Page 62 of Echoes of Fear

“I have no interest in getting involved with whatever you’ve gotten yourself into,” Bobby says. “I’m only interested in your land. I’ll add an extra two grand on top of the offer.”

“You help me out, and the land is yours.”

“You can’t make that decision without your cousin,” I remind him. “You only own half.”

“Then I’ll offer my half,” he says desperately.

“Not acceptable,” Bobby says calmly, almost as if he’s bored. “We want the entire land. My offer only lasts for today, Mr. Wood. After that, I’m pulling it from the table and will look for land elsewhere.”

A tear falls down the poor girl's face, but she doesn’t make a sound. She doesn’t even move to dry her eyes.

She’s scared stiff.

“If you help me, I’ll make sure Connie signs off on the deal today. She doesn’t want the damn land to begin with. She’s just doing me a solid.”

“I’m not sure doing you a favor would be in my best interest,” Bobby says. “Your land is in the most convenient spot for what we want to build, but it’s not the only place we have in mind.”

“You would be saving this kid's life,” Donavan says.

“Is this to save the girl's life or yours?” Bobby asks.

Taylor is on the edge of his seat and a whole lot pissed off. But, he seems to understand the need for his silence.

I watch as the broom leaning against the wall behind Donavan and DeeDee falls to the ground. The noise causes both of them to jump with fear-filled eyes.

Interesting.

“You know, Mr. Mayor,” I say, maintaining the notion that I don’t know the man beyond work. “Saving this girl from whatever is causing her fear would look good for your re-election campaign. But you really should get more information before you even consider it.”

Donavan’s eyes widen with excitement.

“Yeah,” he shouts. “It would. I’ll tell you whatever you need to know about her.”

From my peripheral, I see Taylor smirk, and his eyes brighten.

I mute my microphone so that he won’t hear me typing and I open a new browser.

“Muted,” I mumble to Taylor. I don’t want to move my lips much in case Donavan catches me talking to someone and realizes he can’t hear me.

“So fuckin’ proud of you, baby,” Taylor says. “Damn, you’re smart.”

Don’t smile. Don’t smile. Don’t smile.

But it doesn’t stop me from blushing, which causes Taylor to chuckle.

“Her name is Delilah, but she doesn’t have a last name,” he starts. “I kidnapped her.”

“You did what?” I shout.

“Muted, Knox.”

Fudge.

I unmute my side and repeat myself.

“You did what?”

“It’s not what it sounds like,” he rushes to say.