Read Online Light the Hidden Things by Don McQuinn - Free Book Online
Authors: Don McQuinn
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banker greeted him sourly. “It took you long enough to get rid of her. It gave me time to think. You want that property? Get it on your own. I’m not taking any more crap from that idiot. If she talked the preacher out of a few bucks, let him and God worry about her.”
At the closing of the door, the overhead light turned off and a conspiratorial darkness claimed both men. Van told Edward, “Calm down, man; we’re cool. You did a great job. Better than you know. She’s a fighter, all right.”
Edward was startled by admiration tinging Van’s last remark. His physical interest in her was natural; she was quite pretty. Van would never understand that her good manners were just a cosmetic paste over a ridiculously high opinion of herself. Edward prided himself that he’d picked up on her nasty stubborn streak immediately. Still, that obstinacy seemed to be exactly what Van found attractive. It was a relief when his companion continued in a normal manner. “A good private detective could find out. If she got money from Richards, I mean."
Pulling back, Edward snorted.“So what if she did? His church loans money to every loser that comes along. That bunch of clowns on the board? They do what he tells them. Anyhow, a private peeper? Why? What’s that cost?”
“I’ll take care of it. I think it's suspicious no one's ever mentioned any loan to her from the church. Something's going on.”
Edward grinned. “Maybe in more ways than you want to think about. Your face when she walked out of Martha’s with that guy? And when they were sitting in the park? You looked like you could chew nails.”
The silence that followed was crushing. Edward squirmed. He'd crossed a line, didn't know if he'd be able to get back over it. When Van spoke again, his tone was reasonable and the more frightening for it. “I get what I want. Never forget that. Never tell me what I want or how I should do anything.”
Even as Edward responded, he cursed the idiotic pride that forced sharp-edged, foolish words out of his mouth. “I think you want that woman as much as you want the property. Maybe even more.”
Surprisingly, to Edward’s immense relief, Van answered as if to himself. “She’d be a good partner. Not in any real business sense, of course. Women protect things. If it’s not trees or ducks or weeds no one ever heard of, it’s employees who don’t pull their weight. I learned a lot from my first wife.” He faced Edward. “Yes, I want Lila as much as I want the property. That broken down shack and her crazy dreams about it are ridiculous. That nut-job preacher's a bad influence. What I’m doing is for her own good.”
“You'll never prove Andy Richards fiddled his own books. And she's smart about her money - give her that. Keeps up the interest payments on the loan we gave her when she first came to us. She keeps a few hundred in checking with us. That trust will keep her alive, but not much more than that.”
Val opened the door and quickly slammed it shut. He raised his voice so Edward could hear inside.“Divorce taught me plenty about hidden assets." He leaned forward, aggressive. A white grin flickered in the darkness. "We're all naked in today's world. All the secret chinks in our armor are there for anyone who knows how to look. I'll open her life like a book. You made me confront that I want her. Now I'll show you I meant it when I said I get what I want."
* * * * *
Across the street, Pastor Richards was leaving his church. Van’s words carried clearly. Crackling menace in the voice made him huddle deeper into the shadows of the covered entry. In seconds, both Van and Edward had driven away.
It was a long time before the Pastor stirred. When he did, he moved swiftly, searching the sleeping streets like a man pursued. Hunched over, pulled into himself, he finally stopped to turn a fearful face skyward. He muttered in pain.
At the closing of the door, the overhead light turned off and a conspiratorial darkness claimed both men. Van told Edward, “Calm down, man; we’re cool. You did a great job. Better than you know. She’s a fighter, all right.”
Edward was startled by admiration tinging Van’s last remark. His physical interest in her was natural; she was quite pretty. Van would never understand that her good manners were just a cosmetic paste over a ridiculously high opinion of herself. Edward prided himself that he’d picked up on her nasty stubborn streak immediately. Still, that obstinacy seemed to be exactly what Van found attractive. It was a relief when his companion continued in a normal manner. “A good private detective could find out. If she got money from Richards, I mean."
Pulling back, Edward snorted.“So what if she did? His church loans money to every loser that comes along. That bunch of clowns on the board? They do what he tells them. Anyhow, a private peeper? Why? What’s that cost?”
“I’ll take care of it. I think it's suspicious no one's ever mentioned any loan to her from the church. Something's going on.”
Edward grinned. “Maybe in more ways than you want to think about. Your face when she walked out of Martha’s with that guy? And when they were sitting in the park? You looked like you could chew nails.”
The silence that followed was crushing. Edward squirmed. He'd crossed a line, didn't know if he'd be able to get back over it. When Van spoke again, his tone was reasonable and the more frightening for it. “I get what I want. Never forget that. Never tell me what I want or how I should do anything.”
Even as Edward responded, he cursed the idiotic pride that forced sharp-edged, foolish words out of his mouth. “I think you want that woman as much as you want the property. Maybe even more.”
Surprisingly, to Edward’s immense relief, Van answered as if to himself. “She’d be a good partner. Not in any real business sense, of course. Women protect things. If it’s not trees or ducks or weeds no one ever heard of, it’s employees who don’t pull their weight. I learned a lot from my first wife.” He faced Edward. “Yes, I want Lila as much as I want the property. That broken down shack and her crazy dreams about it are ridiculous. That nut-job preacher's a bad influence. What I’m doing is for her own good.”
“You'll never prove Andy Richards fiddled his own books. And she's smart about her money - give her that. Keeps up the interest payments on the loan we gave her when she first came to us. She keeps a few hundred in checking with us. That trust will keep her alive, but not much more than that.”
Val opened the door and quickly slammed it shut. He raised his voice so Edward could hear inside.“Divorce taught me plenty about hidden assets." He leaned forward, aggressive. A white grin flickered in the darkness. "We're all naked in today's world. All the secret chinks in our armor are there for anyone who knows how to look. I'll open her life like a book. You made me confront that I want her. Now I'll show you I meant it when I said I get what I want."
* * * * *
Across the street, Pastor Richards was leaving his church. Van’s words carried clearly. Crackling menace in the voice made him huddle deeper into the shadows of the covered entry. In seconds, both Van and Edward had driven away.
It was a long time before the Pastor stirred. When he did, he moved swiftly, searching the sleeping streets like a man pursued. Hunched over, pulled into himself, he finally stopped to turn a fearful face skyward. He muttered in pain.
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