Larissa Judson and Haskell Palmer novel Chapter 912

Haskell shot back, "Is my uncle looking to help?"

Xylee knew Haskell was a sharp one, so she cut to the chase. "A major reform initiative just came down from the top, a call to clean house. If my husband can seize this moment and deliver some real results, he's guaranteed a promotion."

Haskell had already figured his uncle would use this opportunity to climb the political ladder. He smiled and agreed readily. "I understand, Aunt Xylee. We'll gather all the evidence we can on Jedidiah. As for how to take him down, I'll leave that to him."

Xylee knew Haskell was intelligent and resourceful; she didn't need to say more. With a simple, "Congratulations on becoming the heir," she left.

...

At dinner that evening, Zoltan brought up the next logical step. "Haskell, now that the succession is settled, it's time to think about your marriage with Larissa."

Haskell smiled. "I was planning to start preparing for the wedding once my legs had fully healed and I was officially the heir. But now, I want to deal with Jedidiah first."

He wouldn't allow any threats to linger over his and Larissa's wedding.

Rigby frowned at the mention of Jedidiah's name, as if it stirred an unpleasant memory. "Haskell, who's Jedidiah?"

"He's the power behind the Lincoln family," Haskell explained.

"Oh," Rigby said. "The big shot Tawny and Wynn exposed?"

Haskell nodded. "That's the one."

"Jedidiah," Rigby mused. "Why does that name sound so familiar?"

"Good idea," Haskell agreed. "So, what's the situation in Spire Village? Have those death row inmates made any moves?"

"They've been quiet," Larissa reported. "Finley told me they honestly seem like they're just on vacation."

Haskell mulled this over for a moment. "In that case, they're probably just a diversion, a smokescreen to distract us."

His words clicked for Larissa. "I'll have Nightveil alert the team. They need to stop focusing solely on the inmates!"

Once she broadened her perspective, Larissa's team quickly uncovered Jedidiah's true objective. It was horrifying.

"Jedidiah plans to blow up the entire village," Larissa told Haskell during a video call, just three days before the new year. "Those inmates are just the pretext he needs to justify it!"