Page 108 of Five Alarm Love
“Must be.”
“You remember this guy?”
“Not particularly.”
“You sure about that?”
Hunter made a big show of raising his hands and being socially attacked.“Hey, what’s with the twenty questions?This is pretty rude.”He took the phone back and studied the picture, as if seeing it for the first time.Tuli would bet good money that was an act.“I guided trips all summer for a few years.Paid for college.I can’t remember each of the clients.”
Steve piped up.“All right.Enough.What’s all this about, Tuli?You’re making a scene.”
Tuli glanced over at Calvin and Deirdre.“I’m sorry about doing this at your wedding reception.Truth is truth.”He turned back to Hunter.“Because this isn’t a client, is it?He’s a mentor.”
Hunter shook his head.“That’s a stupid assumption from a picture.”
“What about these other pictures?”He held up some more and swiped through them.“You, at the guy’s house.You, having dinner with him and friends.”He paused, then continued, “You, in a casual snap of the team, featured on this old speculator services website.”
“Whoa,” Deirdre said, glancing up at Calvin and then over to Mav.“That’s compelling information.”
“Let me ask again, Hunter.Who is this guy?”Tuli asked.
“That’s on a need-to-know basis.”
“Well, then.I believe we definitelyneed to know,” Steve said.“Sooner rather than later.”
Lou had eased toward Tuli.Good.Hunter wouldn’t do anything in a crowd, but Tuli still wanted to make sure that Lou was safe and protected.
Most of the several hundred guests now gathered around.Nearly everyone here had a stake in the outcome of this discussion.
“Lou, I’m sorry,” Tuli murmured.“I know you don’t like scenes.”He projected his voice.“Everyone, my apologies.I’m almost done, and then we can get back to this nice celebration.”He held up the phone again and brandished it at Hunter.“Tell them, or I will.”
Hunter’s tan skin turned ashen.Sweat glistened on his forehead.“No idea.”
“Last chance,” Tuli said.“Who is that guy?”
No one made a sound.
Hunter’s Adam’s apple bobbed.He mumbled something.
“Sorry, didn’t catch that.”Tuli made a show of holding his hand to his ear.
“Screw you,” Hunter spat.“Randy Nelson.”
“And what is he to you?”
“You know.”
Tuli batted his eyes at the guy.“I do not.”
“My boss.”
“And why did he send you here?”
“To get control of the mining rights.”His shoulders slumped.“To ruin the town.”
Someone gasped.
Hunter pointed.“And to destroy your life, Tuli.”
