even time them.”
“I know, and I’m on guard,” he said, “but I don’t want anything to happen to this woman or her child.”
“I got it,” he said. “And, by the way, we heard from your associate and received confirmation that her husband has passed away. We have a proper and official death certificate, and we know exactly where he was buried.”
“And do we know he actually was buried. There are a few potential motives here, including a relationship motive, that may have gone from misplaced love to misplaced hate. Plus who signed the divorce papers?”
“Apparently George was buried, yes. There was also an obituary in the newspaper, so it appears to be a done deal.”
“And what about a will from the lawyer?”
“We’re still waiting to confirm that,” he said, “but that would be an interesting motive.”
“I like it myself,” Greyson admitted.
“Yes,” the detective said. “I hear you. We’ll follow-up on that detail in a few minutes.” And, with that, he hung up.
Greyson looked over at Jessica. “Yes, George is deceased and buried. There was an obituary in the newspaper as well. We’re still trying to get confirmation on the will.”
“And the date of death?”
“Three months and four days ago,” he said.
She got up and walked over to her night table, where she pulled out some paperwork and handed it to him. “So these are the documents that were signed. They were submitted to the judge and sent to me,” she said. “I’m not sure who signed them, but the timing doesn’t work out.”
“Unless George signed them earlier,” he said, “but regardless I don’t believe it is valid because, when the judge signed them, George was already deceased.”
“So what happens in a case like that?”
“We’ll find out,” he said. His phone rang again. “Stone? What’s up?”
“You’ve got company outside,” Stone said, his voice direct.
“Where?”
“Two guys, one north, one south.”
“Got it,” he said. “I’m heading outside. I’ll take one out, please keep an eye on the other one.”
“Keep your ears on, and keep this phone line open,” Stone replied.
Greyson got up, looked at her, and said, “I’m leaving Kona with you. Stay in this room.”
Looking up at him, she bit the lower part of her lip. “What’s going on?”
“My buddy Stone’s on the satellite,” he said, holding up his phone, a call that was still live. “We have company.”
She gasped and immediately reached out a hand to Danny.
“Exactly,” he said. “Your job is to stay safe and to look after Danny. I’ll take one of them out, so I only have one to worry about.”
“How can you take out just one?”
“Because they’re on opposite sides of the house,” he said, his tone grim. He looked at her and then walked over and kissed her hard. “I’ll be back.” And, with that, he disappeared.
He slipped out of the house and quickly blended into the shadows along the trees. His phone was on Silent, and he ended the call with Stone to send a text and immediately got a message back.
Forty feet.
Pocketing his phone, he slipped down, heading in the same direction he’d been traveling. He knew one of them was right here somewhere. He stopped about thirty feet in front of the alleyway. The fence was right in front of him, and he assumed the guy was on the other side. He looked over at the neighbor’s fence and then at the gate. Her gate was a little bit lower, so he could look over it, but, if he did that, he’d lose the element of surprise. He sent a second message. How close?
Directly on the other side.
Slipping the phone in his pocket once more, he took a silent breath, and, from a standing position, used the top of the fence to vault over. He landed on something soft that made a heavy oof sound. His hands immediately went around the guy’s neck, and Greyson hit a pressure point on the back, while the guy struggled to get up. With one right fist, Greyson took him out with a shot to the chin. With him down, but not daring to leave him alone, he quickly took off the guy’s shoes and socks. Using the shoelaces and socks, he tied up the guy’s hands and ankles, and, finding some cardboard, he jammed several bent pieces into the guy’s mouth. He was unconscious, and he’d stay like that. Greyson quickly sent a photo with a message. I’m after number two.
Go. And fast. He’s trying to get in through the front of the garage.
Swearing, Greyson took