AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“My assistant, Maria is available if you don’t see me in the dining room.” The waiter waved in the woman’s direction, where she stood beside a swinging door that must have led to the kitchen.
Brian nodded again. The waiter gave him a polite smile before he left. Brian took out his cell phone and re-read some of his and Sway’s texts over the past week. They were really funny. Most of it starting when Sway had gotten home and his mom and that crazy nurse of hers had started inquiring about Sway’s day… or the mysterious boyfriend they’d yet to meet.
Sway: They think I made you up now. To stop their nagging for me to get a life. Now when I mention Brian…. They say… Brian who? Or ‘never heard of him’.
There was a bunch of mean-faced, and steam-blowing emojis before Sway had typed an all-caps REALLY?
Brian was still scrolling through and reading when a steaming plate of food was placed in front of him. The meat was slightly pink in the center with seared edges. Brian stared at the small yellow kernels of couscous that had been mixed with various green vegetables and carrots. Not bad. Smells great. Brian gave the waiter a nod and proceeded to dig in.
When the waiter’s assistant came over and refilled his water, then placed it neatly in its pail; her voice was whisper-soft when she spoke as if her mere presence and tone was a distraction to the customers. “Do you require anything else, sir?”
Brian almost asked for some Texas Pete hot sauce but figured she’d probably stare at him dumbly, then burst out in laughter at his—had-to-be—joke. In fine restaurants, he knew not to alter the meal with offensive condiments like hot sauce or steak sauce. That would have been preposterous.
Brian shook his head and put his knife back to the tender meat when he saw a tall man with a wrinkled suit and stress lines etched deep into his forehead and the corners of his eyes enter the restaurant and make a beeline for the bar. His physique was what had Brian pausing.
Is that him? It could have been the man from the dark Buick. Brian hadn’t been able to see him clearly through the tinted windows but what he had seen matched this guy’s long neck, and narrow face. Also, he was the only person he’d seen who looked more out-of-place than him. Brian lifted his cell to appear as if he was sending a text and discreetly took some pictures of mystery man, sending them to the office. If Ford was there he could get started on this right away. Shit, if they got this bounty, Duke would probably let him sit the next couple of cases out. This was going to be a big payday once Brian got this jumper. After that, he’d take his time to put in some work on the biggest case of his life.
Sway.
Brian watched the guy order a drink and drop onto the stool with a dramatic display of exhaustion. When the bartender set the double shot in front of him, the man downed it so fast, even the bartender was surprised. Mystery man gestured for another as Brian watched silently. His large phone beeped with a message from his brother.
Ford: That’s Max Q. Wright. Thirty-one years old. He was a financial manager at Queenshorough Bank until he was asked to resign two months ago because of his family’s connection with this case. He’s our jumper’s business partner’s nephew.
Brian frowned. Why the hell is he scoping out my jumper’s home? This was getting crazy and it was throwing too many liabilities or potential collateral damage into the mix. Brian typed Ford another message.
Brian: Is he registered at this hotel?
Brian only had to wait a few minutes for his brother’s reply. Hacking into the hotel’s system would be as easy as logging in to their own emails. Not a challenge for them.
Ford: If he is, he’s not registered under his name. Give me some time to weed through these. The hotel is pretty full for the weekend.
Brian’s annoyance rumbled in his chest. Time. Great. He checked his watch. Sway was already off work. Hell!
The way the guy was putting those shots of vodka back, Brian had a feeling he wasn’t leaving anytime soon, definitely not driving anywhere else tonight. Brian was about to—illegally—make his life a whole lot easier.
Brian: I’m gonna low-jack Max Wright’s vehicle. Can you monitor it tonight?
Ford: Yeah. I got you.
Brian signaled for the server when he walked by but he must’ve missed it. When Brian turned his head around the server’s assistant was waiting.
“How can I help you?” She said just as softly as before.
Brian almost rolled his eyes. This place was too much for him. He’d stick to his chain restaurants and dives where he had to damn near clang his fork and knife on the table to get a refill. Oh yeah, his kinda place. He gave the signal for ‘check please’ and she nodded briskly and hurried away. Brian watched his point-of-interest with one eye while he shot Sway a message.
