LITMIR.BIZ

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why you’re here tonight?”

      “Yes. You’re assessing me, trying to figure out two things. One.” She held up her right hand, extended her index finger, tapping it on her left hand. “If I’m up for the task. And two, if I’m intelligent enough to understand what I’m committing to.”

      “Correct.” He continued to stare.

      “What’s your decision?”

      He laughed, taking her off guard.

      “Why are you laughing?” Hating herself for asking.

      “You.”

      Pain shot up her arm as she dug her nails into her palm. Fighting for control, she bit back the sarcastic quip on the tip of her tongue. Kyra lifted her head and stared at him. Enough of playing the frail and helpless female—I hate being played. She needed his answer now.

      “Your decision?”

      “Kyra, let’s make it clear up front. I’m in charge. I’m always in charge. I don’t put up with insolence. Understood?”

      “Yes.”

      “I give people my answer when I’m ready to give my answer. Understood?”

      “Yes.”

      He tapped his pen on the desk. Kyra waited, watching it bounce up and down. The man’s a control freak. It’s obvious from the way he’s conducted this interview. She wondered if he realized how much of himself he gave away with his motions. He reminded her of her trustees at the cemetery on one level, the only difference, Phil was a dangerous man.

      “I’ve come to a decision. I can’t use you.”

      “May I ask why?”

      “No.”

      She squared her shoulders, stood, held out her hand. He took it. Held it.

      “Thank you for your time, Phil.”

      “Aren’t you the polite one? I like polite employees.”

      Her head snapped up. “Excuse me?” He still held her hand.

      “I am going to use you, Kyra, because it gives us both what we need. I needed to see how you’d react when things didn’t go your way.”

      “I’m not sure they did.”

      He laughed. “Yep, honest.”

      Getting down to business, he outlined how the undertaker would show up with a legitimate cremation, and inside that coffin there’d be two bodies, not one. The legal cremation’s paperwork covered both their asses if someone asked any questions. She wasn’t allowed to take notes. She’d memorize the information until she got home. Once there she’d open a file on her computer and passcode for her eyes only. It took Phil an hour to detail everything. She’d be paid the one hundred thousand in large bills. The first burn had to happen within days or the deal was off. Oh my God, I agreed to dispose of a body for the freaking mob. I’m going to hell for sure.

      He seemed surprised that she hadn’t blink when he mentioned that the same fee applied for each body.

      “Kyra, you understand this isn’t a one-time deal?”

      “I figured it out over dinner with Joe. Once in, there’s no getting out,” she stated.

      “This concludes our business for tonight.” He stood.

      “Thanks, Phil.” She extended her hand again.

      He took it, then seemed to make a personal decision. “Kyra, are you free tomorrow night? I’d like to take you to dinner. It has nothing to do with the deal.”

      “I have a dinner date tomorrow night, but I can cancel it. It’s a first date.”

      “No, don’t cancel. We’ll make it some other time.”

      “I don’t have plans for Saturday night if you want to go then instead of Friday?”

      “Yes, Saturday’s fine. I’ll call with the time. I prefer eating around nine. It’s not too late for you, is it?”

      “No.”

      “I’ll send a car.”

      “Where are we going?”

      The corner of his lip twitched up at her question. “There are some great restaurants around here.”

      “I live in Wilkesbury. Why don’t I drive up here? That way you don’t have to worry about getting me home.”

      His eyes twinkled. “Don’t plan on staying the night?”

      “No.”

      Laughing, he said, “Fair enough.”

      Chapter 7

      Jake studied the Church file again. According to Detective Stack’s personnel records he was a thorough cop. The Saul Church case didn’t prove that to Jake. After his interview with Mrs. Church, he decided it was time to have it out with Stack.

      He scribbled notes in the margin as he read the single-page report, then penciled a note on his calendar to speak to Stack about it. At this point he didn’t want to outright criticize any of the new detectives assigned to him until it was necessary. Missing Persons and Homicide had to work through the bumps and personalities before the two departments melded together and became a unit. It was temporary, or he hoped it was. But who knew, with Mayor Velky in charge.

      The file bothered him. Instead of moving forward, he read it for a second time. Even a rookie knew how to gather more information than this. He’d find a motive for why Stack hadn’t handled it properly.

      With that out of the way, he grabbed the next personnel file. Harold Walsh, a crony of the Miller brothers, now there was one who spelled trouble for him. A friend of the Millers was an enemy of his and an informant for the mayor. Why did turning in a bad cop—Captain Miller—have to play havoc with a good cop’s—Jake’s—career?

      After reading about Harry’s lackluster job performance, Jake moved on to Homicide’s case load. All the files seemed in order and, if not brilliant, they did show a logical order of investigation. But there was no logic to the Church file. Was Stack burned out or crooked?

      * * * *

      Christ, now why did I go and make a date with him? Kyra replayed the entire interview in her head. She hated to admit she found Phil attractive, in a dangerous kind of way. What was wrong with her? Never before had she pursued the bad-boy type. And in two days, she’d accepted dates with two. Oh yes. Make no mistake. Jake Carrington was a bad boy, even if he was working on the side of good. Versus Phil, who was on the side of evil. The picture in her mind had Jake on her right shoulder, angelic. Her left shoulder showed Phil as Beelzebub. The absurd imagery sent her into a fit of laughter. She steered the car onto the shoulder of the highway to get back in control. Wrestling with right and wrong even at this age —boy, Sister Mary Catherine would be proud of her.

      * * * *

      Friday flew by. With one burial and one cremation, it gave her time to catch up on her paperwork. Phil called, setting the time for dinner on Saturday. He informed her the first body would arrive by the end of the day.

      The undertaker along with one of Phil’s henchmen would stay with the body throughout the entire process. Phil wanted to make sure she didn’t call the police. Understanding his motive, she wasn’t insulted. Their expected arrival time was three, three thirty. Around two thirty she walked out of her office and perched herself on Dina’s desk.

      “Do you have big plans for the weekend?” Kyra asked.

      “Oh yes. You remember the guy with the blond hair from the party?” Dina smiled.

      “There were a lot of guys with blond hair at the party. Which one?”

      “The tall one.”

      “They’re all tall to

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