Promissory Payback Read Online Free PDF

legit.”
    She turned to him. “You physically went to California to check out someone?”
    â€œ My word is my bond .” The weightiness of his belief system hung around his shoulders. “I had to make sure . . .”
    Jane kept her attention on the photos of the two men on the wall. “Make sure about what?”
    â€œYou can’t be too careful these days. People are getting screwed right and left.”

    His words felt like daggers. Jane felt an icy shiver race down her spine. She turned to him. “Like your business card says: ‘Founded in Trust—Sustained in Trust.’”
    â€œExactly.”
    Standing there, she now had a better view of the red envelope on his desk. It bore the emblem of a crown and the word “Travel.” “Is that your airline ticket out to California?”
    Joe handed the ticket to Jane. “Yeah. Five o’clock flight. Well, we didn’t leave the ground for over an hour. It was close to six-twenty actually. There was a baggage weight issue. They had to remove some heavy suitcases and put them on another flight.”
    â€œIs that right?” Jane replied. Lots of volunteered information there. Lots of it .
    â€œAnd we seemed to fight wind the whole way,” he added, shaking his head.
    â€œSo, you were late getting into California, is that what you’re saying?”
    â€œYes. Very much so.”
    Wow. Scheduled flights and a ticket to prove it. And baggage information that delayed the flight. Jane hadn’t seen a guy fight so hard in a long time to prove he wasn’t involved in a murder. “A five o’clock flight that left the ground an hour late.”
    â€œHour and twenty minutes at least. What ... what are you getting at?”
    â€œI’m just counting the hours in my head. Flight left around six-twenty and it’s two hours and change to Los Angeles from Denver. So that means you got in around eight-thirty, Colorado time.”
    â€œExactly.”

    â€œWow. That means that, according to your aunt’s T.O.D., she was struggling for her last breath about the time you were taxiing down the runway.”
    â€œMy God,” he muttered.
    Jane regarded Joe carefully. “Ironic, eh?” She looked at the airline ticket. “Colorado Mountain Airlines? That’s about as budget as you can get.” Jane recalled how even the bargain airline’s logo was economical. It was CMA in nondescript letters with a half-ass illustration of a snowcapped mountain above the M .
    â€œMy client paid for the trip. Since most of what I do is for nonprofits, I try to cut corners whenever possible.”
    â€œWell, Colorado Mountain Airlines fits the bill. They’re so cheap, the pilot doubles as the flight attendant and baggage handler.” Joe regarded her with a stone face. No fucking sense of humor. She noted the travel agency: Crown Travel. The name rang a recent bell. “There’s a plaque out front. Something about the Heart Association and Crown Travel?”
    â€œYes. My travel agent’s son was born with a heart defect and needs a lot of medical attention. I do what I can to get the word out.” A look of profound sadness overtook him again. “I tried to help . . .” Jane regarded Joe’s reaction. It wasn’t faked. I tried to help . His phone rang and he answered it, asking the person to hang on. Cupping his hand over the receiver, he addressed Jane. “This is the conference call I was waiting for. Would you excuse me?”
    â€œSure.” Jane noted a small seal in the corner of the room: PROPERTY PROTECTED BY S.O.S.—SECURITY ON SITE . It was the same company his Aunt Carolyn used. “One second, Joe. Did you know your aunt has the same security system?”

    â€œYeah. S.O.S. is one of my oldest clients. I arranged it for her. She never did pay me for the install.” He arched his eyebrows.
    Jane was about to go when she turned