Deadly Deals Read Online Free PDF Page B

alone?”
    â€œNot for long. Come on. Put your jacket and boots on, and let’s go to the command center. I told you I know people.”
    Outside, the snow was still falling.
    â€œDo you think it will ever stop, Annie?”
    â€œOh, who cares? You need to be thinking of crashing waves, white sand, sultry breezes, and that…that guy on the beach. I wonder if anyone told him he’s safe from prosecution. See, that’s your…your reason for calling when we finally locate him. Even a lame reason is better than no reason, because he probably already knows, but there’s no way for you to know that he knows. Did that make sense?”
    â€œWell, yes, in a cockamamie way.”
    They were in the command center, and Annie was standing at Charles’s workstation. She took a deep breath, picked up one of Charles’s special encrypted phones. She dialed a number from memory and waited. Isabelle watched her and knew in her gut that whatever Annie was up to, she was going to pull it off. She walked off, sensing that Annie didn’t want her eavesdropping on her secret private conversation.
    â€œSo, do you know who this is?” Annie said to the person who answered the phone.
    â€œAh, Miss No Name. Just for the record, I’m wearing my magic decoder ring. That means our conversation is safe. Are you calling to wish me a happy Thanksgiving?”
    â€œAmong other things. Are you keeping your eyes on my half of our business, partner? ”
    â€œTwenty-four-seven. Did you have your dinner yet?”
    â€œI did, and it was wonderful. I need a favor and I need it now. ”
    The voice on the other end of the line grumbled. “What is it with you women? You always want everything now . Since I’m three hours behind you, that means I have not had my dinner yet, and my ‘now’ is not the same as your ‘now’ with the time difference.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it,” Annie snapped. “You’ll be eating turkey for a week anyway. I want you to find someone for me right away. You did say you were…well, what you said was you…”
    â€œThe term you’re looking for is…‘connected.’ Which I am. All right, all right. What am I going to get out of this deal? If I decide your request is worthy of my expertise.”
    Annie swallowed hard. What would the girls say? What would Myra say? “Well, Mr. Fish, partner, you get me. ”
    Oh, God, did she really say that? Obviously she did, because Fish was sputtering on the other end of the phone. Annie listened.
    â€œOh, get over yourself, Mr. Fish. Admit it, you don’t have a clue as to what to do with me. Not to worry. I’ll show you.”
    Oh, God, did she say that, too? She blinked when she heard laughter on the other end. Annie listened again.
    â€œWhat do you mean when? It’s not like I’m free to come and go as I please. When you least expect it, I’ll be there.” Annie groaned inwardly. She rather thought there was a song with lyrics like that. She felt her face flame. “So, give me your fax number, and I’m going to send you a picture of the man I want you to find. Think in terms of rewards for a job well done. The kind you never dreamed of, that’s what kind.” Annie squeezed her eyes shut, knowing she was going to have to powwow with the girls to come up with rewards. Her whole body felt so hot, she wanted to run out naked in the snow. Fish was still sputtering on the other end of the line.
    Annie slid the drawing into the fax machine and punched in the number Fish had managed to give her during his sputtering.
    â€œHow long is this going to take?” Annie asked. “Did I also mention that I…we need the man’s cell phone number and we want a guarantee that he will answer it when we call? You can do that, can’t you, Fish?”
    More garbled words.
    â€œWhat? What? Are you saying you lied to me? You