Read Online A Touch of Greed by Gary Ponzo - Free Book Online Page B

denominations.
    “Very good,” Garza said. “That is the precise amount.”
    “But . . .”
    “Because you are my most valuable asset,” Garza said. “I need you to be my eyes and ears. I need you to protect me and to find out who this spy is.”
    “Yes, Jefe,” Victor’s voice had regained a sense of authority.
    “There is something else,” Garza said, peeking outside at the two soldiers in the distance. “We have a shipment to bring over in forty-eight hours.”
    “Okay.”
    “This particular shipment is different. It is not something we normally do.” Garza raised his eyebrows for affect.
    “Different?”
    “Yes. This is not from one of our people. This is from overseas.”
    Victor seemed in deep thought. “That man, last night. Him?”
    “Yes. I don’t like dealing with such people, but,” Garza pointed to the bag full of money in Victor’s lap. “Their pockets are simply too full of oil money and we cannot afford to miss the opportunity to take their funds.”
    “I do not trust that man, Jefe,” Victor said.
    Garza frowned. “Me neither, my friend. But once we make this transport we will never have to hear from him again.”
    There was a chirp and Victor leaned over to retrieve his phone from the floor. He looked at the screen and said, “They want to know what to do with the border agent’s daughter.”
    Garza shrugged. “Tell them to keep her alive for now. She might still be worth something. But they can do whatever they wish in the meantime.” Then he gave Victor a sinister grin. “And I do mean anything.”

Chapter 10
     
    President John Merrick was getting his hair cut in the White House salon while making small talk with Georgia Faucet. Georgia had been the White House beautician for nearly two decades and understood the dynamic of a multitasking Commander-in-Chief. Merrick nodded and gave monosyllabic answers while retrieving e-mail updates on his tablet computer. 
    “So when’s he coming?” Georgia said, working her shears along the side of his head.
    Merrick looked up from the tablet on his lap. “When’s who coming?”
    “You know.”
    “No,” Merrick said. “I don’t. Tell me.”
    Just then, a large man wearing a gray suit carrying a napkin full of olives came into the small three-chair salon.
    “Him,” she said, pointing her scissors.
    Secretary of State Samuel Fisk finessed a greasy green olive into his mouth and chewed.
    Merrick laughed. “Have we become that predictable, Georgia?”
    The beautician grinned. “Yup.”
    Fisk sat in the vacant chair next to Merrick and offered him an olive.
    “No, thanks,” Merrick said. “You know, Sam, just because the food here is free, doesn’t mean you have to eat all of it.”
    Fisk ignored the comment and popped another olive in his mouth.
    “How’d the meeting go?” Merrick asked, as he was swiveled away from Fisk so Georgia could trim his right side.
    “I’ve had better times,” Fisk said.
    “How are Louis and Ken getting along?”
    “They’ve hit an all-time low.”
    Georgia backed away from the President and said, “Do I need to leave for a minute while you two talk?”
    Merrick looked at Fisk with a raised eyebrow.
    “Sure,” Fisk said. “Just for a couple of minutes, if you don’t mind.”
    Georgia placed her scissors on the counter. “I’ll be outside with the boys,” she said pointing to the hallway where two Secret Service agents stood guard. She shut the door behind her and Merrick swiveled around to face the Secretary of State.
    “How come you never call me Mr. President?”
    Fisk looked appalled. “I call you that all the time.”
    “Yeah, at fundraisers or special ceremonies, but never when we’re alone.”
    Fisk seemed to examine the integrity of Merrick’s questioning. He finally came to a conclusion, then shook his head. “Fuck you.”
    “That’s better,” Merrick grinned. “I thought for a moment you’d forgotten why I cajoled you into this position in the first place. I