Page 74 of The List

“Not at all. She and Shelby had a good time,” another woman said.

“Is Granddaddy here?” a little girl asked.

“Not right now. But he’ll be back soon.”

The two women started talking away from the doorway, a car engine idling made it difficult to hear anything specific. But he heard when the little girl announced, “I have to go to the bathroom.”

A second later flip-flops entered the office.

He tensed. The child couldn’t be allowed to see him. If she entered the bathroom he’d have no choice but to snap her neck, then slip out the pool door before the women decided to check on her. He could escape through the front of the house and resume his jog.

The footsteps came closer.

No time to pull on latex gloves. He’d just have to be careful what he touched.

The door inched inward.

“Lori Anne.”

The child stood just outside, a mere few inches of white pine separating them. Reed’s daughter was still outside, at the open doorway to the drive. He hoped she didn’t enter the office too. The situation could then gestate rapidly out of control.

“Not out here,” the woman said. “That’s Granddaddy’s room.”

“I have to go.”

“In the house. Then change and go swimming.”

The child pushed the door further inward.

He prepared himself to grab her the second she was inside, one hand on her mouth, the other snapping her neck before she could make a sound.

“Lori Anne, I said not out here.”

“But—”

“I’m not going to say it again.”

“Okay. Okay.”

Flip-flops receded.

The door leading out to the driveway closed, its mini blinds clanging. A few seconds later he heard the car leave through the back gate and a door for the house open and shut.

He listened.

No one seemed to be in the office.

He slowly inched the door open. The room was empty. He realized the pool area was about to be occupied and he’d taken enough chances.

So he left.

6:50P.M.

HAMILTONLEE STOOD OUTSIDE AND WATCHED THE PICKUP DRIVEin and park in front of his house. He knew what the staff and employees called it. Dracula’s Place. A reference to both its stark architecture and his abrasive personality. But he didn’t mind. A little fear from those who worked for you was not a bad thing.

“Good to see you, Hank,” he said, as Reed climbed out. “Seems like we only talk to each other at negotiation time.”

“You waitin’ for me?”