Chapter Twenty-Five

Exhilarated after her visit to the stable, Raine hummed a happy little tune as she settled back to editing when, without warning, the familiar prickling rippled across her neck. Her first thought was Addison! Then she relaxed. Addison was still in jail. It couldn’t be him. “Don’t be silly,” she chided herself aloud. “You’re just paranoid. You know Addison’s still behind bars. Gordon said so yesterday.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, yet.” He’d assured her then snickered. “As of thirty minutes ago I left the scumbag looking like a caged monkey locked tight behind bars. Come to think of it, that’s insulting a monkey. Anyway, I promise to be on the horn the second he steps on free dirt. Now quit worrying. You’re still a newlywed. Go have fun with your husband. Molly and I are looking forward to meeting him, too. We just wish we could’ve come to the wedding. From the pictures you sent he must be crazy about you given his sappy-eyed look.”

At first, they’d been full of misgivings regarding the quickly developing relationship but the more they’d faced-timed with Jess, those qualms disappeared and they happily accepted him with open arms. Gordon especially felt a kindred spirit in Jess realizing the man wouldn’t back off from a fight with Addison. In fact, Gordon sensed Jess’s aching need for Addison to bring it on.

As for Jess, he liked the no-holds-barred, kick-ass attitude Gordon Hanson possessed. His opinion,—no one got by the man unless he wanted them to. And they were in total agreement that eliminating Addison once and for all would make the world a much safer place. “I wish I could find a way to make him disappear.” Gordon ground out in a private conversation he’d had with Jess.

“You come up with something I’ll hop the next plane out to help you.”

If Jess had seen Addison’s reaction to their marriage, he’d have already jumped the first plane to Phoenix and done the deed. Addison’s vicious temper had blazed front and center alarming Robert Ford enough he’d moved out of striking distance. Addison had literally shook with rage and made no bones about pounding his ex-wife so far into the ground nobody would ever find her.

Despite being taken to task after harassing her at Thanksgiving, he’d continued. Once started, he couldn’t stop, especially when her taunting replies egged him on. It was like poking a stick at a riled-up rattler just to watch him strike. It did puzzle him that the bitch hadn’t turned him in again. They’d been taunting back and forth for weeks. But her last one set his back teeth to grinding. She’d actually had the gall to call him a wife-beating coward. Said he wasn’t a real man, that he was afraid to fight a man. By damn, he’d show her what a real man could do when he got his hands on her. And if she thought he was going to meet her some place she picked she was as crazy as a loon! He wasn’t about to walk into a backwoods trap, nor was he gullible believing she’d bring Katy to any meeting between them. He had to catch her on her heels. “I’ll catch you by surprise and you’ll be sorry you were ever born.” Once the score was settled, he’d disappear into the wild blue yonder with his sweet baby girl. Revenge was so close he could almost taste it.

At nine o’clock that night, Robert Ford watched Addison enter the airport arrivals area carrying a duffle bag and camouflage jacket. They played at pleasantries but once in the jeep Addison was ready to get the show on the road. “You have anything new for me?”

Ignoring his screaming conscious, Robert Ford handed Addison the envelope containing the shots from the stable, then waited silently for the fireworks.

Opening the flap, Addison removed the glossy eight-by-tens. His fury was instantaneous. The throbbing vein that jumped out on his forehead was proof of that rage. Taking a deep breath, he remained uncharacteristically calm while thinking the little bitch was definitely going to wish he’d killed her months ago. Yes indeed! He was about to make her life a living hell starting with a well-deserved beating.

He touched the belt at his waist, the one purchased just for the occasion. Thanks to his attentive secretary, everything—new clothes, money, plane ticket, had been ready upon his release. And it had all been on the q.t. Few knew he’d even been released earlier than planned, especially not Raine’s arrogant ass-hole attorney. As for his folks,—he’d given them some lame story about needing a little space to clear his head before getting back to work and they hadn’t questioned his actions. Now, he was a man on a mission to mete out some well-deserved punishment. And with the element of surprise on his side he was going to use it. In anticipation, the thrill of the hunt coursed through his heart, thundering with the thrill of the score he meant to settle.

Silent but exhilarated, Robert Ford drove the ribbon of interstate. This conscious-killing case was almost finished. All I have to do is show the sicko her location, collect his fee then color me gone.

Robert Ford would be gone all right, for he knew too damn much. Running scared Addison knew he’d spill his guts to save his own hide. But Addison had an elimination plan for him, too.

Sliding the photos back into the envelope Addison tucked them inside the duffle bag at his feet then began paying attention to the tangle of interstates flashing by. St. Louis was a veritable treasure trove of escape routes and he’d need one once the deed was finished.

It wasn’t long before they left the interstate for rural back roads. That surprised him. Who’d have thought the prissy little bitch would like living in the sticks? “That’s the place.” Robert Ford interrupted Addison’s musing to point to the sprawling log home set back off the road.

Muted lights glowing in the windows provided a serene ambiance, but Addison was anything but serene. He was overwhelmed with the urge to strike right then, but he fought it off. Noting the dusk to dawn lamps, he’d have no trouble finding his way around and, luck of all luck, there was the added bonus of the surrounding woods to hide in. Again, the urge to act was strong but he lectured himself. Stay focused. Don’t be rash. You’ll get your reward in the end.

His self-control firmly in place, Addison pulled an envelope from his pocket. “Here’s the rest of your fee. You did great. I bet you’re ready to head home to warmer weather.”

Robert Ford accepted the envelope. “You have no idea.”