Silver Lining - A Carpelli Adventure: Sequel To The Bestselling Thriller Fatal Mistake by Cliff Roberts Page B

placed the envelope in his hand his expression changed.
    “John, you haven’t counted this.”             
    “No, I haven’t. It’s none of my business.” I replied.
    “But what if I were to say the amount is short?”
    “I’d tell you to talk with Holston. I’m just the delivery boy. No more responsible for product shortages than the man delivering the mail would be.”
    “But what if Holston says you’re lying, and he demands the product from you, to replace that which failed to arrive.”
    “I would explain to him that I don’t look in the packages, as it is none of my business what is in the package. If he thinks something is missing, then he should be talking to the person who loaded it.”
    “That is naive, John.”
    “Maybe so. But I haven’t had any complaints. I tend to respond in a less than a friendly way to being called a thief. Not that I haven’t been involved in a few robberies and burglaries, it’s just that I don’t need the aggravation that comes from skimming a few dollars of the top of the pile. My job is to deliver it, not account for it,” I stated.
    “You must be feeling lucky, thinking I won’t claim you shorted me.”
    “Is that right?” I asked, as my eyes bored a hole through the man. My attempt at intimidating him was useless. He just continued to smile at me, while continuing to talk.
    “You demanded more pay because he failed to disclose that the man, the man suspected who had killed Collins, was a biker, but you’ll soon learn there is more to that situation. You could have been killed and so to teach him a lesson about being truthful and forth coming, you demanded more money. You threatened his family, if he refused to pay. Despite what he may have said or done, the man now hates you and is looking for the right opportunity to do you harm. He is consumed with making everyone who humiliates or belittles him, pay. He will try to make you pay for challenging him.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind.” I absently stated, as I refocused on eating.
    “The spider weaves a very big web,” The Oracle seemed to go off on a tangent, so I was only half listening, while I kept eating. “It allows for the best chance of catching a meal by controlling as much of the space around him, as possible. Many an unwary fly has become dinner for the spider, because he weaves such a big web.” He spouted cryptically and then turned away, as if he had to check out the something going on in the restaurant below.
    So why is Holston, paying you?” I decided to try and slip in the question while he was distracted.
    “Not everyone wants to find something out.” The Oracle responded. “A few want to be sure no one finds out certain things I know. Which costs just as much, if not more, because somethings are very dangerous to know. Which is why I am here, to safe guard secrets and disseminate information for a price.”
    “So what is he hiding?” I asked straight up.
    “If I told you, John, I wouldn’t be in business for long. Now would I?” The Oracle danced around my efforts to know more about Holston.
    “Okay, then how about telling me what it will cost, to have you not tell anyone about me?” I asked.
    “As I said, John, it is very expensive, but for you, my friend, I will not share a word and not charge you a penny. Friendships for me are very few and very far apart. Men like Holston, who I detest, must pay me serious money.” The Oracle shared.
    “And if someone should offer you serious money to share what you know about me?” I asked.
    “John, John, John!” The oracle shouted. “I have I not just told you that I will not share a word about you? I don’t make idol statements. There is nothing short of God himself asking, that could make me consider breaking that confidence. My whole business depends on my keeping secrets. So don’t insult me again or I may lose my temper and have Mr. Elliott explain the depth to which my feelings are hurt,” The Oracle