Double Cross by DiAnn Mills Read Free Book Online Page B

friend.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He ended the call, stifling a frustrated sigh.
    In the morning, he’d speak with Miss Leonard about his behavior and do his best to get back into her good graces.
    But he’d messed up with Laurel Evertson by challenging her view of the situation. She was a skilled agent from the top of her golden head to her sensible heels. Yes, he’d noticed. She’d worn a black pantsuit with a white silk blouse, little gold hoop earrings, and just enough makeup to set off her nut-brown eyes. With a face that gorgeous, he hadn’t expected her gentleness toward Gramps. He figured she’d discard an Alzheimer’s patient’s claims as a total waste.
    After all, the only reason he’d taken his grandparents to the FBI was to avoid making them find a way to get there themselves   —and because of Tom’s death. Gran no longer drove . . . unless Gramps prodded her. Worse yet, Gramps might wander off in the car and get hurt. Soon Daniel must secure the locks on the front and back doors of their mammoth home. How he’d manage that featwhen he didn’t live there would be a huge undertaking. Gramps’s independence meant a lot, but not as much as his grandparents’ safety and well-being.
    At the next light, Daniel picked up his iPhone and pressed in Agent Evertson’s number. Apologizing wasn’t his favorite conversation, but he needed to be on her side. He’d made her angry with his insistence upon conducting his own investigation. He hadn’t changed his mind, but he didn’t need to alienate her.
    The agent’s phone rang five times and rolled to voice mail. He left a brief message for her to call and offered an apology for his curt behavior earlier. Gramps would call his words “eating crow.” Daniel thought it was being smart.
    Agent Evertson looked familiar, but he couldn’t figure out why. Once home, he googled her name and his recollection fell into place.
    Special Agent Laurel Evertson’s undercover work and testimony had put away Morton Wilmington five years ago. A drop for all the crimes assigned to him and his organization. Although many called him Robin Hood because of his generous contributions to charities, he was convicted of one murder and suspected of several others.
    Daniel remembered the extensive media coverage. She and Wilmington were engaged, and she gained access to his computer files and aided in an FBI arrest. Upon his sentencing, he threatened to kill her.
    Tough gal to stay in the game. Maybe Daniel was wrong about her.

CHAPTER 8
    6:35 A.M. FRIDAY
    Daniel yawned and swung his pickup into Silver Hospitality’s parking area with Gran in the rear and Gramps beside him. He’d stayed up until after midnight researching insurance fraud and rose before five this morning, pumping life into his body with espresso, to continue the same online probe. He found an FBI press release about the crimes involving the same kind of scam, which told him agents were investigating these.
    Nothing online resembled the company, but complaints surfaced from those who claimed they or loved ones had been swindled out of large sums of money, all involving the elderly. Some comments indicated the victims had a form of dementia. But no other deaths.
    He was onto something. The origin wasn’t evident in every post, but Florida hit the radar in at least two. That made sense since it was the retirement capital of the US. The FBI had more information than he did, and for sure Gramps had uncovered a crime. Today’s visit from the bureau might provide solid answers.
    Reality hit hard. Whoever had planned an elaborate scheme to defraud the elderly would make sure their rears were covered. Daniel believed Gran and Gramps were in danger.
    Were they safe at Silver Hospitality? The facility boasted cutting-edge care from safety technology to the full-time nutritionist. Butsomeone had gotten inside. Or worked the inside. Would the FBI’s interest in the case keep his grandparents from danger? Fear snaked up his