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

climbed down off the stage and patted him on the head. “This is my home—and you’re just a wee bit drunk.”

He sat down and pulled out his checkbook and wrote a check for a hundred thousand dollars. He ripped it out and handed it to her. “Here. Is this enough to convince you to find a new home?”

Alexa told her boss that she was quitting and left with Davis. And while he knew she came because of the money, he believed she stayed because she loved him.

Here she was, consoling him and stroking his hair. This furthered Davis’ suspicions that love was greater than money in their case. He appreciated that about her along with the facts that she was hot and didn’t mind being seen with a man who was eight inches shorter than she was.

“Are you gonna be all right?” she asked as she caressed his arm.

He shook his head. “I don’t know. It was just so awful. I was near our pit when it happened and stayed there until we got that word that he was gone. When I saw Jessica thrashing around, I just couldn’t handle it. I didn’t know what to say to her. I’m just so numb.”

“She’ll be fine. She’s a strong woman.”

“But that kid? He’ll come into this world without a father.”

“You didn’t have a father and you turned out just fine.”

He sighed. “That’s a matter of opinion. I’m not sure that my mother is looking down from heaven on me and thinking that she raised an outstanding man. I’m quite certain I’m not fine.”

Alexa stamped her foot. “Now, listen, papa bear. Don’t you believe that nonsense floating around in your head. You’re more than outstanding. You’re amazing and you need to know it.”

He pulled back. “But you don’t know what I’ve done.”

“What? Frequenting strip clubs? Playing hardball in business ventures? Spreading rumors about competitors? None of that makes you a bad person.”

“Then what does it make me?”

She stared at the ceiling for a moment and tapped her cheek with her finger. “It makes you an ambitious man who works hard and plays hard. Nothing wrong with that.”

“I’m afraid it’s my zealous ambition that has me feeling down at the moment.”

“Why? Are you blaming yourself for Tanner’s death? It’s not your fault, you know.”

“If I didn’t own this race team—”

“Tanner would’ve died driving for someone else. It’s a tough break, but it doesn’t mean that you’re responsible.”

“Not directly, anyway.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Never mind. I just need to think about what I’m going to tell the press.” He stood up and cracked the window. Craning his neck through the small opening, Davis noticed the gaggle of reporters outside his hauler had nearly doubled from the group that was following him earlier.

Sylvia Yates burst into the room. “Don’t worry, Mr. Davis. You won’t have to say anything to the press. I just wrote up this press release and want you to sign off on it so I can disseminate these reporters. Once we give them what they want, they’ll leave you alone.”

He stood up and hugged Sylvia. “Thank you. You have no idea the anxiety I was starting to feel.”

Sylvia nodded and handed the media release to him. “It’s a sad day for all of us, but I knew you especially wouldn’t want to speak to the press in a time like this.”

Davis scanned the paper and handed it back. “Go for it. This has my approval.”

“Good. I’m hoping that once I give this to them, they’ll leave us alone so we can all deal with this tragedy.”

She opened the door and skipped down the steps and out of sight.

“See, it’s getting better already,” Alexa said.

Davis slumped back onto the couch. “I don’t know if avoiding the press is making things better—it’s just not making them any worse at the moment.”

“Take the time you need to grieve. It’ll be good for your soul.” She shot him a wink and started to climb into his lap. “And I know just the thing that’ll help—”

Davis’ phone buzzed and he struggled to get away from Alexa so he could answer it.

“Papa bear? Come on.”

He held up his index finger as he looked at the name that flashed onto the screen. “I need to take this. Just excuse me for a minute.”

Alexa understood what he meant and scurried out of the room.

“Elliot, thanks for calling,” Davis began. “I was wondering when I might be hearing from you.”

“How are you doing, man?”

“Not great at the moment. It’s kind of surreal right now. You know how much I liked Tanner.”

“I do, which makes me wonder why you’re having such a difficult time right now.”

Davis sighed. “Just because I didn’t want him driving for my team any more doesn’t mean I didn’t like him as a person. I have been known to be able to separate personal and business on occasion.”

“Since you normally mix the two, I assume it’s okay to do it now.”

“I don’t see why not.”

“Good. So, the real question is, who is on your radar right now? There are a ton of good drivers out there who won’t have contracts at the end of the season.”

“I’m very much aware of that. It’s the ones without a contract on this circuit who interest me the most. I don’t want some big team’s leftover driver.”

“Great minds think alike.”

“And so do we—now, who are you thinking?”

“Based on our conversation three weeks ago, I thought that Fortson kid out of Ohio might be one to look at. He’s young, has those devilishly good looks all the ladies love, and he’s won six races on the Xfinity tour this season.”

Davis took a deep breath. “Eh, I’ve seen him interviewed a few times. I don’t think we’d get along.”

“The pickings remain slim after that, in my opinion.”

Davis heard footsteps outside the hauler. He stuck his head out the window but didn’t see anything. “No, there’s one driver I’ve wanted for a long time and this finally clears the way for me to hire