She smiled. “All we’re asking is that you give us a chance. Let us go over your portfolio with you and show you how we can better manage your financial investments.”

He took a step forward and to the left, intending to walk around her, but she slid to the side, blocking him. She pinched the nipple on her sagging right breast, ran her tongue over her lips.

“What do you want?”

“I told you. Come to the bank so we can discuss strategies for minimizing your risks and getting you better returns. Your finances are being mismanaged and rely too heavily on ventures and speculations completely at odds with both your long- and short-term needs. The First People’s Bank is ready to offer a plan tailored specifically to you. All you need to do is meet with one of our investment specialists and hear us out.”

After a short discussion, Alfred agreed to show up at the bank tomorrow with all of his paperwork and go over possible investment approaches. The woman finally let him pass, and he strode back across the green to where Bruce was waiting. Of course, there was no way in hell he was going to do any such thing. The fact that an institution would hire that old hag to try and sexually blackmail him guaranteed that it would not receive his business. Hell, it shouldn’t even be in business, and the first thing he was going to do after finishing this round with Bruce was report The First People’s Bank to the Better Business Bureau, the state attorney general and whatever government entity oversaw banking operations.

They didn’t realize who they were fucking with.

He reached Bruce, still watching over his golf bag, and from behind heard a loud shrill whistle.

The old lady, still naked, took two fingers from her mouth and waved at him from the front of the restroom. “Thanks for letting me get you off!” she called.

Alfred turned away, simultaneously angry and revolted.

“So,” Bruce asked calmly, picking up a nine iron, “are you switching over to First People’s?”

4

Tess smelled smoke.

She mentioned it to Deke, but the Cowboys were in the middle of a play, and he nodded absently, not taking his eyes off the flat screen, although a few minutes later, during a commercial, even he detected the odor. It was definitely a fire rather than a barbecue, and both of them sniffed the air in an effort to determine its origin. It seemed to be coming from outside, and they walked into the front yard to discover that their roof was burning.

“Call 911!” he ordered, rushing over to the hose and turning it on.

“My phone’s inside!”

“Go to Suzie’s!” Water was gushing from the hose, and he put his finger over the opening to make it spray, aiming up at the flames on the roof.