CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Edward
After my shower, I put on the tuxedo that was laid out for me on my bed.
I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but I trusted that Livy had something good planned.
I hurried down the stairs and into the main living area.
I was surprised to see Olivia, Declan, and Lufton talking animatedly with each other.
Sam, my lawyer who was not a lawyer, was sitting at a large table and had various bits of what looked to be audiovisual and electronic equipment spread out around him.
Olivia turned as Lyle and I walked in at the same time.
“Oh, good. You’re up. I need to tell you the plan, but we’ve only got,” she quickly looked at her watch, “maybe an hour before we need to leave.” She gave me a look like I should know what I was supposed to be doing. “Sit down, Edward. And listen.”
I sat down.
“We believe the Hart family has Cara.”
I had gathered that much. “Where are they keeping her?” I half stood up, planning to run out the door to get to her if necessary.
“At their estate.”
I frowned, thinking about it. “You mean in one of those smaller houses that the Hart kids are supposed to live in?”
She shook her head. “No. That’s what I thought at first. But Sam here,” she gestured to her business partner, “is an expert with all things electronic. He’s been flying micro drones around the grounds of the Hart estate.
Some things he’s seen have led us to believe Cara is being held at the main house.
” She gave me a look. “The Harts are hosting a huge party tonight at their estate.”
I couldn’t believe it. “Their daughter’s supposed best friend is missing, the woman they want their son to marry, and they’re throwing a party?”
Livy nodded. “Yeah, I know. It seems weird. But it’s Libby Hart’s sixtieth birthday, so it’s been in the works for months.
And, if they throw a party, it makes them seem like they’re in the clear.
Who would throw a massive party all while keeping a missing woman hidden on their property?
It makes no sense. So, even though it seems kind of backwards, I think they’re going ahead with the party to make themselves seem innocent.
” She made a face. “Even if it is in poor taste.”
“Assuming they’re holding her at their mansion, how are we going to get her out of there? I mean, I know you said we’re going to the party, but what happens after we’re there?”
Livy paced in front of the table where Sam was working as she explained.
“We’re going to the party so I can release a micro drone that Sam’s going to fly around the Hart mansion looking for Cara.
But, I need decoys. If I walk in there looking exactly like the girl who went missing, there’s going to be a problem.
I need to slide in while everyone is distracted.
That’s where you, Willa, Lufton, and Declan come in. ”
I frowned, but before I could open my mouth to ask questions, she cut me off. “We’re going to hit them with a possible criminal and a triple punch of gorgeousness.”
“You’re the possible criminal,” Declan said unnecessarily.
“Yeah. I got that.” I shot a glance his way.
“First Declan will go in, looking all virile and handsome. He’ll charm the ladies, including Nora, hopefully.
That’s when you and I will slip in, Edward.
Then, after I’ve hopefully found a place to release the drone, Willa and Lufton will go in as a couple.
Anyone who’s not already mesmerized by Declan will be so distracted by their beauty, they won’t pay much attention to me.
And they’re both semi-famous, of course, with Lufton being a rich jetsetter and all.
No one will even notice me. Especially if I slink around and avoid the main areas so I can snoop. ”
“And me?” I asked.
“You’re the final distraction. I’m hoping you can slip in unnoticed, too, actually. But if not, you’ll make a disturbance to pull attention off me while I release the micro drone of Sam’s. He’ll be here watching everything by BVLOS.”
Everyone just blinked at her. “Do what now?” Lyle finally asked.
Olivia and Sam exchanged a glance, and I saw Lufton frown. He gave Sam a hard stare, and I could tell he was wondering just how close he and Livy were. Or had been at one time.
“Beyond Visual Line of Sight,” Sam explained. “It just means I’ll be flying a micro drone remotely from where I can’t see it. But I’ll be able to see what’s going on inside the mansion once Livy releases it.”
Livy took back over. “The goal is for me to release the micro drone inside the mansion once I get away from the crowd. Sam’s going to navigate it through the house and try to find her.
Then he can tell us where to go. He’ll also have the feed going directly to Dad’s contact at SLED.
They’ll be outside the gates waiting for enough proof to storm the estate without a warrant. ”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“SLED? South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. That’s what it stands for,” she said, sounding a bit impatient with me.
“No, I remember that from the interrogation room. I meant how would police go in without a warrant?”
“If it’s clear someone is in imminent danger, a warrant isn’t necessary,” Livy said. “And if the drone picks up pictures of Cara, or anything to indicate a person is being held against their will, SLED would have what they needed to go in.”
“And I’ll be here driving the drone and making sure the picture is clear, the audio is working, everything’s being recorded properly, that sort of thing,” Sam drawled.
“That’s… fucking brilliant.” Lufton clapped Sam on the back.
Hard. I was pretty sure his enthusiasm was just an excuse to hit him for daring to have had any sort of relationship with Olivia at one time or another.
I smirked, wondering how he was going to feel when he knew they were business partners.
My guess?
It wouldn’t go over well.
There was a lot wrong with Livy’s plan, and I didn’t know where to start pointing out the flaws.
First, Livy was stunning. She looked almost exactly like Cara.
There was no way she would go under the radar.
I just got out of jail and my face had been plastered all over the news and social media as a potential kidnapper and murderer.
I think I might stand out too much. As in bring the party to an immediate halt while they called the police to remove me from the property.
And then there was Willa. Poor tall, skinny, awkward-looking Willa.
She’d been almost unattractive in her mid-teens.
I hadn’t seen her in years, but I couldn’t imagine that she’d completely grown out of that.
I knew sisterly love could be blind, but this was ridiculous.
For Olivia to think Willa’s beauty was going to dazzle anyone was…
absurd. And put her next to Lufton? His ridiculous good looks would make Willa look even more plain.
This was not going to work. And what did she mean by ‘both’ of them being semi-famous?
I decided to start with the most potentially offensive topic first. “Um, Livy, why are you going to use Willa for this?”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at me.
Livy frowned. “Well, we had to get someone exceptionally beautiful…”
Lyle started chuckling. “We forget that it’s been years since Edward’s been around.”
Understanding dawned on everyone’s faces. Except for Sam. “Y’all need to clue me in, here,” he drawled. “Does he not know about that swimsuit edition Willa’s in?”
Lyle pointed at him. “I’d rather not one person on this planet knew about that goddamn magazine, Samuel.” He was only half kidding. “I know my girls are beautiful, but I’d rather pretend they’re all plain-faced nuns.”
Sam held up his hands, laughing. “Sorry, sir.”
“But you’re serious about Willa?” I looked around to see if everyone was playing a prank of some sort on me.
“Willa was in a swimsuit magazine?” I had a vague image of Willa, all gangly legs and bony elbows, in an unflattering one-piece when she must have been fifteen or sixteen and couldn’t believe what they were saying.
“She was on the fucking cover,” Declan muttered, his face dark.
“It featured girlfriends of famous athletes or some shit like that.” Then he got a mischievous grin on his face.
“I forget that you weren’t around to witness her amazing transformation.
If ever there was a caterpillar who turned into a butterfly, it was Willa.
The change in her from seventeen to eighteen was nothing short of miraculous. ”
“Enough,” Lyle said. “This is too much for an old father’s heart.” His eyes were twinkling, though, as he said it. He was obviously proud of his daughters.
“I just don’t understand,” Declan went back to complaining, “why I can’t be Willa’s date. Why does it have to be Lufton?”
Olivia heaved a dramatic sigh. “Dec! Willa and Lufton look very couple-y—all golden and sparkly. Your look screams… fuckboy player, not committed boyfriend.”
“Hey!” he protested.
She ignored him. “And let’s face it. We’ve all seen your dancing skills compared to Lufton’s. He’ll glide her around the floor like Ryan Gosling in La La Land. You’re more… I don’t know, Channing Tatum in Magic Mike.”
Lyle’s jaw just about hit the floor. “I think I’m going to take a break, guys. I’ve heard all I want to hear.”
“Lyle, man, she’s just kidding,” Declan stood and half-followed Lyle onto the porch before turning and giving Livy a ‘what the fuck?’ look.
I was now officially on information overload. I scrubbed a hand over my face trying to stay on top of everything. I finally decided to stick with the basics. I didn’t need to try to catch up with everything that had gone down in the Hargrave and Whittaker families since I’d been away.
I only needed to know my part of the plan. All of the other information could get filled in later, hopefully over a huge dinner in the grove over at the Whittaker’s place on Wixby River Farms once Cara was safe and sound.
For now, If Olivia thought Cara was being held at the Hart estate, I was behind her one hundred percent and would do anything I could to help her plan succeed. If I needed to be a decoy so that partygoers didn’t notice her? So be it.
I just wanted Cara back.
Olivia went back over the plans one more time, only hitting the highlights. “Everybody understand?”
We all nodded, ready as we’d ever be.
“We’re going to get her back,” I said with determination.
I didn’t care what I had to do.