Tanked: TANKED Read Online Free PDF Page A

“You’re not in trouble. If you remember it was me who asked you if there was anything I could do to help and I think I can. I know someone who can help you get the proof you need.  He’s a friend from college. He was actually on his way to work for the FBI when—” the unfinished sentence hangs in the air as his eye gaze past me and he seems to be in deep thought.   He shakes his head and looks back to me then gives me a small smile. “Sorry about that. Anyway, he takes on a side job every once in a while he’s very good at what he does.  I’ll call him and make you an appointment.”
    His generosity touches me but then I think of the cost and the realization I can’t afford it comes crashing down around me. “Mr. Samford, I truly appreciate that but I can’t afford to hire someone. I’ll figure something out.”
    He leans forward in his seat and drums his fingers on his desk then says, “How about this? You go meet with him.  I’ll pay for this first meeting and you can discuss his rate and if need be I’ll make you a loan or advancement and you can pay me so much back a week, interest free.  How does that sound?”
    Relief instantly washes over my body and I thank him excitedly without even thinking. “Mr. Samford I could kiss you right now!” The look of shock flows across his face.  I speak up quickly, “Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant is I’m so thankful, and that’s just a figure of speech.” I shrug.
    He nods his head and we lapse into an awkward silence until he finally speaks. “I’ll let you know what he says in a bit.”
    I’m being dismissed . I stand and walk out of the office, and I suddenly no longer feel tired.  I want to call Jessie and tell him everything but I can’t. As it is he’ll have to wait until he gets home Saturday.  I go back to my desk feeling very hopeful.
    ****
     
    I’m a ball of nerves as I park in front of an old building; the outside obviously hasn’t been maintained in quite some time.  The grass looks like it hasn’t been cut all summer and there are no plants anywhere you could see but there are spots where plants used to be. I double check the address before I get out of my car.  Walking slowly toward the front door my mind races. This can’t be right. This place looks like a dump. Even one of the bricks from the front steps is missing. What in the world?  That right there is a hazard that could get him sued . How good of an investigator can he be if he doesn’t know that?   I gently open the door, peek inside and find the inside surprises me.  I push the door open all the way and step inside.  The musty smell immediately hits my nose. Whew! He needs to open up some windows. The inside is modern and looks like it has been renovated within the last few years but everything looks untouched.  I walk toward what I assume to be the front desk and look around. This looks like it would be a lobby but I don’t see anybody.   When I make it to the desk I realize nobody has sat at that desk in at least a decade. There is dust piled up on everything.  I look around closer. The back of the couch has a layer of dust. The end tables and even the fake plants have lots of dust covering each leaf.  And they think I never clean. This is crazy. I hear a noise from the back of the building and my pulse starts to pick up. Just go and get out of here . I turn and start walking to the front door to leave when I hear a man’s voice, “Ms. Morrow?” I stop in my tracks and turn around slowly but nobody is there. “Yes?” I call out cautiously.
    “Come on back.” Back where? I glance down a hallway where the voice sounded like it had come from and I can see a light shining out onto the floor.  You would think if you had a new client you would greet them at the door.   Just go back there and meet with him. Mr. Samford was nice enough to at least try to help you.   I walk down the hallway toward the light. I can smell cigarette smoke