Read Online Contract to Kill by Andrew Peterson - Free Book Online

call.”
    “Toby Haynes is on hold with our answering service. He says it’s an emergency, life or death, but I have no idea what it’s about. I’m about to call Gavin back, and she’s going to conference in Haynes’s call.”
    Harv was all business now. “Let me do that from here. I’ll keep you on the line. Did Gavin call from her home number?”
    “Yes.”
    “Hang on.”
    Nathan listened to a moment of silence before hearing the line ring, presumably at Gavin’s house.
    Dressed in a T-shirt, Holly came over to his side of the bed and sat next to him.
    “Nate, are you there?” Harv asked.
    “Yes. Holly’s with me. I have you on speaker.”
    “Hi, Holly.”
    “Hi, Harvey.”
    Gavin must’ve seen Harv’s number on her phone console because she spoke Harv’s name upon answering. “Mr. Fontana?”
    “Hi, Gavin. Nathan’s on the line with me. Conference us in with the answering service call and make sure their end disconnects. Sever all the calls if they don’t.”
    “I will.” A brief pause followed. “Mr. Haynes, I have Mr. McBride on the line.”
    “Hello? Mr. McBride?” Toby’s voice didn’t sound particularly familiar, but it carried the shakiness of a man in shock.
    “Call me Nathan. What phone are you using to call me?”
    “It’s a pay phone, sir. It took forever to find one.”
    “All right. What’s going on?”
    “I saw two men get murdered tonight! They both got shot in the head. I—I don’t know what to do.”
    “Murdered? Are you sure?”
    “Yes!” Toby nearly shouted. “I saw it happen, and I know the killers. I don’t know what to do. I think I made a big mistake. If I call the police and report it, they’ll kill me next, I know it.”
    “Okay, slow down, we believe you. Harv’s on the line with us. Are you alone? Can anyone hear you?”
    “No. Sorry, sir. I mean yes, I’m alone. I’m just really freaked out.”
    “Don’t say another word about this over the phone. Go home and wait there for us. Do you have a hard line?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Give me the number, your address too.”
    Toby gave him the info.
    “Okay. Sit tight. Don’t go anywhere. We’ll be there in about twenty-five minutes. Wipe down the pay phone’s receiver before you leave.”
    “I put on my work gloves before I made the call.”
    “Good going. Try to relax, Toby. I’m assuming you used the First Security business card I gave you to contact us?”
    “Yes, sir, it’s in my hand right now.”
    “Burn it over your kitchen sink and wash the ash down the drain.”
    “I will. I’m sorry, sir. My nerves are shot. I can’t stop shaking.” He paused for a second. “I’m supposed to be at work in a few minutes.”
    Nathan asked, “Can you call in sick?”
    “Yeah, I think I can get someone to take my shift tonight. He owes me a favor. I took a shift for him last month.”
    “How does it work? Do you normally get someone to work for you? I mean, do you usually make the arrangements for someone to cover your shift? Will that raise suspicion?”
    “I’ve never called in sick before, but it should be okay.”
    “Use the hard line at your house to make the call. Your supervisor will probably tell you to stay home. Offer to find someone to take your shift and see what happens.”
    “Yeah, you’re probably right. Man, thanks for helping me. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”
    “We’ll use a special knock on your door: twice fast, twice slow. You got that?”
    “Two fast, two slow.”
    “See you in twenty-five minutes.” Nathan ended the call, knowing Harv would call him right back.
    Holly said, “We need to call the police.”
    “I hear you on that, but Toby said he’s afraid for his life if he talks to the police. If he knows the killers, then he really could be in danger.” Nathan thought for a moment. “Toby’s not a stupid guy. I’ve known him for a long time. I gave him a loan on just his word he’d pay me back and he never missed a payment. Let’s hear