Blood Silence by Roger Stelljes Read Free Book Online

workaholic. Always chasing money and women, and he just wasn’t much on a regular home type of life. So Meredith was like his surrogate child. That Grand Brew compliment”—Mac shook his head—“that was a veiled shot. Half of that could have been hers, and I’m sure that pisses him off.”
    “She hasn’t exactly been living in squalor,” Sally retorted. “Sterling is one of the richest lawyers in town.”
    “And Teddy helped him get richer.”
    “Really?”
    “Oh, yeah,” Mac replied. “One of the ways Meredith got into Sterling’s firm to begin with was Teddy. Sterling did legal work for Teddy for a long time, so when Meredith was looking to get hired, Teddy made some calls, and Sterling interviewed her, and the rest, shall we say, is history.”
    “So you could say Teddy was responsible for those two meeting.”
    “Yup,” Mac answered. “Unlike her parents, Teddy wasn’t disappointed when she took up with him. I’m pretty sure he thought Sterling was an upgrade for her.”
    “And with his goddaughter in the firm, Teddy had continued access to Sterling.”
    “And more importantly, Sterling’s clients, all of whom had money,” Mac answered. “Teddy ran an investment fund, so he made all his money with other people’s money.”
    Sally’s mouth was agape. “Is he really that craven?”
    “I don’t know for sure,” Mac answered, wanting to talk about something else. “I think he cares for Meredith. However, if in helping her he could figure out an angle to help himself too? He wouldn’t analyze the right or wrong of that. In that sense, he and Meredith are very much alike.”
    For the next hour, Sally worked the room with Mac in tow, saying hello to the DFL party dignitaries and other political—and in a few cases, personal—friends of the president. Mac did his duty, making small talk with people, answering hockey questions for the people who remembered him from his playing days, but he couldn’t help but make a few extra trips to the bar to avoid the politicos, most of whom he really couldn’t care less about.
    Eventually, everyone took their seats at their tables in a ballroom filled with over three thousand people, and the president of the United States entered the festivities to “Hail to the Chief.” Dinner was served, and speeches were given. As much as he didn’t want to, Mac had to admit, a fun, relaxed, and joyful atmosphere swept over the room—odd for politics, where people often were oh so careful with what they said, fearful of offending, of losing status, or not getting ahead. Tonight, jokes were told, and the evening turned into something of a freewheeling roast. President James Thomson had the ability to put people at ease and be real. He was happy to be home. The president was savoring the moment of the one-year anniversary of his election and was clearly in the mood to have a good time. It infected the entire room, and Mac was finally able to relax and enjoy the night.
    After the formal program finished, a band began playing, and the dance floor was cleared, and the party got going. “Looks like you could use another drink,” Sally suggested and then leaned in. “Would you get me another white wine?” she added, kissing the bottom of his earlobe. “You know how much I love the Chardonnay—a couple more, and you could get lucky.”
    “Right away, then,” Mac replied with a smile and pushed himself up from the table and made his way to the bar. “I need a Seagram’s Seven and a glass of Chardonnay, please.”
    “Hello, Mac.”
    He knew the soft, sultry voice.
    It had been four years, but it was unmistakable.
    He shook his head lightly, sighed, and turned around to see Meredith. She looked stunning in an elegant black gown hanging tightly to her long, slender figure.
    “Meredith.”
    She noted the clipped response but took one hesitant step closer. “You look good, Mac.”
    “I feel good.”
    She nodded but took another step. “It’s been a long