Free Victoria by Laura Marie Henion Page A

she wanted to call it quits. Your father had no idea about this. When Bret showed up that day and took the picture, he probably thought nothing of it. He disliked Bret, yes, but dealt with him while Linda finished her portrait."
    Victoria thought about it for a minute, relieved that her father had good reason for meeting the attractive young woman.
    Warren proceeded to tell her no one was to know about her decision, and that in the end, after hurting her family, they would understand and forgive her.
* * * *
    Warren called Monroe then pulled his car out of the parking lot.
    "So do you think she's going to help us, or what?” Monroe asked.
    "My gut would say yes. She wants revenge badly."
    "You're not kidding. Who the hell wouldn't? I just wonder if she'll be able to handle her family. Besides that, where the hell did you come up with the story about the painting? She may ask to see that when everything is all over,” Monroe said.
    "Don't worry about it, Monroe—just follow my lead. We are conducting this investigation for the County District Attorney's office. Do you know what kind of publicity the DA and all of us will get from this, especially, if there's multiple murders connected? As sick as it sounds, people eat that kind of movie shit up."
    "It's crazy when you think about how this whole investigation got started."
    "Yeah, one call from Jack ‘Flip’ Walker to his town DA,” Warren added.
    "It would make a great story. A man who wanted the position as Town Supervisor had initiated the phone call to the District Attorney's Office. That call encouraged the District Attorney to take a deeper look at Bret Collins. Who would've known that the Highway Department Supervisor was onto something this big?"
    [Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter 5
    Victoria's tears threatened to escape. It would take a miracle for her to make it through the day without breaking down. The sense of foreboding, of the unknowing that lay before her, was enough to bring the most organized and strong person into a panic attack, but instead, she reluctantly entered her office. She had debated calling in sick, but she never did that. She did only once, two years ago, when she had the stomach flu and wound up dehydrated and in the hospital. That was before the murder of her father.
    Tears filled her eyes for the hundredth time today. She needed to gain control of that. She had another job to do, and her anger and hatred were her motivation. As she looked toward her desk, she noticed the large bouquet of wild flowers that sat in a tall purple vase, her favorite color. As she lay her briefcase on the table, she heard Debbie's voice.
    "There's no card, Victoria. Maybe it's from that handsome, Bret Collins,” Debbie took a sniff.
    Victoria wanted to vomit. The show had begun, and she needed to stay in her role, constantly. Flinching at the sensation of chills running through her body, she stiffened then re-focused.
    "Maybe they are. I'll have to call him and thank him.” Victoria touched the flowers.
    Just then, her phone rang, startling her. Debbie took notice, but didn't seem to think anything of it as she waved goodbye and left the room, closing the office door behind her.
    "Hey, gorgeous, did you sleep well?” Bret asked and Victoria held onto the receiver tightly.
    "Pretty good, how about yourself?” You murderous bastard. She shook the thoughts away. She didn't want to screw this up.
    "Do you have plans for lunch today? I'd love to meet you."
    "I'm not sure. I'll have to check my book. I just got to the office. Thank you for the flowers.” It killed her to be so pleasant.
    "I didn't send you flowers. I wish I had thought of it, though. There's no card?” Bret's voice tinged with jealousy. Her heart felt as if it sank to her toes.
    "No, there isn't. I'm sorry for assuming. Let me look at my book a minute."
    The perspiration hit her brow, and she wondered who sent her the flowers.
    "Why are you late to work, oversleep or something?"
    Debating