Tainted Waters

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

"And?"

"And she attended a funeral, took her mom to her house, got groceries, and went home."

"Nothing else?"

"No. Nothing else."

"Okay. Keep me informed." Mr. Ozz tossed his cell phone aside as he lowered himself into the jacuzzi. She'd have to go. He'd seen her at the funeral. He was glad she hadn't stayed long. There was something about her that screamed attention, not what he wanted or needed. She'd always been a bit of a pain.

And now she knew too much, even if she didn't realize it yet. She would at some point. He couldn't take the chance of her putting the pieces together. Only he couldn't have her dying now. No. That would draw way too much attention. He just needed another five weeks and then it wouldn't matter. Everything was coming together. A few more people in his pocket and he'd be running it all. Unfortunately, one of his guys had screwed up. Mr. Ozz didn't like mistakes, they were costly. They led to people snooping. Like Sam had done. He'd have to deal with that soon.

He immediately thought of Mrs. Overton. He'd hate to hurt her that way again, but some things couldn't be helped. And if she wouldn't sell to him before she lost her daughter, he was sure he could spin it so she would after. If that failed to get him that land, then he'd put his other plan in place. All was coming together, soon he'd own it all.

~~~~

"Oh, Jaico." Drained of energy, the woman sank onto his naked chest.

"Oh, Corrine."

She giggled. He smiled. It was always so easy. If there was one part of his job he enjoyed, it was this.

"How's old Harry treating you these days?"

She leaned up on her forearms, her naked breasts brushing his ribs. "He still bellows. That man seems to think I have nothing better to do every day but answer his every beck and call. I've made it clear from the beginning that I won't get him coffee, he can damn well get his own. The other day …" She smiled coyly. He was sure she was remembering their quickie in the ladies' room at work. "Since I was feeling so nice, I got him a coffee since I was getting one myself. He called me a stupid i***t for bringing him old coffee, he wanted four sugars, not black, and he no longer uses creamer. He then thrust it at me expecting me to get it for him." Her finger trailed over his chest. "So, I did, and I added in blue food coloring. Jackass."

Jaico howled. "Beautiful. Guess you got him back."

She looked a little more confident. "I was trying to do something nice. He's just so nasty. So many people are hoodwinked by him. He's so slick with the bigwigs but treats his employees like crap."

"Hey, you told me he fired someone the other day. How'd that go? I bet you got to do all the dirty work?"

"I had to tell her she had a meeting with him, which is never a good sign. He doesn't meet with anyone. I have to give her credit, though; he must have been his usual self, because after she left, he came out with coffee dripping off his face, demanding I get him paper towels. It was so funny." She giggled.

"I had just gotten back from lunch." She rubbed her naked body over his.

He was thrilled she wanted him, but he didn't want to be distracted. He wanted to know the story. "Wow. What did she do before the coffee thing to get fired?"

"Promise you won't tell?"

Jaico reached up, cupped her face and kissed her. "Love, you don't have to worry about me."

"I know, I'm sorry. It's just I need this job. It pays well. The benefits alone are worth it. Anyway, I guess she was trying to run a story about this man who had stolen his wife's necklace or something and Harry hadn't approved it. I guess she did it on her own, without permission."

"Oh, who was the guy?"

"Some wealthy dude. It sounds like he was trying to or maybe he got the insurance for it. I don't know. I didn't get to see the article and I've only heard bits and pieces."

"Is that all she wrote?"

"Yeah, that and just her usual drivel about some lame things going on around town. Her opinion. Nothing very interesting."

Jaico's phone rang. He rolled over, grabbed it, glanced at the number.

"Back in a sec." He jumped to his feet.

"Okay, but hurry."

He looked back at the woman who was displaying all her worldly charms for him. He smiled as he made his way, naked, across the large hotel room and into the bathroom. He closed the door and turned on the tap.

"What?"

"I lost her."

"What the hell? How'd you do that?"

"She caught me off guard."

"You moron. Where are you?"

"Back at her apartment. I figure she has to come back here."

"Stay there and keep me posted. Do NOT talk to anyone else about this."

"No problem."

Clicking off, he slammed his fist down onto the sink counter. "Dammit."

"Jaico. Jaico. Jaico. Come and get me. I seem to be all wet."

He jerked open the door. His blonde bombshell, who was really a little old for his taste but had kept herself up rather well, was lying spread-eagle on the bed, her hand working furiously between her legs. He felt a stirring between his.

Mr. Ozz said to follow her but do not hurt her. She couldn't be that much of an issue if he didn't want her injured. She'd turn up soon. Besides, he had something better to do at that moment.

He was about to make his way across the room, to take what was offered, when his cell phone rang, again. Glancing at the caller ID, he turned and spoke quietly.

"Yes, Mr. Ozz."

"I need you to do some snooping. Mrs. MacNeil's place. Do you know where it is?"

"Yeah. Out at the lake. What am I looking for?"

He listened intently while Mr. Ozz outlined the things he needed to find. He turned and was intent on getting to his clothes so he could do the errand he'd been asked to do when he glanced at the bed. This could be a career killer.

"Jaico. Jaico. I've been waiting but I'm ready … I'm going to come … really soon."

He could no more ignore a woman in distress—s****l distress—than he could the throbbing coming from between his legs. He crossed the room ready, willing, and able and gave her what she needed. It wasn't until they'd finished, and he was getting dressed, that he realized who he'd been screwing. Throwing back his head, he laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"Life, Corrine. Life. Hey, I'm sorry about you losing your mom. Mrs. MacNeil, right? I meant to say something when we got here but you distracted me."

"Thanks. It will be hard without her. Her funeral was really nice. Lots of people came to it."

"She lived in town, right?"

"No, with her sister. Wells, she was living with her sister, but she moved out to the lake without telling any of us and she swore her sister to secrecy. Sneaky woman. She knew how to take care of herself. But really. She loved it out there."

"She lived there all by herself? That must have been scary, what if something had happened and none of you could get in?"

"Oh, we all have a key to the cabin. None of us ever use it but we all have one. Besides, she was ninety. She decided how she'd go. Have to admire her for that."

Jaico smiled. "You must show it to me sometime. The cabin, I mean."

~~~~

Reardon set down his phone on the small wicker table. He dove into his swimming pool, thankful for the exercise that still made him feel youthful and helped him burn off his anger. After thirty-five laps, he climbed out and sat in his hot tub. The rays of the sun shone directly in his eyes through the glass-enclosed area. It annoyed him he hadn't thought to open the sliding walls to let the fresh air in and pull the blinds closed partway to block out the glare. Lying back, he decided not to let those little things bother him but instead allowed himself to enjoy his day of hooky. That was one thing he liked about his job, that of being a lawyer, if he wanted to take time off he could. It was usually busy and kept him working all hours but when he needed a break, he just took it. He enjoyed being able to do what he damn well pleased. And today he'd needed it. Wanted it. A half-day of work and now peaceful time to himself. He had some things to figure out. His bodyguard had been a little surprised that he'd given him the time off.

His thoughts immediately went to the phone call he'd received earlier. It was time to acquire that land. His attempts in the past to purchase it had been ignored. But now there was a new urgency. Things had changed. Time to change his tactics.

Letters were to have been sent to all the remaining owners. He wondered if that had happened. That would be the last piece of paper that he mailed regarding those properties. That was a complete waste of time. He'd give them all a week to respond, then some different measures would need to be employed.

He called his office and spoke with his receptionist. A few minutes later, he discovered that only one had been mailed. He didn't give a damn that her computer had frozen, her printer had then run out of ink and she'd had no time to replace it. He made it very clear that those other two letters were to go out that day. After hanging up, he slammed his fist on the tiled floor, then he climbed out of the jacuzzi and dove back into the pool to do twenty more laps.