The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 136 Conspiracy Liam | woke up alone, but hopeful. After reading the Sheriff's messages, | got out of bed, quickly. took a shower and got dressed.

My father was dead, but | was engaged. A Cohen was gone, but soon, there would be a new addition bearing the Cohen name. | called Dan and told him it would be better if we moved the wedding up. | didn’t want to continue to live alone.

After | gave him instructions to organize a small engagement party after my father’s funeral and a rush wedding, he went straight to business.

“Have you spoken to Jack?” Dan asked.

“Not yet. Why? What's up?” | asked curiously.

“He calledearlier this morning and said Cris has gone missing,” Dan answered.

“That | know. Lisa went looking for him last night. So she wasn’t able to track him down?” | asked.

“Nope. She went to see Jack to file a missing person’s report. She also told him she received a call from an anonymous person... she said the person sounded like Pete.” | smiled. Finally, he’s gotten in touch with someone.

“And what did this Pete-sounding anonymous person tell her?” “He told her we will never find Cris and that there is a sanctioned hit. She doesn’t know who the target is, but the person told her the contracting parties are Ortiz and Joy Taylor,” Dan said hurriedly, hoping if he blurted everything out, it would be easier on everyone.

| laughed. Pete was now hiding behind the ghost of Joy Taylor.

“That coward is making up stories. Don’t worry, I'll call Ortiz to confirm,” | replied as | fixed my necktie in front of the mirror. “Since he spoke with Lisa, I'll have her call him so we can triangulate his location. That phone call proves he’s here... watching us. | suspect he already knows about our plans at the OI’ Barn.” 17/6 CHAPTER 136 Conspiracy trap. | had a strong feeling he would tell Pete.

“Anything else?” | asked.

“Nicole’s in the hospital, Liam. Apparently she flew out of the windshield of her car,” Dan replied.

“What?!” This was a bit of information that | didn’t know. “Is she okay?” “She's stable according to Jack. I'll be picking her mother up later to check up on Nicole. Do think Pete had something to do with this?” you “Maybe, but Pete doesn’t have a beef with Nicole. My money’s on Noah. I'll go speak with him after I'm done making a deal to secure the pharmacy. The Martins will have no choice to hand it over.” It was one the businesses my father had always wanted and acquiring it will fulfill his wish. Plus, owning the pharmacy will increase my profits and giveleverage within the organization. “By the way, Dan, make sure you double the money we usually our dealers and have them sign,” | reminded him. “If they refuse, they will not receive a single penny.” Sive “No problem, Liam,” Dan said. “I'll make sure the ones who don’t sign will be inside the barn waiting for you.” “Good. We'll be able to kill two birds with one stone,” | said, my voice dripping with malice. “Those loyal to Pete will be killed by Pete himself, and while he’s busy killing his own men, I'll be behind him with a gun to his head.

Callif there are any problems.” After Dan, | called Virtue. | didn’t want her to think | had forgotten about her. Luckily, she answered right away.

“Liam, good morning. | was about to call you. How are you?” She asked sweetly. Just hearing her voice made my day.

“Just hearing your sweet voice makes the day brighter,” | answered, smiling. “I called to ask if you could have dinner withlater this evening, then accompanyat my father’s wake. | would like you to be by my side during the public viewing. You see, I'll be opening Cohen Mansion to the public later, so the townsfolk can pay their respects and bid their farewells.” “Of course, Liam. | really wanted to go to the vigil last night, but you toldit was safer not to. I've been with Chip this whole time. He's been watching overlike a worried hen,” she said. “What twill you be pickingup?” 2/6 CHAPTER 136 Conspiracy “Around five-thirty. We'll have an early dinner,” | answered.

I'll be ready by then. Chip and | will be going to Bismarck Airport in a bit to pick up my bestfriend.” “Bestfriend?” | asked. “I thought Chip was your bestfriend.” “He’s my bestfriend here in New Salem, silly,” she said, giggling. “I’m talking about my bestfriend from Nevada.

Her nis Katarina, K iki for short. She’ll be arriving to helpwith the wedding including a small engagement party.” S tupid me. Of course Virtue had friends in Nevada. This would be great. With a girlfriend living with her, | wouldn't have to worry so much.

“No need to worry about the engagement party, my sweet. | have Dan organizing that as we speak. I'll have him call you if he runs into any problems. Anyway, why don’t you bring K iki along for dinner so | can meet her?” | asked.

“That will be great! We'll see you later then, Liam,” she murmured. Her voice was makinggo hard.

“Alright then. Bye, love.” After a couple of bites of toast and bacon and a couple of sips of my coffee, | had Henry driveto the station. | wanted to speak to Jack before going to see the Sheriff, but he wasn’t at his desk, so | went straight to the Sheriff.

1 knocked on his door and walked in.

“Sheriff, let's do this.” “You seem to be in good spirits. Is there something | should know,” the Sheriff asked.

“Everything is going according to our plans,” | said.

“You do know Cris is missing right?” He asked. | nodded my head. “Okay. Well, | need you to sit down. We have another problem.” “What is it this time?” | asked, taking a seat in one of the empty chairs in front of his desk.

“Bismarck Police has Riley in custody. He's currently unconscious at Bismarck Gen and the police are patiently waiting for him to wake up.” the Sheriff replied. “A Detective Matthews3/6 CHAPTER 136 Conspiracy who got the call, didn’t relay the message... on purpose.” “Isn't Randy the one who wants more money even though he doesn’t do much?” | asked. The Sheriff calledabout Randy. | was the one who told him to refuse.

“Yep. | made a deal with him. He kills Riley and I'll pay him two hundred fifty thousand,” the Sheriff said, winking at me.

“You aren't going to pay him, are you?” “Not all of it, no... but | am going to put him in a position where the Bismarck Police are going to kill him,” he answered bitterly. “I've gotten sick and tired of his games.” “Alright,” | said, seeing it was all taken care of. “So, let’s go and get my pharmacy.” | was about to stand, but the Sheriff stopped me. “There's more?” “I'm afraid so, but this isn’t a problem. You can see it as a minor adjustment,” the Sheriff said. “We found Nurse Administrator Lindsay Hartman's body in front of the hospital. It’s being investigated as a suicide.” He swiped his phone and handed it to me. “This letter was in her pocket. In the letter, she confesses to killing Theodore Cohen.” | grabbed the phone and read the suicide note. So it wasn’t Ford. But Lindsay Hartman couldn't have acted alone. Someone must have paid her to do it.

“Did you check her bank records?” | asked Sheriff Combs. He nodded his head. “And?” “She received five hundred thousand dollars from Norma Martin,” the Sheriff replied.

“That's it?” | grimaced, handing the Sheriff his phone back. My father was only worth five hundred thousand? Poor Dad. “No wonder Norma keeps saying her son is innocent.” “There's a possibility Norma paid Hartman more money, but we can’t find her phone or her car, but my men have discovered that she has an offshore account,” Sheriff Combs said. Of course, there's only one place to hide money... overseas. “This means | can get Norma Martin on conspiracy to murder. If you still want to go after Ford, he has sexual harassment complaints piled up against him. We can use the complaints to make sure he goes to jail. along with his mother. None of this has gone public yet, so we have a chance to make a deal.” “Good. If Thomas Martin wants to negotiate to lighten both Norma and Ford's sentences, then I'll allow it.

Anyway, Lindsay Hartman is already dead. Her conscience got to her before | did | said. “Is there anything else you would like to discuss?” 4/6 CHAPTER 1360 “That's it for now,” the Sheriff replied. “Jack will be heading to Bismarck later to talk to Detective Matthews.

Bismark PD found Cris’ car parked at Elk Cliff.” “Maybe it’s another suicide or maybe Pete pushed him off the cliff,” | blurted out.

“I never thought of that,” Sheriff Combs said. “Cris plunging to his death from the top of Elk Cliff is a possibility.

I'll see to it that the Bismarck Police investigates the matter. The sooner we find him, the sooner we can get answers.” He stood up and spritzed scologne on himself. His hair was oily and his jaw was sporting a five o’clock shadow. | bet he wasn’t able to go hand take a shower.

| stood up and followed him out of his office towards the interrogation room. He opened the door without knocking and usheredinside.

room.

Everyone seated at the long rectangular table in the middle of the up except for Ford, who was handcuffed and looking quite miserable.

| noticed a tall handsyoung man with dark hair in a nice expensive suit with the Martins. He had a big smile on his face despite the worried expressions on both Thomas and Norma's faces.

He kind of remindedof Dom and Bo. Shair and skin color. However, unlike Dom and Bo who dressed simply, this one screamed money. He was clean-sh aven with a lithe. muscular build underneath that suit he was wearing.

Honestly, I'd feel insecure standing beside this man, but | was a Cohen while he was a nobody in this town.

As | approached, | caught a whiff of his expensive cologne. He extended his h it, marveling at the smooth skin of his palm.

took “Attorney Lincoln Murphy, Mayor Cohen,” he said as we shook hands. He had a good eye contact. He oozed confidence. “It’s an honor to meet you.” “Likewise, Attorney Murphy. You're the one who bought the McDowell residence if I’ mistaken. | saw the surprise and delight in his eyes.

“I forgot this is a small town. Everyone knows everyone,” he said, letting go of my hand.

“I make it my business to know everyone,” | replied. “I'm guessing you will be representing Norma Martin as well? Yes?” 5/6 CHAPTER 136 Conspiracy | thought | would get another surprised reaction, but he stared atunfazed at the question, a small smile playing on his lips.

“I'm guessing you saw everything on social media,” he said unexpectedly. “I think it’s twe all sat down and placed all our cards on the table.” | quickly took out my phone and saw Lindsay Hartman's suicide note with a hash tag asking for Ford's release.

| scowled. | needed to call Lisa. She was supposed to be in charge of all of this.

| glanced at Sheriff Combs. His face was dark and expressionless.

“Sure, let’s place all our cards on the table,” he said grimly.

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