(Blood and Bone, #2) Sin and Swoon(77)

Dash winces. “Not unusual to have slaves in that time. It just was not televised all over the world every time it happened.”

“Gross.” I stroke Binx and continue. “The land was to be deeded back to the Backcountry Brothers Society when Old Dick’s dad died. I assume he never deeded it to the society to begin with, because his son had grown quite fond of it and convinced his father not to. Or maybe he just wasn’t certain the men who built the lodge would hold up to whatever bargain they struck. At any rate, the cabin in the woods was not deeded to the society until Old Dick died, but Dick’s kids didn’t know this. They probably don’t know about the disgusting cabin at all. It would appear they made a deal with a logging company for the land when their father died, only to be surprised that they had not been given the cabin. They were the first to contest the will because the logging deal was huge money.”

I pause, taking a long breath while contemplating how to tell the rest. “When I went to visit the neighbor next door to the townhouse in the Queen Anne area, I discovered Rory was the executor of the will. He was named Derek and actually the nephew of Old Dick. Clearly, it was a lie fabricated to some end. We figured out that the only person able to go on a piece of property when it is being contested is the executor of the estate.”

Dash nods, adding it up in his head faster than Angie does. She scowls. “So he was able to use the property but no one else was, even though it’s not deeded to him?”

“Right, he can go and do checks on the place, though not use it. So while it was wrong to use the cabin, what he was doing there wouldn’t have been noticed by anyone. He did regular checks and maintenance on the townhouse, however, like a good nephew.”

She closes her eyes, absorbing or just shaken at the idea of it all.

“Then he pretended to be a lawyer and convinced the adopted sister, who by the way has served time at the lovely chateau and the cabin in the woods. She’s a little different, but I think the most normal in the family. By far. Her name is Amanda.” I cringe. “Rory tells Amanda his name is Roland Guthrie, a lawyer, who has a friend who would like to take her case and get her the share she is owed of the family fortune. The only fee they ask for is the cabin in the woods and all lands.”

Dash’s eyes widen. “Smart and evil. And seems to suggest Rory was not working alone in a lot of this. He was part of the society.”

I nod. “Right. So that’s something. He wasn’t just a serial rapist and killer because—”

“Don’t justify him to me.”

I shake my head. “Sorry, I didn’t actually have anything to add at the end of that anyway. He’s a psycho.”

“But not a lonely psycho. He’s got connections and friends in the right places.” Dash gives me a look. “How bad is the chateau?”

“Bad. It’s got theme rooms and costumes and loads of orgies and fun, but the girls are broken at the cells first—the job that Rory seemed to be part of, in some sick way. I don’t know how long they’re meant to stay in the cells. It seemed to me they were there far longer than Old Dick used to keep them. One month is what Amanda, the adopted daughter, said.”

Dash’s eyes narrow. “So break them in, using the cell, and then take them to the chateau, which is nice, and then they’ll be grateful and work hard?”

“Exactly.”

Angie covers her face, sobbing. I hate that I have told her the story.





23. Slippery when wet




Back at the ranch in Virginia—or estate, as luck would have it—Dash’s mother’s eyes narrow. She lingers there in her hatred for a moment before she blinks and the look is gone. In its stead is a look of fake bliss, like she didn’t just tell me off with her eyes. She hugs me, again with the touching. “We didn’t expect you would be back so soon, Jane.” She says it like she means well, but I feel like we both know otherwise.

I shrug and glance about the place. “Well, I had to rush off for work the last time. I felt bad.”

Her eyes widen. “Work, was it?”

Dash wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Yes, Mother. Jane is part of a huge investigation right now.”

Her eyes widen. “Not being charged?”

I laugh and sigh. “No.” I think she’s a touch disappointed for a second before she turns and hugs Angie with fervor. “Angela, how are you?”

“Och, ya know, dandy.” She doesn’t look dandy. She looks beat. She hugs his dad and follows her bags. “I’ll just set myself up in the guesthouse then and find a bit of rest.” I’m stunned at the comfort she has in his house. His parents even wave at her as she follows one of the maids I didn’t meet last time.