“And?”
“Not on the market at the moment is what the guy said, like he still wasn’t convinced things would work out.”
Interesting. “Did he say why?”
“Something about only by prayer and the grace of God, or something like that.”
His eyes narrowed. There was much more to this story than what he knew. Information he’d have to know in order for his plan work. “And you didn’t ask what he meant?”
Foley shifted the weight of his bulging belly from one foot to the other, his beady eyes restless. "He didn’t give me a chance. Had a court date to get to. I woulda stayed longer, but you told me to get here ASAP and make sure I wasn’t followed.” The slovenly man’s words erupted into a slimy barrage of word vomit, and he twisted his hands in front of him.
Krater turned away and moved across the room to allow his thoughts to process. For now at least, Amy was holed up at a secluded farm not too far from here, which meant it shouldn’t be too difficult to get to her without causing a scene. Chance Johnson could be problematic, but he had other ways to get him out of the picture.
The contents of the grandfather’s will had left the farm to the both of them with the contingency that they work together to restore it. But apparently the two weren’t completely sold on the idea based on the attorney’s reply to Foley.
Hmmm. With a well-manicured finger he lifted the chin of the purring black cat and peered into its golden eyes. “What should we do, Valmoor? Do we wait until Amy decides to run again, or do we make our move sooner?” So many variables at play, but none insurmountable. The main thing was to be patient. The last thing he needed to do was make a costly mistake, especially when he was this close to achieving his goal. He faced Foley, who worked his lips back and forth, his lips itching to speak. “What is it, Foley? You have something to say, so say it.”
“It’s just that, I—I was wondering if I could get an advance to tide me over to the next pay day.”
“Already spent it all on booze and cigarettes, eh?” He clicked his tongue.
Foley didn’t answer, but his eyes bulged.
So easy to anger, this one, which would make him all the more disposable later. “Let me make you a deal you can’t refuse.”
The overweight man’s face brightened. “Okay.”
“You bring back every piece of information you can get on Mr. Chance Johnson and his relationship to Amy. Be thorough. Then, and only then, will I consider giving you your requested advance.”
“But that means going back to Miller’s Creek.”
Krater crossed the room again, headed straight toward Foley.
“Which I don’t mind doing at all.” Foley flinched and moved out of the way to let him pass.
Krater punched in the code and opened the door. “I thought you might see it my way.” He gently closed the door behind Foley, then moved to his desk at command central. Time for a planning session.
Chapter Ten
S heer panic careened through Dakota’s insides, bouncing off her bones. She squatted to the ground, focused on the fresh cigarette butt, her mind littered with questions she couldn't answer. Who had been here? Were they still around? What were they doing? What did they want?
She shivered. Her. They had always wanted her and would stop at nothing. But how had they found her way out here in the middle of nowhere?
Dakota stood, examining the cigarette butt in her hand and noticing teeth marks in the filter's thin paper. An image of Kane flashed to mind, with his cigarette dangling from his lips as he screamed at her.
Fireworks of fear exploded, her breaths coming in short, open-mouthed spurts. Breathe, Dakota. Think!
She scanned the vicinity, searching for the slightest movement, ears strained to pick up the faintest sound . Nothing but the gentle coos of the dove and the wind rattling the tall field grass. A minute or two later, she finally slowed her breath and racing heart, comforted by one thought. If
“Not on the market at the moment is what the guy said, like he still wasn’t convinced things would work out.”
Interesting. “Did he say why?”
“Something about only by prayer and the grace of God, or something like that.”
His eyes narrowed. There was much more to this story than what he knew. Information he’d have to know in order for his plan work. “And you didn’t ask what he meant?”
Foley shifted the weight of his bulging belly from one foot to the other, his beady eyes restless. "He didn’t give me a chance. Had a court date to get to. I woulda stayed longer, but you told me to get here ASAP and make sure I wasn’t followed.” The slovenly man’s words erupted into a slimy barrage of word vomit, and he twisted his hands in front of him.
Krater turned away and moved across the room to allow his thoughts to process. For now at least, Amy was holed up at a secluded farm not too far from here, which meant it shouldn’t be too difficult to get to her without causing a scene. Chance Johnson could be problematic, but he had other ways to get him out of the picture.
The contents of the grandfather’s will had left the farm to the both of them with the contingency that they work together to restore it. But apparently the two weren’t completely sold on the idea based on the attorney’s reply to Foley.
Hmmm. With a well-manicured finger he lifted the chin of the purring black cat and peered into its golden eyes. “What should we do, Valmoor? Do we wait until Amy decides to run again, or do we make our move sooner?” So many variables at play, but none insurmountable. The main thing was to be patient. The last thing he needed to do was make a costly mistake, especially when he was this close to achieving his goal. He faced Foley, who worked his lips back and forth, his lips itching to speak. “What is it, Foley? You have something to say, so say it.”
“It’s just that, I—I was wondering if I could get an advance to tide me over to the next pay day.”
“Already spent it all on booze and cigarettes, eh?” He clicked his tongue.
Foley didn’t answer, but his eyes bulged.
So easy to anger, this one, which would make him all the more disposable later. “Let me make you a deal you can’t refuse.”
The overweight man’s face brightened. “Okay.”
“You bring back every piece of information you can get on Mr. Chance Johnson and his relationship to Amy. Be thorough. Then, and only then, will I consider giving you your requested advance.”
“But that means going back to Miller’s Creek.”
Krater crossed the room again, headed straight toward Foley.
“Which I don’t mind doing at all.” Foley flinched and moved out of the way to let him pass.
Krater punched in the code and opened the door. “I thought you might see it my way.” He gently closed the door behind Foley, then moved to his desk at command central. Time for a planning session.
Chapter Ten
S heer panic careened through Dakota’s insides, bouncing off her bones. She squatted to the ground, focused on the fresh cigarette butt, her mind littered with questions she couldn't answer. Who had been here? Were they still around? What were they doing? What did they want?
She shivered. Her. They had always wanted her and would stop at nothing. But how had they found her way out here in the middle of nowhere?
Dakota stood, examining the cigarette butt in her hand and noticing teeth marks in the filter's thin paper. An image of Kane flashed to mind, with his cigarette dangling from his lips as he screamed at her.
Fireworks of fear exploded, her breaths coming in short, open-mouthed spurts. Breathe, Dakota. Think!
She scanned the vicinity, searching for the slightest movement, ears strained to pick up the faintest sound . Nothing but the gentle coos of the dove and the wind rattling the tall field grass. A minute or two later, she finally slowed her breath and racing heart, comforted by one thought. If
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