Chapter 48
48
T heresa finished setting up the encrypted account and sent an invitation to Mitch and Gabby to upload documents. She sat staring at the screen as she saw documents begin to populate. Her stomach knotted up as the screen filled with folders, each titled with the data sorted within. Timelines. Locations. Keely. Carolyn. Money trails. And so many more.
She hovered her mouse over the Keely folder but didn't click. Did she need to see it? It wouldn't change anything. It was enough that she had the information, and Marco found a way for it to get into the hands of the authorities.
The same for Carolyn. She'd avenge their deaths and make all this public. There would come a day Shooter would be in jail, though it may not be for murder charges. He had high connections, and they would likely pardon him of any wrongdoing unless things moved too quickly to stop that from happening. At any rate, the two brave women who she sought justice for, would be brought to the forefront. Their killer would be in the public eye and her story about them would let the world know what brave strong women they were.
Maybe when it wasn't so fresh and she needed to add the details of their deaths to the stories, she'd open up the information and put the timelines together, so there was no mistake about who their murderer was.
She stood and stretched then glanced at her watch. Marco should be coming home soon. Then her day would be complete. Just as her thoughts ran to him, her phone rang.
His picture appeared on her screen and she smiled. "Hey, handsome."
His chuckle sent goosebumps skittering down her arms. "Hey, Baby. I'm on my way."
"Can't wait to see you."
"Five minutes."
The call ended and she went to the refrigerator to grab them each a beer. She pulled cheese from the dairy drawer, sliced some up, and arranged it on a plate. Pouring some crackers from the box next to the cheese, she carried it to the coffee table, then went back for the beers.
As she moved into the living room the security system chimed, and she stopped in the middle of the room looking toward the door, so he'd see her and the beer as soon as he walked in.
The lock turned in the door and his handsome face filled her vision. His smile said it all. "I love this."
She laughed. "I hoped you would."
He hurried to her and kissed her lips. She handed him his beer, and they tapped their bottles together and moved to the sofa.
"Wow, a snack too. Thank you. I'm a bit hungry tonight."
"Were you busy?"
"Yeah." He took a drink. "It isn't the same without you there."
"Aww. I feel a bit jealous when I see you going to work looking so handsome. I used to watch you all the time. Now someone else gets to do that."
He laughed. "No one is watching me. We have two new servers; both are men and the women out front are swooning over them. They both work out and have big muscles. Jace and I have been laughing about the reactions out front."
"Ohh, I'd like to go see their muscles."
His brows furrowed. He lifted his right arm and made a muscle. "This is your muscle."
She squeezed the firm muscle. "I like that muscle."
They chuckled and drank their beer.
Marco's phone rang and he looked at his watch before answering. "Hey there. How are you?"
She listened as she carried the empty cheese and cracker plate to the kitchen. When she returned, he hung up the call.
"My contact is all set with the encrypted folder. He's going to email you and would like you to begin populating it. As soon as it's all populated, he'll set up a conference call with the both of us to explain what he has and what it means."
She nodded. "I'll get it started right now; it'll take a while for everything to upload. In the morning it should be all set."
"Sounds good. I'm going to jump in the shower."
She opened her inbox and saw the email from Marco's contact. He hadn't shared the name with her and the email simply said, USDOD1. No name to decipher who it was. She was an investigative reporter, she could dig but chose not to. He'd tell her when he needed to and she didn't want to break his trust. She loved having him in her life and didn't want to do anything to hurt what they had. Wasn't that the key to a long relationship?
She clicked on the link in the email and opened the folder using the password USDOD1 gave her in the email. Once opened, she began copying the files Mitch and Gabby sent her into this new folder. It was all in the works now. Soon Shooter Benson would be in jail. As soon as that happened, she'd celebrate Keely and Carolyn. Who knew how many others there were? Hopefully, that information would come out as investigations ensued. There just had to be justice for all the damage that pig had created.
The folders began populating and she stood and shut off the lights in the living room and sauntered to the bedroom to snuggle with her man. Life was damned good right now. Even though she was hiding in a cabin and afraid to go out. That would be something she'd work on another day.
She undressed as the water shut off in the bathroom and slipped into bed. She rested on her side, facing the bathroom door, her head in her hand, eager to see Marco come toward her.
He appeared in the doorway, naked as the day he was born, but in much better shape. She smiled as he stalked toward her. His muscles rippled as he moved. His lips curved into a beautiful smile. "My day is now complete."
"Mine too." He pulled the covers back and slipped between the sheets. His fresh scent filled the room. His arms pulled her to him, and she sighed. This really was the best way to end a day.