Number Seventy-Five Read Online Free PDF Page A

deadly ways.”
    “No, but he got you anyhow. On the highway.”
    “Let me guess. He sabotaged my tire when he went to the bathroom?”
    “Yeah, he did,” Samuel replied as he slung more dirt.
    “No wonder he was gone so long. Gee, and I just assumed he was calling a friend to tell them how great the date was going.”
    Samuel chuckled and his inappropriate laughter made me want to scream. “You always did have a bitter sense of humor, Mandy. I’m sure gonna miss it.”
    I smiled wickedly at him in response and lit another cigarette. At least our conversation was buying me time to consider all of my options. He wasn’t looking in my direction any longer, so I stole a quick glimpse of the layout of the cave. It was difficult to make much out since the only light was coming from the lantern by his feet. I had no idea how far the entrance of the cave was from my position. The only thing I did know was which direction I would claw my way to once I figured out a way to escape.
    Samuel stood six two and the ceiling was considerably higher, maybe twelve feet. The width was about twice that size and the depth unknown. Obviously, it was far enough to bury nearly a hundred women.
    And that’s when I caught a glint of something red and metallic. It rested near the spot I had been before Sam moved me. Christ, why didn’t I think to search for it before?
    It was my purse which held my gun.
    Hallelujah!
    “I doubt you will miss my sense of humor any more than I will miss dishing it out. So, tonight was the end. The last trinkets stolen and thrown into your coffers, all ready to pin it on Jacob, the unwilling patsy. Was he going to get his fifty percent of my money too, or were you going to keep all that yourself? You know, since we’re practically like brother and sister, to keep the cash in family, so to speak?”
    Sam kept shoveling as sadness and regret spread across his face.
    “I told you, Mandy. Seventy-five was the perfect number. It was easier since we split the um, er, proceeds three ways. But tonight, Jacob wasn’t gettin’ a dime. The money was only going to be halved.”
    Three ways? We? Oh God, there was another…
    I nodded in agreement and motioned for him to continue, my heart pounding at the discovery of another partner. I swallowed the bile that was making its way up my esophagus. What if the other partner showed up? And who the hell was it? If I survived, would I be forced to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, worried about them finding me?
    “We made sure that everything points back to him. All the money was funneled into his bank account. Then large sums of cash withdrawn and given to us. I never put mine in the bank. It’s hidden inside my gun safe at home. No paper trail, no siree Bob. I told you, tonight was the last night. I’m just sorry that you’re the last one.”
    “Yeah, but not as sorry I am.” That reply brought a small grin to his sweaty face. “I assume, since I met Jacob on a dating site, that’s the hunting ground you all used?” Since he was being so forthcoming with information, I hoped I could get him to tell me about the third partner.
    He nodded silently, the intensity back with a vengeance. The hole was getting deeper.
    My internal wheels were spinning. I had to figure out a way to get to my gun without him noticing.
    “He picked out women who had money, right?” Again, he gave me a nod of agreement, his hair bouncing in harmony with the movement. “But I’m not rich. I’m a nurse for God’s sake.”
    Samuel paused in mid-shovel and stared at me with a look of pity. The kind of look you would give a child while they tried to figure out a difficult homework problem. You know they know the answer, so you wait while their brain runs through the calculations and finally solves the puzzle.
    Neurons fired on all cylinders and the answer slapped me in hard the face. My huge divorce settlement from Scott had netted me close to one point five million.
    “I