“Okay.” She walked back to her desk and pressed speaker.
“Alec, where are you?” Kendall asked.
“Kendall, thank God you're all right.”
“Where are you?” she asked again.
“I'm with the fire marshal and the police. We're waiting for the sheriff to join us.”
“This makes no sense to me.”
“I don't expect it to. But it will to Frankie and Johanna,” he explained. “As I told Frankie, the arsonist has been identified as Kristin Robbins.”
“What?” Johanna said with obvious disbelief in her voice. “What motive would she have? That's ridiculous.”
“It's not. I can't go into the details right now, but Kendall, you need to stay put. Frankie and Johanna will take good care of you. Under no circumstances are you to leave the office.”
Kendall shivered. “I won't.” She glanced at Frankie and Johanna. “Were the bodyguards working for Thatcher too?”
“I think so. Just remember that Kristin Robbins is unstable. She is not in custody. She's been working with Becca Manning and Thatcher.”
“I thought Becca wanted nothing to do with her.”
“That's what they wanted everyone to think. I can't give you the details right now. Thatcher has been taken into custody. We can't locate Kristin or Becca Manning. We assume they're on the run together. They're dangerous.”
“What do you mean? You can't locate them?” Johanna asked, alarmed.
All color had drained from Kendall's face. “Because they're after me, aren't they, Alec?”
He paused. “Stay safe. They'll be found.”
After he clicked off, Kendall turned to Frankie and Johanna. “What do they hope to gain?” She bit her bottom lip. “With Thatcher in custody, they have nothing.”
“Kendall, what would happen to the company if something were to happen to you or Thatcher?”
She cleared her throat. “If something were to happen to me, Thatcher would get everything if we were still legally married. Whoever is in his will would receive everything upon his death.”
“What are you getting at?” Frankie asked Johanna.
“What if Thatcher has the baby listed in his will?”
“If he has a new will, Alec would have him tied up in the courts for years proving he violated the pre-nup by having an affair and the baby while we were legally married.”
Johanna frowned. “It was just a thought.”
Frankie pursed her lips. “No, I think you're on to something, Johanna.”
“What?”
“What if Thatcher isn't so innocent? Suppose Thatcher convinces Becca and Kristin to get Kendall out of the picture. They leave the country with the baby. After a period of time passes, Thatcher marries Kristin and then adopts Chloe. Then he has everything he wants.”
“What about Becca? From everything we've been told, she's obsessed with Thatcher. And what about the arguments?”
“Maybe that was all a part of the plan. She's at odds with Thatcher and Kristin, so no one would suspect they're actually working together,” Frankie rationalized.
“That makes sense,” Johanna replied. She turned to Kendall. “What would happen if they succeeded to get you out of the picture and Thatcher was arrested and imprisoned?”
“Since I have no other living heirs, everything would go to the numerous charities and foundations my family has always supported. He wouldn't get a dime, nor would the baby.”
Johanna exhaled loudly. “So, Frankie, do you think Becca Manning and Kristin Robbins are working against Thatcher or with him? At this point they have nothing to gain.”
Frankie shook her head. “I don't know what to think anymore. Both suppositions make sense, but there's nothing in it for either of them now except long prison sentences.”
Kendall looked at the clock. “I wonder what's going on.” She lowered her eyes. “I'm sorry if this mess has put you two in danger. I never dreamed there was anything more going on than Thatcher's infidelity.”
Johanna touched Kendall's arm. “None of this is your fault. Your case pales in comparison to some of the cases we've had.”
Frankie smiled at her. “Johanna's right.” She saw the worry in Kendall's eyes. “I'm sure Alec will call with an update soon. For now, we'll stay put. Can I get you anything? We have some snacks in the back.”
“No, thank you.” She glanced around the office. “Is there any way Kristin and Becca can get in here?”
“You’re safe,” Frankie reassured her.”
Kendall smiled weakly. “So how did you two get into this business? I find it intriguing.”
* * * *
Frankie was surprised that two hours had passed during which the three of them talked about everything under the sun. Bronson employees had it right when they said what a sweet, kind, and generous woman Kendall Bronson Longman was. Frankie seethed when she thought about Thatcher Longman's evil plan to not only destroy Kendall, but make off with her family fortune too.
Kendall stretched. “Could one of you point me in the direction of the restroom? I wish I could freshen up a bit. It's too bad I couldn't bring my clothes with me. I can't wait to get out of this outfit and especially this wig.”
Frankie chuckled. “Yes, Johanna and I know all about wigs.”
Kendall giggled. “That's right. You wore them on your visit to Bronson Enterprises.” She looked at each of them scrutinizing them. “I'm trying to picture you in them.”
“Quite a transformation...just like yours.” Johanna grinned. “I'll show you to our restroom. We keep a few outfits here just in case we need to change at the last minute. Let's see if we can find you something.”
“That would be great,” Kendall enthusiastically replied.
Frankie waited until they made their way to the room in the back, and then hurried to where she kept the guns. She quickly retrieved them and placed Johanna's gun in her top desk drawer. She slipped her own into her ankle holster.
She had no clue what Becca and Kristin might do, but she wanted to be prepared. She figured they were probably on their way out of the country by now. It still didn't make sense why Kristin had set the fires. She must have returned to each location after Thatcher dropped her at the hotel. But why? Actually, nothing about this case made much sense where Becca, Kristin, and Thatcher were concerned.
