Read Online Losing Ladd by Dianne Venetta - Free Book Online Page A

Mr. Dakota had indicated
he was meeting with clients this morning and couldn’t be of help to
him directly, he didn’t mention who they were. But as he excused
himself, voices carried, easily identifying those in attendance as
Jack and Victoria Foster.
    Clenching his jaw, Travis clicked
through screens on the monitor before him. The Fosters were here to
meet with counsel regarding the impending trial against Troy and
Felicity’s mom. According to Felicity, Mrs. Foster had hired a firm
out of Nashville to argue their case, most likely in response to
Mr. Harris’ decision to hire a group out of Chattanooga for Troy’s
defense—a blockbuster group with a reputation for winning even the
toughest cases.
    Travis hoped they raked the Fosters
over the coals, leaving lasting marks. It was disgraceful what they
were doing to Troy, Mrs. Foster in particular. Felicity’s father
was saving his own skin. Criminals like Jack Foster always lied to
save their butt from jail, but his mother’s involvement is what
enabled the travesty. Without her money and connections to Gavin
Shore and other members of the police department, Jack Foster would
have gotten nowhere fast. Travis might have his differences with
his brother, but he would not stand by and allow people to make a
mockery of the justice system or a fool of his family.
    Shaking off the frustration, Travis
worked to clear his mind, concentrating on the information
displayed on the screen. Someone paid Jeremiah’s marker to the
casino and that payment could be traced. He’d called the casino and
learned the bank used for such purposes. Now he had to get the
routing number. Every bank had one, kind of like a person had a
social security number. It was specific to them. Clicking through
screens on the Federal Reserve’s website, Travis searched for the
bank in question. He knew the amount of money in question. Knew
Jeremiah’s name, his driver’s license number, his last known
address in Atlanta, though he wasn’t sure the latter was necessary.
The man had been in jail in Nevada. That was an easier
find.
    Once he pinpointed the bank, he could
work backwards and find the debit bank. A phone call with the
beneficiary bank information and recipient’s information should get
him one step closer to discovering who originated the transaction.
Then he’d be one step closer to tying a direct line between
Jeremiah Ladd and his accomplice. Next, Travis would work to
establish motive. Despite Felicity’s assertion that her father was
responsible for setting the horses free, Travis believed her mom
was on a better track. Jeremiah was the one who promised revenge.
He was the one who hated the hotel and everyone connected to it. It
was likely him behind the horse fiasco.
    But who paid the money to get him out
of jail? Travis clicked his mouse as he scrolled through screen
after screen, speed-reading the names and lists. It would take a
bit of time, some well-placed phone calls, but Travis was confident
he could get to the bottom of it. Then he’d share the information
with the authorities, and Felicity and her mom would know who was
responsible and take the appropriate actions.

Chapter Seven
     
    Troy walked clear of the trail and
into the meadow, Spirit plodding methodically behind him. In the
distance, the hotel was barely visible. Hidden away in the
mountain, its walls were partially obscured by trees and
underbrush, windows allowing guests to see out better than
passersby could see in. It had been an amazing transformation. He
hadn’t been here for the entire process, but he knew this property
like his own. He loved it like his own. The fact that someone was
trying to destroy it rubbed him raw. Whoever tried to harm the
horses was going to hear from him. First stop needed to be the
stables. He needed to deliver Spirit safe and sound to Miss
Delaney, but he also needed to consult with someone regarding the
appearance of Jeremiah Ladd in the forest. He could tell Miss
Delaney, but