Read Online No Returns by Rhonda Pollero - Free Book Online

our butler,” my mother said with amazement. “Liam, how did you find him?”
    “I get motivated when someone shoots my car.”
    “And we both got the plate,” I added, then felt completely lame for wanting my mother to acknowledge my part in the discovery.
    “I’m sure you did your best,” my mother said.
    “Are you sure?” Deacon asked. “He looks like the young man but I can’t be positive. Something about the nose.”
    “It’s him,” my mother insisted. “I’m very good with faces.”
    “I can’t be one-hundred percent,” Deacon admitted reluctantly. “I only caught glimpses of him when he was in and out of our room.”
    “Okay,” Liam said.
    “So what do you do now?” my mother asked. “Does this mean you’ve found the blackmailer?”
    “It would seem so,” Liam answered, though I heard some doubt in his tone. “I’ll go check it out.”
    “Now?” I asked. “We’re going out now?”
    “Not we,” he said. “Me.”
    “It’s dangerous,” I argued. “He shot at us.”
    “Which is precisely why you’re staying here. I don’t want to be responsible for your safety, too. Screws with my concentration.”
    “Can’t we please call the cops?” I pleaded. “This has gotten way out of proportion. Liam could get killed for God’s sake.”
    My mother sighed. “Then maybe Liam should just let sleeping dogs lie. We can pay the ransom and if the blackmailer ever comes back for more, Liam knows where to find him. Simple and it keeps the reason behind the blackmail quiet. Just what we want.”
    “I have to agree,” Deacon said. “Your mother tells me she told you that I’m in a precarious position with my wife. Having evidence of an affair come to light could potentially cost me a great deal financially. Forget the scandal. Though I don’t think my investors will be pleased to see my name splashed salaciously all over the newspapers.”
    “Yeah, well I’d rather see your name splashed than Liam’s blood spilled.”

Secrets can be deadly

Chapter Seven
    I stumbled out of bed early. Not because I wanted to but I was drawn to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. It’s my crack. Barefooted, I moved silently down the hallway. My mother’s door was closed, but obviously she’d gotten up to make coffee.
    As I rounded the corner, I came to a stop mid-stride. There, standing in my kitchen was a half-dressed man with a cell phone pressed to his ear.
    “Thank you. Good-bye,” he said quickly, then Deacon offered me a smile.
    Then he did something creepy. His eyes looked me up and down, making me feel like I needed a shower. That wasn’t an option, but I did excuse myself and get the robe I rarely wore.
    When I returned to the kitchen, he said, “Good morning. I’m sorry if I startled you.”
    “Not a problem,” I lied.
    “I was just bringing your mother some coffee in bed.”
    “That’s very nice of you.” Even nicer if the two of you didn’t play house in my house.
    The hair on his chest was white but other than that he seemed pretty toned for a guy in his sixties. I could tell since all he’d bothered to put on was a pair of boxers and a leer. I was starting not to like him.
    I flattened myself against the wall as he passed me carrying two mugs. Once I heard the door open and close, I went to the pot and poured myself some nectar of the Coffee Gods. Seeing my mother’s half-naked boyfriend was not exactly how I thought my day would start.
    It was almost nine, so I called Becky to check on her. She insisted she was fine. We chatted for a few minutes, then hung up. I impatiently waited until nine-thirty to call Liam.
    “Hi,” he said. “What color is Becky’s car?”
    The question caught me off guard. “Champagne. Why?”
    “I found the shooter’s car last night. There’s a big scratch of paint transfer on the side and rear. Beige, which I’m guessing is another way of saying champagne.”
    “Our shooter ran Becky off the road?”
    “Looks like. But the guy is in