BLACK in the Box Read Online Free Page A

go to the mat to clear her.”
    “When are they going to charge her?”
    “Looks like tomorrow morning, first thing.”
    “Wait. This guy’s willing to pay me three grand to try to dig up some dirt on the police investigation?”
    “More to see what you can find out.”
    A crash sounded from the kitchen, drawing Black’s attention to where Sylvia was at the sink. “When?” he asked quietly.
    “How soon can you get down there? It’s the Home World store off the 405.”
    “At this hour? Holiday rush? It’ll be a parking lot. At least…two hours. If I’m lucky. Will you be there?”
    “With bells on, along with the client.”
    “What’s his name?”
    “Lawrence Jacobs. Goes by Larry. Owns a bunch of these places. High roller.”
    “Anything else I should know?”
    “You’ll have the run of the store. Happened on the night shift, so everyone will be there by eleven or so.”
    “Even the…prized employee?”
    “Mmm, don’t know. Let’s see what happens.”
    Black hesitated. “Is he…involved with her?”
    “The client’s married, Black. Three kids.”
    “Fascinating. But is he boinking her?”
    “How is that relevant?”
    “I want to know what I’m getting into.”
    “Why does it matter?”
    “It could be clouding his judgment.”
    “For the record, Larry assures me that he’s just worried about his employees, and doesn’t want to see a miscarriage of justice.”
    “Regular Mother Theresa of retail, huh?”
    “Why must you drag everyone to your level, Black?” Bobby covered the phone with his hand and spoke to someone else. “Gotta run, babe. See you when I see you. Can you find the place?”
    “How hard can it be?”
    “That’s the spirit.”
    Black disconnected and moved into the kitchen. “Sylvia, I need you to promise not to go ballistic.”
    She turned to face him, her eyes moist. “What?”
    “I have to meet a client.”
    She shook her head in disgust. “You’re joking.”
    “I wish I was. But he’s paying me a small fortune…”
    “To do what?”
    “It’s just a one-day job.”
    “Right now?” she asked, almost whispering.
    Black nodded. “It shouldn’t take too long.”
    She dropped the pan she was cleaning back into the sink. “I’m so tired of this, I can’t tell you.”
    “I know.”
    Sylvia glanced down at her bare ring finger and drew a deep breath. When she spoke, her words were evenly measured and her tone deadly serious. “If you leave, I swear I won’t be here when you get back.”
    Black swallowed hard. “Isn’t that a bit of an overreaction? Escalating this to the brink?”
    “You heard me. Take it however you want.”
    Black looked over to where Mugsy’s corpulent frame was dozing in a cat carrier. “Will you watch Mugsy while I’m gone?”
    “No. You leave, I won’t be here when you get back. I’ve had enough. I’m putting my foot down, Black.”
    “Sylvia, don’t do this. Please.”
    “What’s more important – the money or me?” she whispered, her voice tight.
    “You know I’m in debt, Sylvia. This would cover rent, the holiday…”
    She nodded and turned away. “Then you’ve decided. Take your cat and get out.”
    “Sylvia…”
    She pushed past him toward the bedroom. “I don’t want to talk to you. You’ve made it perfectly clear what I can expect. So now I’ll make my choice – and it doesn’t include babysitting your obese cat while you’re out on the town.”
    “You know it’s not like that.”
    The bedroom door slammed behind her. Black hesitated, debating whether to follow her, and then heard the knob lock snap shut. “I’ll only be a few hours.”
    “Take as long as you want,” Sylvia called through the thin wooden panel.
    “I’ll call.”
    “Goodbye, Black.” The door opened and she glowered at him, tears streaming down her face. “What is it you Americans say? Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
    “You really want me to take Mugsy?”
    The door crashed shut again with the finality