When he turned the corner he saw her, perched regally on the hood of his Malibu

like a flesh-and-blood ornament. He was so stunned he almost ran into a support

post holding up the motel’s porch.

 

Veronica Knox said, “I understand you might need a friend.”

 

Chapter 18

 

ROGERS SHOWERED, DRESSED in his new clothes, and slipped his smartphone into his

inside jacket pocket.

 

He drove over to the Grunt and parked in the rear.

 

He entered through the front door, and the stares he got from the folks working

there told him quite clearly that his beatdown of giant Karl had made the gossip

rounds.

 

Anyone making eye contact with him quickly broke it off.

 

That suited him just fine. He was not here to make friends. This was all about

the cash.

 

He was directed back to the office, where Helen Myers was waiting for him. She

had changed into a sleek black pantsuit with stilettos. Her hair cascaded around