restaurants, and, to serve the growing population, huge tracts of land had been acquired in order to build new homes. In line with the magnitude of growth massive amounts of money could be made by those in a position to reap the bounty. And therein lay the ugly underbelly of Little Fork’s transformation. Because where there was big money to be made, there was always the potential for violence. And murder. And a man like Huffman wan’t averse to doling it out if anything got in his way.
Robert Huffman wasn’t a native of Little Fork, Kentucky. He had been born and raised elsewhere. He had arrived here three years ago, an investor in the growing town. He had thrown millions of dollars into Little Fork’s rejuvenation, but its return had already topped billions. He was sitting on a treasure trove and he certainly wasn’t going to lose it all because of one interfering bitch. Or his accomplices’ reluctance to spend a few bucks.
‘My people will be here tomorrow,’ he said, standing up and signifying that the meeting was over. To the barrel-chested man, he added, ‘They’ll be eager to get started, so make sure you keep out of their way. They don’t like your type.’
Chapter 10
First order of the day was to find somewhere safe to hide while we decided our plan of action. When we arrived from Florida, we’d booked rooms at a hotel at the airport. We couldn’t go back there: too obvious. Instead, we found a motel on the outskirts of Little Fork and I paid for a single room out of cash in my pocket. The small, greasy man who checked us in weighed up Kate, put two and two together and got his sums all wrong. He gave me a knowing look, then an exaggerated wink as I led Kate out.
‘He thought I was a hooker,’ Kate huffed as I unlocked the door to the room. She glanced down at her clothing, a small crease knitting her brows. ‘Do I look like a whore to you, Joe?’
‘I wouldn’t know.’
She sniffed back a further complaint – probably at my ill-concealed lie – then pushed by me to go inside. There were a number of new motels and hotels in the area, but this one had been around for a while. It was just the kind of place you could rent by the hour. Our room was third along in a row of a dozen. I chose the place because it was off the beaten track, not for its star rating. It was small, little more than a box with a bathroom tacked on the side, but looked clean enough. The place would do for the few hours we’d be spending there.
‘There’s only one bed,’ she announced. ‘Where the hell are you going to sleep?’
‘Didn’t plan on sleeping,’ I said, as I tucked the Magnum under the mattress for safe keeping.
Kate tilted one hip to the side and threw back her shoulders. Bit the tip of her tongue. ‘We’ve only just met, Mr Hunter. I hope that jerk at the front counter hasn’t given you any ideas?’
I didn’t answer. Just stood there looking. Damn it if she didn’t look great.
Kate came towards me and laid her hand on my arm. I could feel her warm fingers through the material of my jacket. Her eyes were sparkling. She’d just survived a terrifying ordeal, realised her life had been at risk, and it had been me who’d saved her. She was glad to be alive. I could see that she wanted to share the feeling. I’d seen this response to life and death situations before; it was generally misguided. On tiptoes she reached up and kissed me on the lips.
When I didn’t return the kiss, she retreated. I saw colour creep into her cheeks. I’d tried to save her from embarrassment later on down the line, but all I’d done was embarrass her now.
‘We had to keep up appearances, Kate. I registered us as a couple. It would’ve looked odd if I’d then asked for separate rooms. But don’t worry, once the door’s closed we can drop the charade.’
‘Charade?’
‘This,’ I said, touching a finger to my lips. ‘There’s no need.’
Her face lit up with humour. But it was an act. She was
Robert Huffman wasn’t a native of Little Fork, Kentucky. He had been born and raised elsewhere. He had arrived here three years ago, an investor in the growing town. He had thrown millions of dollars into Little Fork’s rejuvenation, but its return had already topped billions. He was sitting on a treasure trove and he certainly wasn’t going to lose it all because of one interfering bitch. Or his accomplices’ reluctance to spend a few bucks.
‘My people will be here tomorrow,’ he said, standing up and signifying that the meeting was over. To the barrel-chested man, he added, ‘They’ll be eager to get started, so make sure you keep out of their way. They don’t like your type.’
Chapter 10
First order of the day was to find somewhere safe to hide while we decided our plan of action. When we arrived from Florida, we’d booked rooms at a hotel at the airport. We couldn’t go back there: too obvious. Instead, we found a motel on the outskirts of Little Fork and I paid for a single room out of cash in my pocket. The small, greasy man who checked us in weighed up Kate, put two and two together and got his sums all wrong. He gave me a knowing look, then an exaggerated wink as I led Kate out.
‘He thought I was a hooker,’ Kate huffed as I unlocked the door to the room. She glanced down at her clothing, a small crease knitting her brows. ‘Do I look like a whore to you, Joe?’
‘I wouldn’t know.’
She sniffed back a further complaint – probably at my ill-concealed lie – then pushed by me to go inside. There were a number of new motels and hotels in the area, but this one had been around for a while. It was just the kind of place you could rent by the hour. Our room was third along in a row of a dozen. I chose the place because it was off the beaten track, not for its star rating. It was small, little more than a box with a bathroom tacked on the side, but looked clean enough. The place would do for the few hours we’d be spending there.
‘There’s only one bed,’ she announced. ‘Where the hell are you going to sleep?’
‘Didn’t plan on sleeping,’ I said, as I tucked the Magnum under the mattress for safe keeping.
Kate tilted one hip to the side and threw back her shoulders. Bit the tip of her tongue. ‘We’ve only just met, Mr Hunter. I hope that jerk at the front counter hasn’t given you any ideas?’
I didn’t answer. Just stood there looking. Damn it if she didn’t look great.
Kate came towards me and laid her hand on my arm. I could feel her warm fingers through the material of my jacket. Her eyes were sparkling. She’d just survived a terrifying ordeal, realised her life had been at risk, and it had been me who’d saved her. She was glad to be alive. I could see that she wanted to share the feeling. I’d seen this response to life and death situations before; it was generally misguided. On tiptoes she reached up and kissed me on the lips.
When I didn’t return the kiss, she retreated. I saw colour creep into her cheeks. I’d tried to save her from embarrassment later on down the line, but all I’d done was embarrass her now.
‘We had to keep up appearances, Kate. I registered us as a couple. It would’ve looked odd if I’d then asked for separate rooms. But don’t worry, once the door’s closed we can drop the charade.’
‘Charade?’
‘This,’ I said, touching a finger to my lips. ‘There’s no need.’
Her face lit up with humour. But it was an act. She was
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