“I’m gonna spread the emails out over the next few days, then send the ones where she threatens him back-to-back.”

I roll that over in my head. “So that brings us to...Friday.”

“We do the hit Sunday night?”

“Sunday won’t work. He doesn’t drink on Sundays. Jesus or whatever. Has to be during the week. He does the same routine every day. Comes home, does some work, caps it off with a glass of Macallan.”

“Okay. Monday, then. We’ll line all his glasses with the HCN, so no matter which one he picks, he’s a goner.”

I bite my lip. “Stop. You’re making my nipples hard.”

He laughs. “Shut up. Bye.”

The flip phone buzzes ten minutes later. I check the screen.

Just sent the first email. Check his computer. Make sure everything looks good.

I head downstairs to my father’s office. It’s empty, of course. He’ll probably be locked into a string of meetings for another few hours. I click into the mail app on his desktop and open the email Jared just sent from Brandi’s account.

To: Simon Van Doren

From: [email protected]

Subject: it’s me

I turned down some lame guy at the bar last night. He got mad and asked me if I was a lesbian. I said, “No, I love big fat dicks in my mouth,” and he left. I was thinking about you. I miss you. Can I see you tonight?

A jolt of relief moves through me. I can’t believe it actually worked. My heart is pounding. I drag the message into the trash, just like my father would have done, and then text Jared back: Everything looks good. I put it in the trash for now. It’ll stay there for two weeks. But dial it back some. Big fat dicks? Lol This is supposed to be coming from her, not you. Just copy and paste what I wrote for the rest.

Jared: Ok, gonna send 3 more tomorrow. Then u jump in. When u reply, make sure u reply to the chain. Friday will be the last one.

Me: Got it.

By the time Friday rolls along, all the emails have been sent. Nine messages total. I reread them again, then pick up the burner phone and call Jared.

I’m laughing when he answers. “‘Limp-dick son of a bitch.’”

I can hear his smile. “Was thinking of you when I added it. That last one wasn’t too on the nose, was it?”

“Just right.” I can’t help but smile. “When the cops find this chain, we’re bathing in benjis.”

Cindy Crawford walks into the room and jumps onto the bed. I reach over and rub her back as she purrs. “How’s Mei doing with the HCN?”

“Haven’t heard from her,” Jared says. “You?”

“Radio silence.”