Read Online The Orphans (Orphans Trilogy Book 1) by Matthew Sullivan - Free Book Online Page B

“Take him out,” that he had expected, and there was no sudden bum-rush attack like he had anticipated, either.
    Terry calmly continued up the porch steps. “I was in the neighborhood,” he said, in the same affected tone, “and figured I’d stop by to make sure you’re holding up all right after Walter’s passing.” He laid his hand on Charlie’s shoulder.
    Charlie had to fight to keep himself from cringing. He wanted to scream, “Murderer!” so the whole world could hear, but he knew that would only seal his fate. Just because Terry had not acted as swiftly as Charlie had predicted did not mean his men couldn’t strike in a moment’s notice. Charlie doubted whether he could even get the first syllable out before Terry’s sunglassed gorillas dispatched him in some fashion. No. His safest bet was to act normal, to play along, to pray that Terry and his men didn’t know that he knew anything, and to do his best not to let them know that he did.
    “Thanks,” Charlie said, solemnly. “I really appreciate it.”
    “It’s the least I could do,” Terry sighed. “Walter was a good man. No. He was a great man.”
    “He was. He was a great mind, and an even better person.”
    “Just like your parents.”
    “Just like you,” Charlie said with a faint smile to help sell words that couldn’t have been further from his heart.
    “I don’t know if many people would consider me a great person,” Terry said with a chuckle. “I mean, I try. But your parents and Walter didn’t have to. It was just who they were.” Terry nodded somberly before withdrawing his hand and changing gears. “Like I said, I just wanted to make sure you were holding up all right. I’ll let you get back to your grieving.”
    “Okay,” Charlie said, with more enthusiasm than intended. He instantly regretted it as Terry honed his expecting eyes on him. Charlie quickly realized what Terry was waiting for. “Normal Charlie” would have never let him leave so easily, even given the circumstances. He clumsily added, “I mean, you don’t gotta go. We can hang out or something.”
    Terry took a second before responding, “Unfortunately, I do. As I’m sure you already know: Money never sleeps, it only takes power naps. And even those are rare.” He gestured to his men. “Cain, Max, let’s go.”
    Charlie sighed inwardly as Terry and his men turned to leave. But his relief was short-lived, and the anxiety returned tenfold when they made no effort to go. Terry just stood with his back to Charlie and tapped the toe of his Italian wingtip shoe on the porch. Each tap pounded Charlie’s eardrums like a nearby thunderclap.
    “Actually, there’s one more thing,” Terry said as he turned back around. “Did Walter happen to say anything to you?”
    “About what?” Charlie said, choking on his words.
    “I don’t know … anything?” A slight grin crossed Terry’s mug, as if to say that “anything” didn’t really mean anything, but actually something in particular.
    It was apparent to Charlie that Terry knew he had information but didn’t know how much or what, exactly. That was the real purpose of his visit. It was a fact-finding mission. Only after determining the facts would he respond accordingly.
    Charlie went catatonic as his mind replayed all of the things that Walter had said, both the night before and in the video. Charlie knew that he couldn’t tell Terry anything, but at the same time, he needed Terry to believe that he was telling him everything. It was the only way he might save himself.
    “No,” Charlie said. “Remember, he wasn’t at the funeral.”
    “Of course. But you saw him after the funeral, right?”
    The way Terry had said it, Charlie got the sense that he wasn’t asking him if he had seen Walter as much as he was reminding him that he had. Charlie could feel every muscle in his body tightening and his carotid artery beginning to bulge from his neck. He told himself to stay calm, to stay normal, but