Road Test by David Wickenhauser (most read book in the world .txt) 📕

“Let them in.”

Hugh climbed down from the truck cab and was standing in front of his truck when the van pulled up. Jenny opened her door and hit the ground running before the van had even stopped. Hugh caught her to keep her from falling. Then they stood there hugging and kissing, hugging and kissing.

“Come on you guys, it’s been a long day,” Roc said. “Hugh, a word.”

Hugh walked over to where the van was parked. Its sliding door was open. He looked in and saw five pairs of eyes glaring at him. He recognized William, and was happy to see he was unharmed. The others he didn’t recognize, although he knew who they could be expected to be.

“Everybody accounted for?” Hugh asked.

“Yup. Went exactly as you planned,” Roc replied, and handed Hugh their cell phones.

“They were all gracious enough to tell me their unlock codes,” Roc said, looking at the captives. The bound men glared back at Roc.

“Thanks for everything so far,” Hugh said. “All that’s left now are recordings of full and voluntary confessions from everybody. Do you think there will be any problem getting those?”

“Nope. Not a bit,” Roc answered.

They closed the van doors and left. Hugh would see all of them again tomorrow.

Jenny was still standing in front of Hugh’s truck where he had left her.

“Are you OK? Did they hurt you?”

She reached up to lightly touch the red spot on her face where Rob had slapped her.

“Who did that to you?” Hugh asked. He’d have some special treatment planned for him.

“It doesn’t matter. He didn’t make it,” Jenny said. “Other than that, nobody touched me. In fact, I put one of their guys in the hospital, and did some serious damage to another one. I did as you taught me. Move in fast, hit first, keep moving, fight dirty.”

“I saw that. I know it couldn’t have been easy. But I’m so proud of you. And so sorry you had to go through that.”

They had been climbing back into Hugh’s truck during this conversation, and were now in the sleeper.

It was so late, and they were both so tired, they didn’t bother with pajamas or modesty. Hugh stripped to underwear, and Jenny undressed to bra and panties. They got in bed, assumed their usual sleeping position, and fell asleep.

Hugh’s ringing phone woke him in the morning. It was Roc.

Hugh put it on speaker, so Jenny could listen in.

“Everything’s good,” Roc said. “Everybody cooperated and spilled their guts … eventually. I’ve got it all recorded.”

He briefed Hugh on what they had all confessed. Hugh could hardly believe the depth of depravity the attorney had unleashed in his evil, greedy, murderous plan.

“Good. And thanks. I’ll text you the law office address. Have them there right at eleven, and wait for my signal to bring them in.”

“Will do. How’s Jenny?”

“Hi Roc. I’m good. Thank you so much, you’re the best.”

“You’re welcome, little sister. Glad to do it.”

When Hugh had hung up, Jenny said, “I still can’t believe how slick you pulled that off.”

“I couldn’t have done it without your motorcycle gang buddies.”

“Don’t forget you’re a member of the motorcycle gang, too,” she reminded him.

They realized they were sitting there talking to each other in a near-naked condition.

“Hugh, we really need to get married. Let’s set a date.”

“Believe me, that’s been on my mind. In the meantime, we need showers, and breakfast, and I need to tell you the rest of the plan before we have to leave with our attorney to go to the deposition.”

After showers at the WestAm driver’s facility, they returned to the truck for coffee and hard-boiled eggs.

Hugh filled Jenny in on how he believed the deposition was going to go, and the parts everybody would be playing.

When it was nearly time, they walked over to the terminal and met with attorney Johnston.

Hugh introduced him to Jenny.

In the car on the drive to Scottsdale Hugh explained who Jenny was, and the part she had played in the drama until now, and the part she’d be playing at Fishburn’s law office.

He didn’t want to blindside his attorney with the upcoming drama he had planned, so he filled him in on everything he had done getting ready for this time.

“When you said yesterday you suspected the attorney of insurance fraud, but all you needed was proof, I wanted to tell you everything I knew, but I couldn’t do it until I was sure Jenny would be safe.”

“Hold on a minute,” the attorney said.

He tapped a button on his steering wheel, and said, “Call John Grosnell.”

When John answered, he said, “John, I know this is extremely sudden notice, but can you get over to the law offices of Bill Fishburn in Scottsdale as quickly as possible?”

“What’s this about, Grant?”

“It’s about the fatal car accident on I-10 a little while ago with two fatalities who were burned so badly we didn’t even know their identities for some time. That was staged by an insurance scam ring we are about to bust wide open. This is big.”

“I know where that is. Fishburn is well known. I’m in Scottsdale right now. I’ll grab a couple of uniforms.”

“Got it. See you there.”

Johnston told Hugh that Grosnell was a county district attorney who also happened to be a good friend.

“Wow! Things are moving fast,” Hugh said. “But I want to make sure this plays out the way I’ve planned it. I’m playing it straight at first, then I hope to give the attorney the rope to hang himself. I’ll be cuing everybody when it is time to do their parts.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it all worked out. We’ll do it your way.