yourself today. The deal simply didn't pan out."
"My portion of the money has not been returned," Harlan said.
Nick looked thoughtful. "Has it not occurred to you that we may have even greater aspirations for you?" he asked. "It would benefit you greatly if you'd learn to become more patient with us. Take the pill, Harlan."
Reed stood and walked over to a cabinet where he poured water into a glass. He handed it to Harlan before facing Nick. "Maybe we could discuss this another time."
"What is there to discuss?" Harlan said. "I can't afford to run a ministry at this rate." He looked at Nick. "Don't you people realize that every time you up your share you take food or medicine away from those who desperately need it? Should I close down all of my outreach programs so the Santoni family can keep getting richer?"
Nick smiled, but it didn't reach his dark eyes. "This coming from a man who lives like he has already passed through heaven's gate?"
Harlan wiped one hand down his face. Finally, he uncapped the bottle, pulled out the tiny pill, and popped it into his mouth. He didn't bother with the water. "I may as well fold up my tents and retire."
The smile on Nick's face faded. "That would be a mistake, Harlan. You're only talking like that because you don't feel well."
"Is there anything else, Mr. Santoni?" Reed said.
Nick nodded. "Yes, and this should be of concern to all of us. Vito Puccini is dead. He did not do the job for which he was hired. Maximillian Holt is still alive."
"I don't want to hear this," Harlan said. "I had nothing to do with it. The less I know the better. In case the police question me."
"The police will never make a connection," Nick said, "but Maximillian Holt will. He's got a reputation for being very cunning; he has contacts that even we don't have." He paused. "And he has disappeared."
"What do you mean he has disappeared?" Reed asked.
"He's no longer in Beaumont, South Carolina."
"Maybe he got scared," Harlan said. "He could have left the country," he added hopefully. "Heaven knows he can afford to live anywhere in the world he likes."
Nick shook his head. "Max Holt is not the type of man to run. In fact, he could be looking for us as we speak."
"Do you know something we don't?" Reed asked, as though sensing there was more.
"I did not hire Vito whatever-his-name-is, and I'm not going to get involved in this sort of thing," Harlan said.
"Relax, Harlan," Nick said. "That's why you pay us. I just want you to be aware of the problem, that's all." When Harlan continued to look concerned, Nick smiled. "Haven't we always taken care of your problems in the past? Better still, we keep your dirty little secrets."
Harlan started to respond when the door opened and a young boy peeked through. He had Harlan's blonde hair. "Daddy play?" the boy asked.
Harlan literally bolted from his chair, grabbed the boy, and stepped outside the door, where his wife raced down the stairs, eyes bright with fear.
"I'm sorry, Harlan. I turned my back for one minute and he
Chapter Eight
When Jamie opened her eyes she found Max staring down at her. She sat upright on the bed, dragging a sheet to her breasts. "What are you doing?"
Max smiled. "Looking at you."
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to know you got the cutest behind I've ever seen."
Jamie snatched the sheet to her chin. "Don't you have anything better to do than ogle me in my sleep, Holt?"
"I was also thinking how peaceful you look when your eyes are closed and your mouth isn't moving. I could get accustomed to your quiet side. And finding you in my bed."
"Where have you been?"
"Taking care of business."
"Which means you're up to something. I know you." She got up and took the steps down. He followed. The clock in the kitchen pointed to eight o'clock.
"You hungry?" Max asked. "I grabbed a box of fresh donuts from the grocery store while I was out. You know how you like donuts."
Donuts. Damn. The man obviously knew how to work
"My portion of the money has not been returned," Harlan said.
Nick looked thoughtful. "Has it not occurred to you that we may have even greater aspirations for you?" he asked. "It would benefit you greatly if you'd learn to become more patient with us. Take the pill, Harlan."
Reed stood and walked over to a cabinet where he poured water into a glass. He handed it to Harlan before facing Nick. "Maybe we could discuss this another time."
"What is there to discuss?" Harlan said. "I can't afford to run a ministry at this rate." He looked at Nick. "Don't you people realize that every time you up your share you take food or medicine away from those who desperately need it? Should I close down all of my outreach programs so the Santoni family can keep getting richer?"
Nick smiled, but it didn't reach his dark eyes. "This coming from a man who lives like he has already passed through heaven's gate?"
Harlan wiped one hand down his face. Finally, he uncapped the bottle, pulled out the tiny pill, and popped it into his mouth. He didn't bother with the water. "I may as well fold up my tents and retire."
The smile on Nick's face faded. "That would be a mistake, Harlan. You're only talking like that because you don't feel well."
"Is there anything else, Mr. Santoni?" Reed said.
Nick nodded. "Yes, and this should be of concern to all of us. Vito Puccini is dead. He did not do the job for which he was hired. Maximillian Holt is still alive."
"I don't want to hear this," Harlan said. "I had nothing to do with it. The less I know the better. In case the police question me."
"The police will never make a connection," Nick said, "but Maximillian Holt will. He's got a reputation for being very cunning; he has contacts that even we don't have." He paused. "And he has disappeared."
"What do you mean he has disappeared?" Reed asked.
"He's no longer in Beaumont, South Carolina."
"Maybe he got scared," Harlan said. "He could have left the country," he added hopefully. "Heaven knows he can afford to live anywhere in the world he likes."
Nick shook his head. "Max Holt is not the type of man to run. In fact, he could be looking for us as we speak."
"Do you know something we don't?" Reed asked, as though sensing there was more.
"I did not hire Vito whatever-his-name-is, and I'm not going to get involved in this sort of thing," Harlan said.
"Relax, Harlan," Nick said. "That's why you pay us. I just want you to be aware of the problem, that's all." When Harlan continued to look concerned, Nick smiled. "Haven't we always taken care of your problems in the past? Better still, we keep your dirty little secrets."
Harlan started to respond when the door opened and a young boy peeked through. He had Harlan's blonde hair. "Daddy play?" the boy asked.
Harlan literally bolted from his chair, grabbed the boy, and stepped outside the door, where his wife raced down the stairs, eyes bright with fear.
"I'm sorry, Harlan. I turned my back for one minute and he
Chapter Eight
When Jamie opened her eyes she found Max staring down at her. She sat upright on the bed, dragging a sheet to her breasts. "What are you doing?"
Max smiled. "Looking at you."
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to know you got the cutest behind I've ever seen."
Jamie snatched the sheet to her chin. "Don't you have anything better to do than ogle me in my sleep, Holt?"
"I was also thinking how peaceful you look when your eyes are closed and your mouth isn't moving. I could get accustomed to your quiet side. And finding you in my bed."
"Where have you been?"
"Taking care of business."
"Which means you're up to something. I know you." She got up and took the steps down. He followed. The clock in the kitchen pointed to eight o'clock.
"You hungry?" Max asked. "I grabbed a box of fresh donuts from the grocery store while I was out. You know how you like donuts."
Donuts. Damn. The man obviously knew how to work
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