Nina nodded, but she didn’t want Gwendolyn in jail. Jail was too good for her. Gwendolyn was too connected and too powerful. She had her hands in every legal entity in the area. There was no way she would stay in jail long, or stop ruining lives.
Gwendolyn Lennox deserved to be in the ground. And Nina was going to make sure it happened.
“She needs to talk to Lorelei,” Zeke said, drawing Nina’s attention from her thoughts.
“Who is that?”
“She’s great. Let’s go. Before this place gets any busier.” Montgomery stood, leading the way to the door. He opened it, letting Zeke go first.
The abruptness of their decision threw Nina off. She wasn’t sure where she was going or why, but she knew they would never risk anything happening to her, and if they wanted her to meet someone, she would go with them.
Zeke drove, Montgomery in the back with Nina. Zeke looked in the mirror at her every few seconds, something that gave Nina comfort as he wound through the city streets. When he pulled up outside a house, she was more than a little confused.
“Does the woman you mentioned live here?” Nina asked.
Both men shook their heads.
“No, but I think she’s here right now. Let’s go in,” Monty said.
Nina followed Monty out of the SUV. Zeke was already there, the two of them once more flanking her on the way to the door. Nina recognized the move from Gwendolyn and her many security people. They were always surrounding her, making sure no one could get a clear shot at the most hated woman in town.
Montgomery knocked on the door of the house and stepped back. He looked up at a camera above the door, then into the doorbell camera. He waved at both.
A minute later, the door opened. An older woman smiled at the men. “Well, this is a surprise visit. How are you doing today?” The woman’s sharp gaze zeroed in on Nina and her bruises. “Did you bring me a guest?”
Both men shook their heads and moved closer to the door.
“Frannie, this is my sister,” Montgomery said.
Frannie’s gasp told Nina the woman understood exactly how loaded that simple statement was.
“Oh. Let’s… I think we should speak more inside.”
“Is Lorelei here?” Monty asked as Frannie let them all into the house.
Frannie nodded. “Everyone is here.” Frannie glanced at Nina and smiled. “Are crowds too much for you? We can speak in a quieter setting if that makes you more comfortable.”
“That would be nice. Thank you,” Nina said, smiling at Frannie.
Frannie nodded, then pointed to a small living room off the front hallway. Zeke and Monty went with Nina, and Frannie turned to go to the other side of the house, where female voices were loud and friendly.
Nina looked around, trying to figure out what sort of place they were in. It reminded her of B&B’s she’d seen on TV. Small, cozy places in little towns where people could stay. Nina always thought they looked charming and sweet. And the one they were in was the same.
Except for the double doors in front, both with heavy-duty locks, and Frannie meeting them on the porch. That didn’t happen on TV shows.
Frannie returned with a Black woman. The Black woman smiled at Nina, but her demeanor and posture were not friendly and open.
Nina took a step backward, running into someone behind her. She gasped before hands cradled her body.
“Are you okay?” Zeke asked.
Nina shook her head. “Who is that?”
The Black woman approached, her hand extended. “My name is Lorelei. I’m an FBI Agent. Frannie said you were looking for me.”
“FBI? No. No. I’m not… I can’t.”
“Nina, you have to tell her everything. She’s the one leading the investigation,” Monty said.
