EMBELLISHED TO DEATH by Christina Freeburn Page B

to the clerk and I didn’t want him overhearing.
    â€œGood afternoon,” I said.
    â€œWhat in the world have you gotten yourself into now?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œNothing doesn’t usually involve being talked to by a Federal agent. And, what is with all the license plates?”
    â€œI haven’t done anything. And he’s not a Federal agent, just likes going around saying he is. Bob asked me to send you the plates.”
    â€œBob? He has you helping him?” The fury in Ted’s voice was unmistakable. “And how do you know this agent is a fake?”
    â€œYou sure do have a lot of questions.”
    â€œYou need to start giving the answers or I’m coming there and will wring them out of Bob.”
    â€œThreatening your sibling isn’t very nice.”
    â€œInvolving you in his case wasn’t smart.”
    â€œHe didn’t involve me, at least not where the faux FBI agent is concerned. That’s pretty much my own doing. Morgan joined me for coffee when Garrison was there. He said the louse is a private investigator. A bully for hire. ”
    Ted cursed, a long string of four letter-words, and a few interesting combinations of them.
    â€œI take it you know him too.”
    â€œI know a guy named Morgan who’s a PI. One of the good things about leaving my prior job was not having to deal with him anymore. The guy is a dirt fabricator. He usually works for paparazzi and political candidates who want dirt on the opposing candidate. He’ll use any means to get information and has no interest if something is the truth or not. Why is that guy following you around?”
    I glanced around the area. A few croppers were tugging luggage carts into the area but no one lingered about. They paid quite a bit to crop this weekend and planned on using every minute possible. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”
    â€œYou don’t want to talk? Then why in the world send me a text asking me to check into some agent named Morgan?”
    I cringed.
    â€œEither spill your guts, or I’m calling Bob to shake the truth out of you.”
    â€œHe wouldn’t be the first person trying that today. Besides, Bob knows.”
    Ted drew in a sharp breath. “Wait a minute, did you just say Morgan’s laid his hands on you?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWhere’s Davis? I can’t believe he’s allowing this guy to harass you.”
    â€œHe’s resting. I wasn’t paying attention when I stepped into the road and walked into the path of a speeding car. Steve got hurt getting me out of the away.” I hoped my carefree words covered up the guilt and fear pushing in on me.
    â€œJust what have you managed to stumble into there?”
    â€œWhy do you keep asking that?” I puffed out a frustrated breath.
    â€œMorgan is trouble. He’s known as the go-to guy for results. Morgan has no qualms using his fists or intimidation to get the right answer from his client’s target. Stay away from him.”
    â€œI’m not trying to be near him.”
    I glanced around with a surge of fear. So many places outside for Morgan to lie in wait. I hurried into the conference center. I was more concerned knowing the guy was not a federal agent. At least if he worked for the FBI, I could threaten to tell his boss if he got out of hand. Now, I had no leverage. I’d never have thought I’d rather tangle with law enforcement than a PI.
    â€œYou need to give Davis a heads up so someone there has your back if this guy bothers you again. He’s dangerous. I’ll try to find out what he’s up to.”
    â€œI can’t tell Steve. If I do then I’ll have to explain the why.”
    â€œYou know the why?”
    â€œHe’s made it clear. I just don’t know who hired him.”
    â€œFaith…” Ted used his warning tone on me.
    â€œLet me find a secluded spot.” I glanced around. There