They hesitated, and her eyes widened.
“Don’t be shy,” Fillpot called out. “I won’t harm either of you. I’d hate to have my welcome on the island revoked.”
Gwen was about to move, and Max held up hishand to stop her. He turned the corner, stepping into view. “How did you know we were here?”
“You aren’t the only ones playing with cameras.” Fillpot had his hands in his pockets. “Ms. Bennett, if you’d care to join us.”
Gwen glided into the room.
“I take it you haven’t read the letter?”
“What letter?” she asked.
Fillpot opened the briefcase and turned it toward us. “Don’t be coy, Ms. Bennett. It was my own personal touch. Please… I’ll give you a minute to read it.”
Gwen slipped the letter out of her bra and unfolded it, sliding her finger beneath the flap carefully around the wax seal.Shepulled the paper out.
Her face clouded with unease as she read silently to herself. Max moved behind her to read over her shoulder.
Gwen Bennett, your presence has been requested.
“I don’t understand. What are you inviting me to?”
“Not I, Ms. Bennett. My boss.”
“Who’s your boss, and how could you have possibly known I’d hunt you down, much less find you on the island.”
“You aren’t the only one with resources. We had to make sure you were talented enough to follow the breadcrumbs. Regardless, if you accept the invitation, I’ve been instructed to return all the funds we’ve been holding in escrow, along with additional funds that show triple their investments.”
“You think you have a choice of returning the funds? Silly man.”
“Keeping the money was never our intent. Getting to you was our goal.”
Anger stirred Max’s gut as if Fillpot had just kicked a hornet's nest in their direction. “This was a trap?”
“We like to think of it as a test of sorts, anincentive. There is only one thing Gwen Bennett cares about, and that is her family. Your grandmother was the easiest target, so we exploited that vulnerability.”
Gwen lunged, and Max caught her around the waist, pulling her back against his chest. He glared at the man taking in their precarious situation. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“Wise or not, it was the only way to get her to comply and follow me to the island, without the use of force or kidnapping. I’m sure you can appreciate that, Mr. Pierce.”
