* * * *
“When can I see her?” Pierce asked as he entered the hotel room followed by several guards.
“Well, I think there may have to be a change of plans here, sir,” Robert stated as he stood in front of the large window overlooking the city of Dallas.
“Why is that? I want to see her. Isn’t this club open during the week? I’ve already waited several days. It’s Thursday, and nothing has changed. I also set the wheels in motion for a takeover. I plan on using that to help convince Juliana that she needs to come with me without a fight.”
“A lot has changed. I think you need to take this FBI investigation more seriously.”
“Who cares about that? It is more than likely a push from Broderick. I told you to leave and take care of him. I can handle Juliana.”
“You cannot handle Juliana, and this is beyond Broderick pushing back at your demands for control of his business. Juliana has spilled information, Pierce. She’s told her little boyfriends and their gang of wannabes about the murders.”
“And you know this how?”
“Teddy and the guys tried to work on bribing some of the locals to take over the dance hall as you ordered. They even went as far as to send a little message to the main business owner, Susanna. It backfired. Two of our men were caught trying to set fire to Dixie Chix. On top of that, we’ve got our inside men warning that the feds are on their way to find us. Have you looked at your business accounts this morning? Have you seen the red flags? I had to use cash to pay for this hotel room. I’ve taken money from my own accounts.”
“Fuck! I can’t believe this. How could this be happening to me?”
“You should start preparing to get the hell out of here. I’m taking what time I have and heading out of this fucking country after I get my money.”
“We need to grab Juliana. If these assholes are going to start taking away everything I’ve worked so hard for, then I at least want to have my Juliana. I think taking the jet will just raise red flags. We should use the yacht. We’ll grab her. Do you have men on standby?”
“Yes. Of course I do. I have enough artillery to kill the likes of every one of those soldiers and feds that are snooping around.”
“Then go get her. Meet me at the marina. I’ll clear out my accounts and make arrangements for my things to be shipped elsewhere. We’ll do this. We have enough money to live the high life twice over, my friend,” Pierce stated confidently as he grabbed his briefcase and pulled out his cell phone. Robert watched him leave.
“What’s the plan?” Teddy asked.
“We hit the house. Get the men together and hit it tonight. It’s easier in the dark,” Robert stated then began to make his own calls and transfer money into his overseas accounts. They were under false names he had false identification and social security numbers for. He would be set.
“I’m coming for you, Juliana. Get ready for a new life.”
Chapter 12
Richie ran his fingers through his hair. He heard their gasps. He felt their shock because he was in shock himself. Juliet had witnessed her own boyfriend get murdered and was then forced to view his face one final time in his grave. To top that, she had witnessed a woman get raped and murdered. Her stepfather had done that on purpose, taking out his anger over Juliet losing her virginity on an innocent woman. The hypothetical scenario that Monte had come up with prior to the evidence Juliet had revealed to them proved that she in fact was a witness to murder, corporate sab
otage, blackmail, and corruption.
He looked at Carl.
“I know. I just can’t even imagine how she survived this.”
“Did Monte send the information to the feds?” Carl asked as he locked gazes with BJ and Mason.
“Yeah. They’re sending people to the dump. They should be there within the next fifteen minutes. If they start digging up bodies, then we’ve got them. Add in the evidence Juliet has in these files and they’re getting life sentences as is,” BJ stated.
“Are they making the arrests?” Carl asked.
“They’re at the hotel. They should be moving in shortly,” BJ added.
Suddenly the lights in the house flickered, and then the room went black.
The sounds of bullets penetrating the glass filled the living room. They all rolled to the ground and tried to get cover.
“Juliet!” Richie yelled as he began to get up only for bullets to whiz by his head as BJ grabbed him, pulling him down.
The alarms wailed and chaos exploded around them until finally the bullets slowed down. They could hear men yelling, and they all got up and began to scatter around, weapons drawn and ready. A few scattered shots had them ducking and weaving as Carl and Richie headed toward the staircase with BJ and Mason right behind them.