Hokus Pokus by Fern Michaels Read Free Book Online

Barnes.”
    â€œWould you care to join us, Jack?”
    â€œThanks for asking, Judge, but I’m lunching with someone. Wintergreen’s is a nice place, this is only the second time I’ve been here.”
    â€œI come here all the time. So does Justice Barnes. I think I know everyone in the room. Even the ones at the bar,” she said, emphasizing the word “bar.”
    Jack nodded, smiled, said it was a pleasure to meet Justice Barnes, and continued his trek to the men’s room.
    â€œNow what?” Pearl asked.
    â€œWhat is your window of time?”
    â€œWhat does that mean, Nellie, my window of time?”
    â€œWhen are you supposed to give your ex–son-in-law your answer?”
    â€œHe said he’d be in touch with me by the end of this week.”
    â€œCan you stall him?”
    â€œGod, Nellie, I don’t know. I suppose I could say it’s taking longer than I thought to liquidate my holdings to meet his demand. He wants . . . so much money . . . On top of . . . changing my vote. He’s such a bastard. My . . . My . . . What I do is not like what you and the others do. I don’t know how to . . . I can try. How much time do you need?”
    â€œI don’t know, Pearl. I have to talk to some people. How do you want me to get in touch with you?”
    â€œI’ll get word to you somehow. Just be on the lookout. I meant it, Nellie, I wouldn’t have blown the whistle on you.”
    â€œI know that now, Pearl. That’s why I’m going to do my best to help you. By the way, I wouldn’t have turned you in, either. We’re on the same team, so to speak.”
    â€œI wonder where our food is,” Pearl said vaguely.
    â€œThis might come as a surprise to you, dear lady, but we haven’t ordered. You need to get it together, Pearl or you’re going to blow yourself out of the water. Now, what about Grant?”
    Pearl straightened in her chair, looked around and snapped her fingers for the waiter again, who appeared almost immediately. “French toast, one sunny-side up egg on the side, more coffee and a bowl of whipped cream,” she said.
    â€œI’ll have the same thing,” Nellie said, even though she hated French toast.
    Pearl looked down at her glass, surprised that it was empty. She picked up her water glass and took a big gulp. “Like I said, Grant is Grant. Lately it doesn’t seem to be working as well as it has in the past. I cannot ignore the fact that the current director of the FBI is Grant’s brother-in-law. You know what they say about family and how blood is thicker than water. Grant adores his sister and Elias. Really adores them. I can’t risk telling him. If the time comes when I have to tell him . . . Well then, that’s when I’ll tell him but not before. I can walk away, Nellie, if I have to. I can make myself disappear, the way I make all those women and their children disappear, but I don’t want to have to do that unless there is no other way. Do you understand what I’m saying, Nellie?”
    â€œI do, Pearl. It might come down to that.”
    â€œI know. I’ve been preparing myself. If Myra and Annie can do it, then so can I. What does Emery have to do with all this? God, he’s a shill, too, right? Tell me more, Nellie.”
    â€œI’d rather not, Pearl.”
    Justice Barnes pursed her lips. “Emery, the jujitsu guy, the hottest reporters in town and that sex-bomb lawyer, all in the same room.” She laughed as she held up her water glass to clink it against Nellie’s. “To sex, lies and audiotapes,” she said, slapping a small mini recorder down in the middle of the table. Nellie was no slouch. She yanked at her pocket and pulled out a matching recorder.
    â€œTrust is such a wonderful thing,” Nellie said.
    â€œIsn’t it, though?” Justice Barnes responded.

Chapter 4
    P ost reporter Ted Robinson finished the last