Second Chance by Tracey V. Bateman

Author:Tracey V. Bateman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

Robert Worthington had no time or patience for games. During the past two weeks, the posters with Alisa’s sketch had brought out every thief and lowlife from the very dregs of society in and around San Francisco. Most demanded more money or else. In every case, it hadn’t taken long to realize that none had truly seen her.

He had no reason to believe these two men standing in his office were any different. Hope deferred caused him to eye the two men, disheveled and dirty, with suspicion. He had become adept at pegging the liars within five minutes. So far, he hadn’t made a decision about these two.

The one who seemed to be the leader tossed a frayed poster onto Robert’s desk. “You lookin’ for this gal?”

Alisa’s heart-shaped face stared back at him. “That’s right. And I’m sure you’ve seen her.” His tone was laced with sarcasm, but the men didn’t seem to notice.

“Maybe.” Black eyes bore into Robert, making him uncomfortable. “You still offerin’ five hundred dollars?”

“Not for information.”

“How much for information?” the other man piped up.

“Shut up, Amos. That ain’t what we’re sellin’.”

“What exactly are you selling, then?” Robert’s interest piqued. He kept his voice calm. His muscles twitched beneath the woven fabric of his white shirt like a restless horse impatient for a race to begin.

Something flickered in the man’s dark eyes, and Robert braced himself for a demand of more money.

“We saw this girl.” He jammed his forefinger down on Alisa’s image. “Like the poster said, we want five hundred dollars to bring her in.”

“Where and when did you see her?”

“About two months ago. She was on a stage about a half-day’s ride east of here.

“You sure it was her?”

“Yep.”

Robert steepled his fingers atop his desk and scrutinized the pair. “She probably won’t come willingly. As a matter of fact, I can guarantee she won’t. Are you willing to kidnap her in order to bring her home?”

“Would we be here if we weren’t?” His sneer grated on Robert, igniting his ire. This idiotic pair was the first real lead he’d had in the past two months that Alisa was alive and still in California. He didn’t want to anger them, so he gulped down the sarcasm and forced a tight smile.

“All right. Then I suggest you get to it.”

“Now hang on a minute. We want half of the money up front. By my calculation that’s two hundred dollars.”

Idiot.

“The poster clearly states the reward for bringing the girl home is five hundred dollars. When she is sitting across from me, you’ll get your pay. Not a penny until then.”

Those dark eyes narrowed. “Then maybe we’ll just mosey on and do somethin’ else.”

“I thought you said we need this money, Bart,” the other man said, the look of confusion in his sunken eyes nothing short of comical.

Bart scowled. “Shut up, Amos.”

Robert reached into his pocket and pulled out fifty dollars. He tossed it onto the desk. “This is all you’re getting until you bring Alisa home.”

With a black-gloved hand, Bart reached forward and snatched up the bills.

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