Primed For Revenge

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Book excerpt

Chapter 1 - Against Her Will 

She awakened not knowing where she was or how she got there. Sydney looked out the window and saw the rough-honed fence posts with non-symmetrical boards crisscrossing through the wooden posts dotting across an overgrown field. Beyond the country, outback fencing hung a heavy mist, and she lost hope of identifying her whereabouts.

She lifted herself up on her elbows and swept tangled hair away from her face. The sticky gooey coating on the individual strands melted leaving a brownish-red tint on her fingers. Her eyes were swelling shut and her lips tasted of blood. She wondered how long she had been locked away left to die.

She'd kill to remember her past and what brought her to this place and time, but she figured she wasn't a killer, as she was the one beaten beyond recognition.

She felt a lump growing on the side of her head peeking out from the blood-smeared hair follicles. The stench of blood was something she could never grow accustomed too, she thought. She gave up racking her brain for details of her circumstances and began looking for an escape route. She had no idea how long she'd been there and when, if ever, anyone would return, especially her accosters. Time was of the essence.

***

Lawrence O'Malley, the foreman on the commercial jobsite, had his fingers in several business ventures. At the moment, one was taking up too much of his time.

The JYB Commercial Contractor's lead man and estimator, Joe Hesterberg, called to let him know he'd been called to the law office of Birdman & Birdman for an interview with attorney Sydney Jones. He had a feeling she'd uncovered something, but what he didn't know.

O'Malley had already determined how to stay safe should the investigation get too close. He'd asked around among his cronies about the private life and habits of Stanford Birdman, of Birdman & Birdman. The partner liked to gamble and had substantial losses at the tables in Vegas. He continued betting on football games, even though his finances were dwindling.

He made the call to Birdman to set up a meeting and seemed delighted to discuss a financial opportunity tailored to his portfolio.

Stanford Birdman met with O'Malley at an out-of-the-way bar and grill. O'Malley proposed a solution to his financial needs regarding gaming debts. Birdman appeared interested and wanted to know what the catch was.

"It's simple," O'Malley said. "I'll pay off your current gambling debts in exchange for information about the JYB Commercial Contractors business and pending lawsuits."

Birdman rolled the idea around in his head for a minute, and said, "You've got yourself a deal pending confirmation of my debts being satisfied."

"Just provide me the information about where to deposit the funds, and it'll be done."

"I'll call you with the bank routing and account numbers from my office."

"OK, I'll wait to hear from you."

Stanford kept his word and notified him about the general contractor's business dealing and lawsuits. When Birdman confirmed his thoughts about their ace attorney, Sydney Jones unraveling his potential alibi, he instructed him to remove her from the case.

In no time, he called back. "She's refused my request and is headed home. She leaves little choice but to fire her."

"Well, I trust you'll do what you have to keep our agreement," O'Malley said.

Stanford Birdman saw his brother, Hartley, standing at the office door and whirled around in his office chair to face him.

"What going on, Stanford?" asked Hartley.

Stanford had no idea how long his brother had been standing there or what he may have overheard. He decided to lie for his dealings were none of his brother's business. He was in charge of running the partnership, not him. Their father gave him control of Birdman & Birdman before he passed away.

"Ah, just following up with one of our clients about playing some golf later this week," he said.

Hartley heard enough to know he was lying, and one of the underlings later confided that he and Sydney Jones quarreled about the handling of JYB Contractors' upcoming case.

He'd had it with his brother's behavior. He knew more about his dealings than he thought. Something had to be done about his reckless behavior before he sank the firm.