Page 85 of Jameson’s Salvation

“What’d you tell him?” Reggie’s angry voice boomed from the computer’s speakers.

“Nothing, Mr. Coleman. I asked him to leave.”

“That’s Faye,” Chasin said.

“What’s his name?”

“He said it was Chasin Murray. I’ve never seen him before.”

“Did he tell you why he was asking about me, or who he works for?”

Chasin’s face broke out into a wide smile.

“Yes. He said he works for Kennedy Lane. He’s her personal bodyguard.”

“You did not tell her that?” I laughed.

“Yeah, I did.” Chasin chuckled.

“Thank you,” Reggie clipped. “If he comes back, please let me know. And remember our business is confidential.”

“Yes, Mr. Coleman.”

“You better not forget it either.” Reggie’s voice had taken on a menacing tone. “Or I’ll sink your ass and call my friends at Chesapeake Trust and have your parents’ loan called in early.”

Reggie disconnected the call and McKenna’s eyes went wide.

“Well, there you have it, proof King Dick uses threats to get his way. Makes sense, but now we know he has ties to Chesapeake Trust. Let’s see if he banks there as well.”

A few keystrokes later, McKenna was squinting at her screen. “He banks there. But there’s no line of credit or loans. But you know who does have one? Gary Earle. It’s a construction loan.” McKenna’s eyes scanned back and forth on the monitor. “When did Reggie approach you about buying your land?”

“About six months ago.”

“Same time as this loan. And when did he start putting on the heat?”

“Two months ago.”

“I know why. This loan isn’t paying out yet and the line of credit will close if it’s not used in the next thirty days.”

“Why would a loan expire?” Chasin asked.

“Because the construction loan disperses as the work happens. Reggie can’t break ground on the land behind Kennedy’s because he can’t get a permit without adequate road access,” McKenna explained.

“That’s never stopped him before. He got permits to build condos on marshland,” I told her. “The town had denied every contractor for years. But he got approved.”

McKenna continued to tap on her keyboard. “And Reggie had several loans in his name that are coming up for payment. He’s deferred twice. I bet they need the money from the construction loan to start paying out so they can pay the other loans.”

“Robbing Peter to pay Paul,” Chasin noted.

“That’s what it looks like. In the last year he’s leveraged himself to the max. We need to call Nix and see what he knows about the bank president.” McKenna pulled out her phone and dialed.

“Yeah,” Nixon answered, sounding out of breath.

“You alright?”

“Just got back into the car after a sweet old woman set her seventy-pound German Shepherd loose on me after I asked her about Reggie Coleman. Had to run for my life with the bitch nippin’ at my heels. I think Duke needs a friend, we’re getting you a shepherd.”

“Duke does not need a friend and we’re not getting another dog,” McKenna told him.