Page 91 of Seducer

The city. If there was any truth to what he was saying, that meant a crooked politician might have been used on Brant’s father’s Ponzi scheme. Something about that didn’t sit right.

“So you were hired to flush out the Obsidian Society?”

“I don’t have any idea. I was told to ask and invite you tonight. And keep inviting you if you didn’t come. I asked, you answered. I sent an email in return. I thought it was done, but I received a phone call after that night at the club. They were much more insistent.”

“You keep saying they.”

“Only because whoever is doing this used the term ‘we.’ Yes, I tried to figure out who I was talking to, but I reached dead ends every time.”

“Why didn’t you come to me?”

He laughed. “And say what, some assholes wanted me to weasel information out of you and I’d been stupid enough to find myself in the position of doing so? I had no idea how you’d react.”

“But you heard rumors of what I was capable of.”

For some reason, I believed the guy. Not that it made any sense at this point.

He nodded profusely.

“Did you tell your father?”

“No. Why would I? Contrary to what everyone thinks, we don’t get along. He’s all but disowned me since I’m a fuckup. Okay? Jesus. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”

“You made a significant mistake by not telling me. Was the article mentioned?”

“The one from a few months ago?”

“A recent one provided by a reporter in St. Louis in a newspaper that just happens to be owned by your father. The reporter alluded to a serious black mark that would be revealed at a later time. Funny how suddenly another reporter from right here in Chicago confronted my brothers and me just recently. If I’m not wrong, and I never am, the Chi-town paper is also in your father’s portfolio.”

He appeared even more nervous than before. Was the kid being played somehow?

“Maybe whoever it was believed I would manage to convince my father to run a second story.”

“You’re lying.”

“I swear to God, I’m not.”

“Then why the cloak and dagger routine?”

“I told you why.” He was still panting.

I grabbed him again, this time issuing two brutal punches to his face. “Try again.”

“Fine. I lied to some degree. Okay? I don’t know you. I thought I had to.” He was trying his best to crawl away along the wall.

“Goddamn it, Brant. What the fuck is going on?”

He closed his eyes, still holding and rubbing his hand. “My dad is broke. Okay? He made some bad investments, including in this place. He was using a Ponzi scheme and it’s all gone.”

“Yeah, so I heard. What’s his criminal record have to do with the shit you’re pulling?”

“I mean everything he worked to achieve was gone, like poof. This is the only place left. Yes, he still has interest in the media firms, but it’s not what you think. At least not that I know of. I just think Dad got himself into some trouble.”

“With whom?”

“Like I said, my dad and I aren’t close.” He was sweating like a pig.

“The bullshit you dropped doesn’t answer why you insisted I show up tonight. What are you hiding from me?”

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