“It better be a big one.” BK’s annoyance came through loud and clear. “I told you never to initiate a call unless it was an emergency. It’s difficult for me to talk on the fly. Make it fast.”

“Lorraine Meyers is getting cold feet.”

One second ticked by.

Two.

Three.

Dave started to sweat.

“Give me the details.”

He swallowed. “You know as much as I do. She called ten minutes ago and said she may want to pull out.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

Silence.

“You obviously didn’t do your usual confidence-building sell job.”

“I gave her the same spiel I gave everyone else.”

That was true—but it was possible the woman had picked up on his growing discomfort. That any unease he’d unwittingly transmitted had taken root and mushroomed after he’d left.

“You got her check, correct?”

“Yes. I mailed it to the account Saturday.”

“Then she’s in.”

“You know we give everyone a thirty-day grace period to change their mind. It helps with the sell-in.”

“The opt-out clause was your idea.”

“Nevertheless, it’s in there.”

“In that case, I suggest you get over to her place and do some fast-talking and serious hand-holding.”

“We could always return the money.”

“Not happening.”

“Why not? There will be other people to soak down the line. It wouldn’t hurt to leave more space between the deals, like you intended at the beginning.”

And a gap would buy him time to continue searching for an escape, despite the long odds against finding one.

“I run this show.” BK’s voice hardened. “We do this my way, and on my timetable. You know what the repercussions will be if you don’t follow through. Let’s not add to Kimberly’s problems.” His tormentor gave him a few seconds to absorb that threat. “Are we clear on next steps?”

“Yes.” His wife was always the trump card that would ensure compliance, and the person on the other end of the line knew that. “I’ll go see Lorraine again in the next day or two.”

“I’m sure you’ll convince her to stick with the program, considering what’s at stake on your end. I’ll check back with you Thursday.” BK severed the connection.

Dave lowered the cell from his ear.

He had two days to snuff out the protests from his conscience and persuade the older widow to trust him.

A hard task, when that trust was undeserved.

But what choice did he have? It was either follow orders or hurt Kimberly—and his wife came first.

So sometime tomorrow, he’d sit down with Lorraine, use every ounce of his sales skills to convince her to leave her money where it was . . . and try to figure out how to save her life before the ax fell.

10

KATHLEEN WAS RIGHT. It was time to talk to Becky.

Past time.

Patching compound in one hand, putty knife in the other, Nate surveyed the bedroom the previous owner of the house must have used as a kennel, if the claw marks marring the walls from waist-high down were any indication.