The Last Day by John Ramsey Miller

Author:John Ramsey Miller
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780553906172
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2008-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-SEVEN

When Ward opened the front door, Todd was parking his Denali. Leslie Wilde drove in behind him. He waited for her to join him and kissed her on the cheek, and they came to the door together.

“I tried to call,” Leslie said, holding up her cell phone. “My battery is dead and I don't have my car charger. I thought I could run errands or whatever you need done. I'm going to take a personal day.”

“You don't have to do that, Leslie,” Ward said.

“I know, but I really want to help. Cheryl is covering your phone for the day. If it's okay?”

“We both appreciate what you've already done, more than you know. Come on in,” Ward said, holding the door open.

“The media vultures are still up there,” Leslie said. “It's the same thing over and over on the news. I guess they don't have anything better to put on. It dominated the Today show this morning. It's international news. The virus is still spreading, but they've been warning people about not opening the e-mail with the subject ‘You have to see this.’ ”

Ward led them into the den, where Natasha greeted them with a bright smile.

“Todd, what's your good news?” Ward asked.

Todd looked at Leslie. “Maybe we should talk in private,” he said.

“No problem. I'll give you guys a few minutes,” Leslie said.

Todd said, “It's about the prototype.”

“Leslie can hear it,” Ward said. “She knows all about it.”

“You're the client,” Todd told him, smiling at Leslie.

Todd took a tape player from his briefcase and placed it on the table. “I wired myself before I spoke to her.”

He pressed down on the play button and the quartet listened to the meeting on the campus of UNCC.

After the conversation played Todd clicked off the machine.

“Ward told me she looks young,” Natasha said.

“Yes, she does,” Todd replied. “She could pass for twelve.”

“And by now she's seen the news, and even before that she was insinuating that she thought Ward made overtures toward her. What if she thinks she can shake him down?” Leslie asked.

“I think we're past that,” Todd said.

“Christ,” Ward said.

“She's a disturbed young lady with a need for attention,” Natasha said. “This could get her some.”

Ward asked Todd, “How do we handle it?”

“She was in the middle seat, so I got the name of the man seated beside her on the aisle. His name is Albert Gaines, and he lives down in Rock Hill. I'll talk to him—I'd bet he saw the car when you showed it to her and that he was away from the seat only while you were. And he'll know whether or not you seemed to be coming on to Alice. Sitting that close he'd have to have seen or heard everything that went on.”

“Okay,” Ward said. “I'm sure you're right. He was right there.”

“I spoke to Alice Palmer late last night. She and her boyfriend tried extortion—asking for ten thousand. I told her I'd talked to witness Gaines, and said you'd go two and I wouldn't have them put in jail.

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