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Olivia had seemed genuinely shaken up over learning that Victoria was her mother and that Presley was her twin brother. It could have all been an act though. In fact, Olivia could have known about her bio-mom for years if she did any checking into the bone marrow transplant. Olivia could have kept it a secret.
Until her father’s will.
Then, she could have set the plan into motion.
It twisted at him, but Presley knew he was going to do more than just consider that theory. He was going to have to look at Olivia as a person who wanted both Victoria and him dead.
“What about Jesep?” Billie asked. “Could he have arranged for you to be kidnapped?”
Victoria certainly didn’t jump to deny that, and just considering it tightened all the muscles in her face. “I don’t know. The will was a shock. I mean, it doesn’t make sense. Jesep said he wanted Ari and Olivia to make their own fortunes like he did, but he bought his business with old family money.”
Presley recalled reading that in one of the reports on Jesep, but he was having trouble coming up with a motive. He couldn’t see Jesep wanting the publicity or the sympathy something like this would get him. Unless…
“Tell me about your will,” Presley said. “Who inherits when you die?”
Victoria looked stunned for a couple of seconds. “Jesep, but I had it worded to include any child I might have, either biologically or adopted.”
Bingo.That could be a powerful motive, especially since Victoria was just as wealthy as Jesep.
“So, we’re back to square one,” Billie said on a huff. “Ari, Jesep or Olivia could be behind the kidnapping. Or Hattie,” she tacked onto that. “She’s a woman involved in a case that Presley and I worked when we were cops.”
“Four suspects,” Victoria muttered. “And the three of us were probably meant to die at the creek.” She didn’t wait for Billie or him to respond. “You need to talk to someone else. Someone who might be able to give us answers.”
“Who?” Presley couldn’t ask fast enough.
“Your biological father,” Victoria said, eventually.
“But you said he wasn’t part of this,” he reminded her.
“He’s not. Not directly, anyway.” Victoria groaned, but she kept her gaze pinned to his. “His name is Joe Malloy. And he’s the stepfather of the two men who kidnapped me.”
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Chapter Fourteen
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Well, hell.Billie hadn’t seen this coming. Apparently, neither had Presley because he seemed just as stunned as she was.
“I never met Craig and Ellis,” Victoria added while they just stood there, staring at her. “And I didn’t know they were my kidnappers until you mentioned them.”
“You should have said something the moment you heard their names,” Presley insisted.
“Yes, I should have. But Jesep was here, and I would have had to explain…everything. I’m sorry,” the woman tacked onto that.
That apology sounded plenty genuine enough, but Billie wasn’t going to dole out anythere, thereorit’s okayassurances. Because it wasn’t okay. This was a connection the cops should know about.
“Where’s Joe now?” Presley asked. “And have you spoken to him about Craig and Ellis?”
“No,” Victoria was quick to say. “I haven’t seen or spoken to him in years, not since I married Jesep. I have no idea where he is.”
Billie did, and she took out her phone to access one of the reports she’d read about the death notification that SAPD had done. She located Joe’s address and showed it to Presley.
“We can be there in fifteen minutes,” Presley muttered.
“You’re going to see him,” Victoria said in a whisper, and she seemed on the verge of an objection or something. But she didn’t voice it. She nodded. “Of course, you’d want to see him. He’s your father.”
“That’s not why I want to see him,” Presley assured her. “I need to find out if he had you kidnapped and if he’s the one who tried to kill all of us.”
