A Billionaire in Disguise #2 : A Perfect Plan(4)

"So what's the plan? Did you come up with anything?"

"Yes I certainly did. I'm going to Colorado," Parker replied as his grin grew wider.

"She's a bit crazy and packs one hell of a mean-right smackdown. If I were you, I'd do my communicating through attorneys and email."

"If little Miss Emily Carson thinks she can put a halt on my project, she's insane. It's time for her to meet Parker Davis in person, without a bunch of witnesses."

"You think you'll be welcomed in open arms? Open hands, yes, while they're wrapped around your throat. I'm serious, Parker, stay away from her."

"No, I won't just show up on her doorstep. I think I'll play with her like a little mouse for a while."

Russ looked at his brother's face, which was full of determination. If Parker didn't watch it, he could be in for the fight of his life...literally.

Parker smiled and picked up the phone. "Rhonda, I need the jet. I have some business in Springfield, Colorado."

"I think you're crazy for going out there. Send one of the lawyers."

"Rhonda..." Parker spoke firmly.

"Okay, okay. But you were warned."



Emily drove up to her grandfather's house. It was fairly large and over one hundred years old. The structure had always been maintained. She especially loved the huge wraparound porch which allowed for breathtaking views of the mountains, and clean, fresh air. The siding was white, the trim and porch were painted a country blue. She stopped by the front door and smiled at the porch swing, where she and her grandfather had spent countless hours talking. Her eyes began to water so she dug in her purse for the key and let herself in.

The house was a bit chilly. Emily found her grandfather's favorite mug and then put a pot of coffee on. She let her eyes slowly move around the room at all the heirlooms, her favorite things, her treasures. Where do I begin?

First she'd need to find some boxes. If things were going to get ugly, she'd at least have to get the heirlooms out. She could only store a couple of things in her small studio apartment. But there was some space in the basement, backroom, and shed at the clinic she could use until she could afford to rent a storage facility. If the Davis guy wasn't such a criminal, I wouldn't have to do any of this! The thought of never spending another night in this house was killing her. Never seeing her grandfather again felt a hundred times worse. She walked to the couch and picked up her grandfather's old afghan, knitted by her grandmother many years ago. Emily wrapped it around herself and walked back out on the porch. She was shaken out of her deep thoughts by her cell phone. Emily ran in the house and fished it from her purse.

"Mick?"

"I didn't know you were back. Are you at your grandfather's?"

"I'm sorry I didn't call you. I didn't even get home until the middle of the night. I needed to figure out what all I need to remove."

"It's okay, Em. I didn't want to disturb you, but I just got a call here at the clinic. Someone named Parker Davis was asking for you. Is that the guy from Davis Enterprises?"

"Yes, and how did he find me?"

"Did you tell him your name?"

"Yeah, I forgot I did that. What did he say?"


 

 

 

"He asked if you were here and I told him you weren't. Then he had the balls to ask if you were on his property..."

"God, I've never hated someone so much in my life!"

"He wants you off the land. He was just getting ready to board a plane. Seems this Parker Davis means business and he mentioned that he would have you removed if necessary."

"I'm not going to be bullied by a rich thief! Perhaps the rest of the world needs to see what a snake he really is."

"Emily, please be careful. He has an awful lot of power."

"Thanks, Mick. I promise to be careful." Careful when I bury his corpse, letting him rot on fifty-thousand acres of stolen property.

Emily paced the on the porch for a while, thinking of her next move. She dialed information and smiled when her call was connected to the Baldwin Tribunal.

"William, this is Emily Carson."

"Emily! How are you?"

"As good as can be expected, I guess."

"Your grandfather was a wonderful man, and I'm so sorry he passed. The funeral service was beautiful, Emily, you did a wonderful job."

William Lovette was sixty-four and had worked for the paper all his adult life. He was Emmitt's fishing buddy, and the two had become very close over the decades of friendship. William sat with Emily as Emmitt Carson took his last breath. He knew how hard this was for Emily and he promised his friend to keep an eye on her.

"Thank you, William. I know how hard my grandfather's death was for you too."

"Anything that you need, you let me know. I'm just a phone call away."

"Actually, that's why I called. I desperately need your help."

"I'm all ears, hun." William smiled.

"There's a large corporation in New York called Davis Enterprises. Have you ever heard of them?"

"I sure have. They're real estate developers. Several of the buildings in Manhattan belong to them. I read an article in a magazine about the company last year. Do you know them?"

"I do now. Grandpa wanted to leave me something when he died, so he sold the fifty-thousand acres."

"Oh no!"

"For five million dollars. A few days before his death, he had the hospice nurse leave for a bit so he could talk to the jerk in private. My grandfather and I talked for years about turning the land into a nature preserve. They led him to believe that that's what they were going to do with the land. But it was all a big fat lie. Davis Enterprises is putting an airport here. I saw Grandpa's attorney, Jason Montgomery, out in Clarkston. He didn't know about my grandfather's sale of the property either but informed me that the documents were legal. They own it. All of it." 

"Emily, this is devastating..."

"The only way I think I can fight them is through the media."

"I'll get on a flight as soon as I'm able and pay Mr. Davis a visit!"

"I don't think you need to bother with flying out to New York, William. He's in transit to Colorado. I'm at my grandfather's house trying to sort through his things."

"Let me get a couple of articles typed out for tomorrow, then I'll grab my camera and head on over. The one thing companies hate more than anything is bad press. Let's give them some." William hadn't been this pumped up in a long time.



Emily had quite a large pile of things to donate, as well as a big area full of boxes to fill with treasured items. She would definitely have to fork out money to rent a truck, but it was an expense she couldn't avoid. There was no way she was going to leave family heirlooms to be destroyed. But then again, she had no intentions of leaving the house.

At three in the afternoon, Emily spotted William's Jeep driving toward the house. A magnetic sign was on the driver side door that read "Baldwin Tribunal". He stepped out of the Jeep holding a camera and wearing a very old blazer with leather padding on the elbows. Emily smiled at him with warmth.

"Emily! How are you? It's good to see you again."

"William, thank you so much for coming out here. It's good to see you too."

"Oh, here, hold this a second." William handed Emily the camera and walked to his Jeep. He came back carrying a bag.

"What's this?" Emily's mouth watered at the smell. She realized then that she hadn't eaten.

"Martha's hot beef stew, rolls, and cherry pie. If I know you, you haven't eaten anything."

Emily laughed, hooked her arm in William's, and headed inside. The food was amazing. William's wife was one of the best cooks ever, and Emily was eating like a horse.

"Have you heard anything?"

"Not a word. Wow, tell Martha I said thank you. She's such an amazing woman."

"I'll do that." William smiled.

"I don't think we'll see anyone from Davis Enterprises today. It's getting late and I'm sure he's not going to trek all the way out here."

"Maybe I should just stick around, Emily. I hate to have all this going on and you being out here by yourself."

"I'm not afraid of anyone from that company. Besides, I know this property like the back of my hand. He doesn't. If I needed to, I could head for the hills. He'd never be able to catch me." Emily gave William a wink and reassuring smile.

"I'm not buying it, Em. Why don't you come back to the house and stay with me and Martha. I wouldn't worry then."

"Thank you, William, but I still need to finish up packing some rooms. I'll be okay."

"You call me first thing in the morning, you got it?" William looked at her sternly.

"Got it." Emily smiled, hugged William, and watched as he drove off.

The chill in the air was getting more evident as the sun started to set. Emily walked in the house and flipped the light switch up. Nothing happened. Dragging a chair into the middle of the kitchen, she changed the bulb and then flipped the switch back up. Again, nothing happened. Emily hated when the power went out. She bundled up in warm pajamas and blankets and decided to get some sleep. Hopefully everything would be back on in the morning.

Chapter 4

Parker Davis hung up the phone. Getting the utilities shut off was just the beginning. He'd get this Miss Carson off his property. Driving to the land last night and seeing the wild woman's silhouette walk past the window was confirmation that she was there. The check for twenty million was ready to go. It will definitely come in handy when she has to get her vehicle out of impound. Parker gave himself a nice smile in the rearview mirror.