The Secret Brokers Read Online Free Page B

closer to Lance. “Yeah, but I’m not the one who owes him here. David benefited from the cleanup at his place after he killed Simon’s henchman, Gerard. And Nicci’s the one who took on Jenny Ryan’s identity after the shootout at Greg Caston’s gallery.”
    “And who is the one that directly benefited from Simon’s death?” Lance pointed his finger at Dallas.
    “But as Simon’s heir, David, and not me, got all of Simon’s worldly possessions. I’m just helping all the people that would have been hurt by Simon’s death , by keeping his organization running until David can make other arrangements.”
    Lance narrowed his green eyes on Dallas. “You and I both know that David has no interest in taking over Simon’s organization. He’s married, has settled into a quiet life as a painter, and is about to become a father. Such men were never suited to the lies and deceptions we surround ourselves with. When the dust settles, you will be the one left permanently running Simon’s little empire. Carl knows that, and that’s why he came to you.”
    Dallas looked around at the crowds busily rushing about the baggage claim area. “So I’m to be Carl’s whipping boy?”
    “More like information boy. And don’t knock it, Dallas; the street runs both ways with Carl. He’ll remember and he always returns his favors.”
    They walked up to the gate outside of the baggage claim area.
    “Somehow that doesn’t make me feel any better, Lance,” Dallas admitted as he showed his baggage claim tickets to the attendant stationed right outside of the gate.
    “Friends like Carl are a must in your business, Dallas. I don’t need to tell you that,” Lance admitted.
    Dallas turned back to him. “No, you don’t.”
    Lance examined the crowd gathering around the luggage conveyer belt assigned to Dallas’s flight. “Meet me outside the doors after you get your luggage, and I’ll drive you to your rental.” He was about to turn to go and stopped. “I’m in the blue Jag,” he added.
    “Blue?” Dallas crinkled his brow. “Why not red, like the last one?” he asked.
    “I’m trying to go for the more distinguished look.” Lance shrugged. “I was told blue makes a man look more distinguished.” He turned and headed out a pair of glass doors to the first floor passenger pick up area.
    Dallas shook his head. Lance Beauvoir distinguished? And then he chuckled.
    ***
    “The place is about an hour from the city in horse country, outside of the town of Folsom. It’s well known as a racehorse Mecca to all the local racetracks,” Lance said as he plugged an address into the GPS mounted on the dashboard of Dallas’s red Mercedes E550 Coupe. “You’ll need to head across Lake Pontchartrain and follow this thing until you get to her farm. It’s on a dead end road and surrounded by woods.” He pointed to the GPS.
    “That has advantages and disadvantages for protection,” Dallas reasoned as he examined the GPS.
    Lance nodded and then opened the glove box. “That’s why I got this.” He pulled out a Sig Sauer P226. “For protection. There are three extra boxes of ammo in the trunk along with a Sig P229, for concealed carry purposes in case you need it.”
    Dallas took the gun from Lance and looked it over. He racked back the slide and checked the chamber. Then he felt the weight of the pistol in his hand. “Any idea what a woman like Marsh might keep in her house?”
    “Probably a BB gun, knowing Gwen,” Lance replied with a roll of his green eyes. “She’s a big gun opponent, despite being raised with two brothers that make Dirty Harry look like a model citizen.”
    “There weren’t any good shots of her on the Internet, and the DMV photo I downloaded was pretty hard to make out. The only decent pictures I could find were of her back and profile. Anything else you can tell me about her looks?”
    “Attractive, blond, stays in shape, about five-foot-seven, pretty face, but frowns a lot.” Lance paused and