The Answer Man by Roy Johansen Read Free Book Online Page B

keeps on giving.
    Ken’s hands shook as he tried to put his key into the lock. Slowly, patiently…There. Finally.
    He opened the door, stumbled inside, and made his way to the bedroom. His futon was on the floor. It hurt to bend at the waist, so he kneeled on the futon’s edge and gently lowered himself down.
    He stroked his jawline. He didn’t think it was broken, but he could feel it swelling up. He wondered if he should see a doctor before going to sleep. But the thought of a four-hundred-dollar emergency room tab didn’t appeal to him.
    He also thought briefly of calling the police. Nah. Maybe he deserved it. Maybe he
was
wrong about Carlos’s exam.
    The uncertainty.
    It was the worst part of his profession. Even when he followed the rules and tried to play fair, he could never be sure how accurate he was. How many careers had he ruined? How many families had he torn apart?
    How many?
    He had no idea.
    Over the next few hours, he tried to sleep, waking whenever he turned or rolled over. He still hurt like hell.
    He played a game with himself. Where would he be
if
…
    If he hadn’t done “the right thing.”
    If he hadn’t screwed up his life.
    He wouldn’t be nursing bruises in this shitty apartment, he knew that. And he wouldn’t be making a living from a gadget that might be about as accurate as a coin toss.
    He had to get a real life.
    Maybe, just maybe, Myth Daniels and Burton Sabini held his ticket to that life.

CHAPTER 4
    H erbert Decker hated parties almost as much as he hated the watery Tom Collins he was sipping. He stood in the massive atrium of a rented mansion on Habersham Road, surrounded by a cast of characters who regularly appeared in the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
’s society pages and trendy “Peach Buzz” column. The party was being given by a Belize diplomat with whom Decker was negotiating to supply raw materials for the country’s public works projects. Before the deal was concluded, Decker was sure a bribe would have to be arranged. It was already factored into his company’s internal budget, just as such payments were in the books of many firms dealing with foreign governments.
    “Herbert, we’ve been talking about you behind your back,” Governor Walter Holden said with the dazzling smile that got him elected. His popularity had never been lower, and with the next election only months away, he was almost certainly in his final year in office. Tonight the governor was sticking close to the party’s host, Marco Vincent.
    Decker handed his glass to a passing waiter. “It can’t be worse than what you guys say to my face.” He laughed, and the two men responded with polite chuckles. He hated cocktail chatter.
    The governor stood close to Decker. “Mr. Vincent has expressed some concerns about your company.”
    “ ‘Concerns’ is a tad harsh,” Vincent said with only the slightest trace of an accent. He was a handsome man with dark skin. “ ‘Musings’ is more like it.”
    Decker spoke through his frozen smile. “And what were you musing?”
    “I was telling Governor Holden that as much as I wish to do business with your firm, I still must sell the idea to my country’s public works ministry.”
    “Of course.”
    “That, I’m afraid, will be more difficult with the negative publicity your company is receiving.”
    Holden spoke quietly. “He’s afraid the embezzlement case may scare off some of his country’s decision makers.”
    Decker felt his face getting flushed. He knew it would appear that he was embarrassed, but he was enraged. He looked up at the ceiling. “I see.”
    “Please don’t misunderstand me,” Vincent said. “I have the utmost respect for you and your company. But as you know, perception is important. And to some people, the perception is that Vikkers Industries cannot control its own employees. My government needs assurances that you will be a reliable supplier of the materials we need.”
    “The actions of
one man
—?”
    “I’m