it that way on purpose because it gets them what they want.'
'like good cop, bad cop?'
'More like bad and worse. You know, I'll take a hothead over a sneaky little weasel manipulator any day of the week. If I'm
lucky today, both brothers will be at the mill and I'll get to watch them do their routine.'
'But what was the purpose of visiting the bank?'
'I froze their accounts.'
She burst into laughter. 'That can't be legal.'
'Sure it is,' he countered. 'Wallbash has the papers, all signed and legal. He has to cooperate, or I'll nail his…'
He stopped himself in time. She ended the sentence for him. 'His backside to the wall?'
'Yeah.'
'Why do you keep looking at your watch?'
'Timing is everything,' he said. 'My appointment with Gary Carson is at twelve-thirty.'
'You made an appointment?'
'Sure.'
'Did you tell him what you wanted to see him about?'
'And ruin the surprise? Of course I didn't tell him the truth. I told his secretary I wanted to do some business with the mill.'
'Turn left at the next corner,' she instructed. 'And follow this road for a couple of miles. The mill's out in the country,' she
added. 'So Carson thinks he's getting a new account.'
'That's right.'
'Wallbash will probably call him and tell him about your visit.'
'He'll call him at exactly one o'clock and not a minute before, or I'll have auditors tearing that bank apart before he can blink.
He'll wait.'
'Would you really do that?'
He didn't answer her. She studied his profile for several minutes and then said, 'When you want something, you don't let
anything get in your way, do you?'
'That's right, I don't. You might want to keep that in mind.'
'You always win?'
He looked at her. 'What do you think?'
It was subtle, the way he had changed the subject. They both knew they were talking about getting his way with her now. Then she remembered what he had said to her before he'd even unpacked the night before. He wouldn't have to go to her bed. She would come to him. When hell freezes over, she thought. She turned to look out her window. Then another thought occurred to her, and she said, 'What about payroll? If you froze their accounts, how will the men get paid?'
'The court will appoint someone to write the checks.'
'What if the brothers shut down the mill out of spite?'
'They're making too much money to shut down, and besides, I'm not going to let them.'
'You can do that?'
'Sure I can. If they don't cooperate, when I'm finished with them, the employees will own the company.'
Theo could see the mill in the distance. There were smokestacks jutting out of round silos nestled in between two huge concrete-block buildings. All were connected.
The closer he got, the bleaker the place looked. It had a dirty gray facade and dirty windows, but it didn't look as if it was in bad shape. He parked in the gravel lot, got out, and looked around.
'Mr. Buchanan?'
He turned at the sound of the voice. 'Connelly?'
A tall, thin man wearing a business suit approached the car. 'Yes, sir.'
'Everything in order?'
Connelly lifted his briefcase. 'Yes, sir, it is. I just got word. He's filed.'
Theo leaned into the open car door and said to Michelle, 'Do you mind waiting here?'
'Okay,' she answered, 'but if I hear gunshots, I'm going to come running.'
He turned to Connelly, introduced him to Michelle, and then said, 'When I come out, you go in. I want you to wait outside the door.'
Theo left the motor running. Removing her seat belt, Michelle pushed the seat back and turned on the radio. Willie Nelson was singing. She took it as a good omen. Maybe Theo wouldn't run into any trouble after all.
Three songs and nine commercials later, Theo came outside. He was smiling as Connelly passed him on his way inside. Theo double-timed it to the car, slid into the seat, and put the car in drive before he shut his door. She barely had time to click her
seat belt closed before he was speeding down the drive.
'Are we making a fast getaway?'
'I'm hungry.'
'But you're watching the rearview mirror,' she remarked as she turned in her seat to look out the back window.
'Just being cautious. Never know who might have a shotgun under his desk.'
'It went that well?'
'Actually, it did go well. Gary Carson's a real nice guy. Couldn't have been more understanding and pleasant. Wants to do the
right thing. I can't tell you how many times he said that. Of course, he qualified it with the veiled threat that he'd have to close
the mill because, and I quote, 'We're just scraping by.' '
'And how did you respond?'
He flashed her a grin. 'I laughed.'
'So you were tactful.'
He laughed. 'Sure.'
'You're really getting a kick out of this, aren't you?'
He seemed surprised by the question and then said, 'Yes, I am. It feels good helping Daryl. Feels real good.'
'Because you can see the difference you're making.'
'Yes. Of course, this case is easy. I should have it settled before the weekend.'
'You really think you can get the problem fixed in a couple of days?'
'Yes, I do. Unless the brothers have some cash stashed away I don't know about and think they can hold out. But even then, it won't matter. They've broken so many laws, I could put both of them behind bars. OSHA would have a field day in that plant.'
'Did the hothead go for your throat?'
'No,' he said.
She grinned. 'You sound disappointed.'
'I am,' he admitted. 'I wanted to see their routine, Jim Carson's in New Orleans for the day, but he's supposed to be back in Bowen around six. Gary mentioned he was going to wait to tell his brother face-to-face instead of calling him on his cell phone, probably so he can get him foaming at the mouth before he sics him on me. My guess is that I'll be hearing from Jim about five minutes after Gary imparts the news.'
'Did you happen to tell Gary where you were going to be tonight?'
He grinned. 'I might have mentioned that I'd be at The Swan.'
She sighed. 'You may get to shoot someone after all.'
