Dead and Gone by Jack Patterson (universal ebook reader .TXT) 📕

talked to you, you said you didn’t have any cash. How do I know this isn’t a set up?”

“Because I’m going to have enough money to pay off his debt, and I got a generous man to forward some of it to me.”

“I read you weren’t gettin’ any money because of his crappy life insurance policy. That had to suck, huh?”

She took a deep breath. “Well, that’s all about to change.”

“Is it?”

“Yes, just keep watching the news. If you don’t hear anything that makes you think otherwise before noon, don’t come. Otherwise, I’ll see you here at 12:30. I’m texting you the location right now.”

For a moment, silence. Then, “Okay, I got it. I’ll be watching. And if you’re lying to me, I’m going to add a late payment fee.”

“I’ll be waiting.” She hung up.

The FBI agent leaned forward and patted her on the knee. “Excellent work. Do you think he bought it?”

“Sounded like it to me.”

“Great. This could be huge for the agency to catch these guys like this.”

“It’ll be great as long as Cal Murphy comes through on his end.”

“Better call him and find out what’s happening.”

Jessica picked up her phone again and dialed Cal’s number.

“Jessica? How are you?”

“I’m hangin’ in there. Anything happen yet?”

“Not yet and I’m not sure it will.”

She gasped. “What do you mean?”

“I mean J.T. Beaumont wasn’t the guy. I’ve got him admitting to hiring someone to stalk me and Kelly, but he adamantly denied having anything to do with Carson’s accident.”

“And you believe him?”

“I could tell when he was lying before—and he seemed different, like he was telling me the truth.”

“Cal! You’ve gotta do something. I already called Goldini’s thugs. If they don’t hear something by noon, they said it’s off and they’re going to add some late fee to the deal.”

“Don’t worry, Jessica. I’ve got a few more leads.”

“Better get on them fast. We’re running out of time or else this thing is going to blow up in our faces.”

“Just stay calm. I’m doing the best I can.”

She hung up and threw her phone down on the couch next to her. Burying her head in her hands, she started to weep.

CHAPTER 53

CAL’S PHONE BUZZED with a text message from Folsom. It was full of instructions for the types of stories he wanted accompanied by deadlines and word counts for each one.

He shoved his phone back in his pocket before another message buzzed his phone.

Call me ASAP

Cal rolled his eyes.

Now he wants to play nice and be my buddy.

Cal dialed his number. Folsom picked up before the first ring finished.

“Where are you?” Folsom asked.

“I’m not at a strip club, if that’s what you mean.”

“You’re a real comedian, Cal. Seriously, are you at the track?”

“I’m here. What do you need?” Cal wanted to derail the conversation and let Folsom know what frightening things he’d experienced in the past twenty-four hours while trying to chase down NASCAR’s story of the decade, perhaps the biggest story in the sport’s history. But he decided against it. Too little time.

“I just got a call from Owen Burns.”

“The Davis Motorsports Team crew chief?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. He said he’d been fired last night but he wants to talk with you about an exclusive.”

Cal ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled. “I don’t know if I’ve got time for that, Folsom.”

“Make time.”

“Fine,” Cal huffed.

“I’m texting you his number now,” Folsom said.

Cal hung up and stared at the text. He dialed the number.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Burns?” Cal said.

“Yes?”

“This is Cal Murphy from The Observer. I hear you wanted to speak with me.”

“Yes, I do. Do you have your laptop with you?”

“Will I need it?”

“You need to see what I’m going to show you on you computer.”

“What is it?”

“Proof that someone sabotaged Carson Tanner’s car—and proof of who it is.”

“Where are you?”

Cal jotted down the information and dashed back to the media center to get his laptop. He hustled through the garage before he felt a hand grab a large swath of his shirt and yank him backward.

“Why the hurry?” a familiar voice asked.

Cal spun around to see Ned Davis clutching him by the shirt.

“We need to talk.”

***

OUTSIDE THE RACEWAY, throngs of race fans had already begun to clog the ticket turnstiles. Burns walked backward away from the crowd toward the fence. He stood on his toes and looked above the crowd, searching for Cal Murphy.

“Lookin’ for anyone I know, Burns?” Alayna French asked as she rolled up on a golf cart.

“I’m tryin’ to find Cal Murphy. You know him?” he said still scanning the sea of people.

“Yeah, yeah.”

Burns ignored her.

“Too bad about you losing your job and all,” Alayna said.

He stopped and glared at her. “How’d you know about that?”

“There’s not a story on the infield that gets past me.”

“So I’ve heard.”

Burns’ eyes suddenly widened and sweat started to bead up on his face.

“Are you all right? You look like you just saw a ghost.”

Burns shook his head and reached into his pocket. “Look, find Cal Murphy and give this to him.”

“And what do I tell him when I see him?”

“Tell him it’s from me—and that it’s elementary, my dear Watson.”

“Huh?”

Before Alayna could utter another word, Burns vanished into the crowd. She watched as a pair of men in dark suits raced past her golf cart in the same direction as Burns.

***

CAL SQUIRMED AWAY from Davis’ clutches and shrugged him off.

“Don’t you walk away from me,” Davis said.

Cal stopped and turned. He walked steadily toward the owner and stopped a couple of feet short as he glared at him. “Did you think I was just going to ignore what was going on here?” Cal laughed sarcastically. “Not a chance. I know what you’ve been up to this whole time.”

Davis pointed his finger in Cal’s face. “What I’ve been up to is guarding the interests of this team and making sure some rogue reporter doesn’t ruin everyone’s livelihoods around here.”

“Livelihoods? Is that all you’re concerned about? What about lives—like Carson Tanner’s? You care