only ones that hadn’t defected to Viper—he didn’t need to check on them. Then it was just his luck that the agent cut him off before he could reach the paddleboard tethered to a tree on the riverbank.

With the river clear of fallen trees, it was a good way for him to come and go to the farmhouse without being seen. Too much traffic in and out of the farmhouse would draw attention. The only person who’d seen him come on the river was that kid. He hadn’t decided what to do about him yet.

When he reached her back door, he ran his gaze around it, stopping when he saw the tape at the top. He would have to remember to press it back in place when he left. Then he tried to unlock the door, but the key didn’t budge. He jiggled it, and on the third try, he felt it release. Once inside, Sebastian examined the key, noticing a small jagged edge that needed filing. He’d fix that before he left.

For now, he wanted to search for the photos—Hart had interrupted him this morning.

Methodically he went through the other rooms, frustrated when there was no sign of any photos of him and Ross. In her office he placed a listening device in the router—he hadn’t had time earlier—then booted up her computer and inserted a data drive that would enable him to change the password. Another little trick he’d learned at Pikeville.

Once he was in, he checked the data drives in her desk. No photos. Just recipes and information he had no interest in. When he finished, he backed out, careful to restore everything like he found it. It had been tempting to put a message on the screen, but that would be evidence.

No, he had other ways to let her know he’d been in her house without Hart being able to prove it. In her bedroom, he moved the remote to her TV from the bedside table to the dresser. In the living room, he rearranged the family photos on the mantel, and while he was there, he scraped the key against the rough brick, filing off the jagged edge.

In the kitchen, he tried the key—perfect. He returned the original key to the hook where he’d found it. She’d never even missed it. Then he placed a listening device in the light over her island and stood back. It wasn’t visible from the outside.

Then he opened a cabinet and blinked, surprised that Hart wasn’t more organized. All sizes of vitamin and pain relief bottles were haphazardly placed on shelves. Then he turned to the pantry. Same thing—he would return later and arrange a surprise for her, but not today—too many changes and someone might start believing her.

Tires crunched on the drive, and his heart almost stopped. Had to be Hart. He eased to the window in the front room and looked out. It was Hart all right. He dashed out of the living room and down the hall. Seconds later he locked the back door behind him and pressed the tape across it before he ran toward the woods. Sebastian couldn’t wait to hear her reaction to his changes.