Forever As One by Jackie Ivie Read Free Book Online

it and settled back. He had to clear his
throat to answer.
    “Point me in the right direction. I’ll have
his head to you within an hour.”
    “It’s not a man.”
    “It’s not?”
    “I’m relieved to see all is right in my
world, Dane. Thank you.”
    “What are you talking of?”
    “Clairvoyance. For just a bit there, I
actually thought you’d gained powers to match mine. Glad to see I’m
wrong.”
    “Just give me the hit. I’ve got things to
do.”
    “That’s right. I’m keeping you from an
important chess match. Your mark is Evangeline Harper. Twenty-six.
She disappeared from your club last night. Don’t suppose you’ve
seen her?”
    “I’m playing chess with her.”
    “Sounds too easy. This is why I chose you,
actually. Proximity. Just make certain the body’s not connected to
us.”
    “I’m not killing her. Cancel the hit.”
    “You don’t cancel hits with the VAL, Dane. We
don’t give refunds and we don’t miss. Handle the assignment or I’ll
send someone else.”
    “You can’t. She’s my mate.”
    Silence answered that. And then laughter.
    “What’s so damned funny?”
    “You. This. Of all the associates, I’d never
put you with an Ivy-league educated woman. Never.”
    “Thanks.” Dane’s voice was sarcastic.
    “No offense, bud. It’s just…you’re barbarian
to your fingertips, and she—. Well, she doesn’t have much of a
record to her name. Never steps off the path of civility and
righteous behavior. Not even a parking ticket. She probably sings
in a church choir. But, we don’t pick our mates, do we? No worries.
Just take a picture of her looking dead before you change her. I’ll
need proof of the hit.”
    “I can’t change her. Not yet.”
    “Why not?”
    “She’s married to someone else.”
    Akron burst out laughing again. Dane watched
the screen without expression.
    “Now, I really have heard everything. This
explains your interest in Mister Harper’s health, too. Tell you
what. I’ll do some research. You get me a photo of your mate’s
death. And try to keep the authorities out of it. Got it?”
    “Do I have a choice?”
    “Hmm. This is interesting.”
    “What?”
    “Here’s a bit of information on a Roderick
Dee Harper. Hartford, Connecticut. Deceased. Apparently he died
from lingering aftereffects of a shooting. Drive-by. Senseless
urban violence. No arrests. No massive insurance pay-out. That’s
got to hurt the finances. No wonder she’s working for these folks.
Services were last fall. And look. Here’s the listing for a
bereaved spouse. What do you know? It’s Evangeline Harper, age
twenty-five.”
    “What?” Dane jumped forward, his eyes glued
to the screen, while the rest of him felt like fireworks were
getting lit on very short fuses, ready to explode.
    “You’ve got access to the internet. You could
look this up. It’s a matter of public record. Free. Easily
available. Accessible to anyone. I’m not even breaking any laws
here. Is this her picture?”
    The entire screen filled with a newspaper
photo, as grainy as the one from the paper earlier. But still his
Evangeline.
    “She’s a widow!” The words were shouted.
Joy-filled.
    The photo disappeared.
    “I want her death photo by sunrise,
Dane.”
    “Whatever,” he answered. He was already at
the door and flipping the handle.
    “Ah…the young.”
    And with that parting word, the screen went
black.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Now, why had he moved that pawn and not his
bishop?
    Vangie leaned forward, examining the board
for any possible variant he’d make if she took his bishop. It
didn’t make sense. His queen didn’t have access to anything without
a couple of moves she’d have to be blind not to notice. Maybe he
was planning to use his other bishop to set up an ambush? Or…maybe
his knight?
    She stood to appraise it from another angle.
The heavy chair didn’t shift. It would take effort to shove it
against the carpet, and she didn’t expend any. She needed to figure
out what Dane