Page 7 of Pay Dirt

“Your name was in Herbert’s appointment calendar. You were supposed to meet with him yesterday. We wanted to see if the killer would show in his place.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“Did you send Herbert on a quest to New Orleans?” Nathan asked.

“Well, yeah,” I said as my stomach turned to rocks, much like those in my garden. “Herbert has been searching for loot from a bank heist ten years ago. He believed after talking to some psychic that the hundred-dollar bill with the bank dye that he’d recently come into possession of was part of the loot the robbers hid before they all died in a plane crash. He hired me to see if I could help him locate the rest. Do you know anything about the bank heist?”

“Yes,” Nathan said tilting his head from side to side as if trying to ease the muscles in his neck.

“You know the story, then?” I asked.

“I know every lastdetail about that story. My mother was killed by the robbers.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” I glanced down at the ring he was wearing on his pinky finger. “What does this have to do with me, and why would you believe a killer would show up at Herbert’s appointment?”

“Herbert Guillot was found dead in New Orleans. He had the hundred-dollar bill with the dye on it in a hidden suit pocket.”

“You don’t think I sent him there to die, do you?”

The rocking stopped, and Nathan turned to stare at me. His look became serious. “Everything at the crime scene had been wiped. There was no DNA, except for one place. Someone closed his eyes and left a fingerprint behind.”

“That sounds like someone he probably knew or someone who had remorse.”

“We agree.”

“I hope you catch the guy. Did you have the fingerprint in your system?” I asked as dread twisted in my stomach.

“Sort of. We don’t have his name, but it was tied to another case,” he said, clasping his hands together “The print belongs to a dead man, one of the bank robbers.”

“You think one of the bank robbers that killed your mother is still alive?” I understood it now. Why Nathan was sitting on my swing and he hadn’t brought his bald partner from yesterday. This was personal. The stakes on getting answers were just as high for Nathan as they probably were for Herbert’s family.

“Yes, and we believe Herbert’s killer is coming for you next.”

“Why would you thinkthat?” I asked as panic laced my veins. The morning breeze was not so lovely anymore as I tried to process this information.

“Mr. Guillot’s appointment book had a page ripped out for the date of your meeting at the restaurant.”

“If it was ripped out, then how did you know it was in there to begin with?”

“His calendar syncs with his computer and his internet cloud service.”

“Am I in danger?” I asked.

“You’re the only person who stands between a criminal and his freedom to hide in the wind with millions of dollars. I’d say you’re in considerable danger. The question is, if you’re willing to help me track the killer so I can catch him.”

“Of course, I’m willing, ready and able,” I answered.

“Even if it means leaving town with me?”

“Let me pack a quick bag.”

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