The List Conspiracy (The Max Quinn Conspiracy Book 1) by Harry Parker

Author:Harry Parker [Parker, Harry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MRC Publishing
Published: 2025-01-17T00:00:00+00:00

11

It was Angie Estaver’s turn to host the monthly Bunco game. Her house was in the same neighborhood as Max, set at the opposite edge of the subdivision. It sat on the corner of Star Lane Way in a cul-de-sac, backed up by a thick stand of trees that blocked a lot of the noise coming from nearby Ridgefield Drive. Most of the yard stretched out on the left side of the yellow-paneled Colonial hemmed in by a split rail fence. A portable basketball hoop was parked in the street near their driveway.

A cluster of mini-vans, SUVs and smaller sedans were already parked near the Estaver house. Max was the last to arrive. She parked in front of the small L-shaped rancher next door and made her way up the brick path, pushing the car key’s button over her shoulder to lock the Jag as she hurried along in the dark.

She was so intent on her path she didn’t see the man coming out of the shadows until he was almost in her path. She sucked her breath in hard, stopping and bracing herself. The man hesitated and took a step back, his face still too deeply in the shadows for Max to be able to get a good look.

“Max Quinn,” he said in a calm, confident voice, with the slightest trace of an accent. “We need to talk.”

“Take another step back,” she said, trying to sound menacing. “What is it you want?”

“Things are a little more complicated than you know. I can help, I think. We need to talk.”

“Dammit,” said Max, feeling her heart pound and the anger rise, tightening her throat. “What’s with the bushes? I have an office, a phone,” she hissed, not wanting to attract attention from anyone already inside. “I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume you’re not here for a divorce. So, maybe you’re another friend of Ray’s or is this some new kind of fun?”

Max was clenching and unclenching the keys in her hand, feeling the edges press against her skin

“You’re being watched, carefully watched by some very capable people. A little caution is called for these days.”

“This is ridiculous,” said Max. “We’re standing in the west end of Richmond playing cloak and dagger. What the hell is going on here?”

“More than you know. I’m sorry you’ve been dragged into this, but now that you are, I can use your help.”

“How did you find me? Are you following me?”

“More like keeping my eye on you. To keep you safe. But there are also others keeping tabs on you, on both sides. May I see your shoes?” he asked, holding out his hand.

“My shoes? No, why would I do that?”

“Because I’ve been watching them track you and it’s been too easy. Did you step in anything right around your house?”

Max shuddered, remembering the doormat right by her kitchen door and shifted her feet but didn’t move to take off her shoes.

“Why should I trust you? You haven’t told me anything and now you’re saying I’m a target.

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