Page 32 of No More Lies

“Hi. Can you check if my daughter is still in school, please? I think my wife was picking her up for a dental appointment, but I might have the date wrong. Just want to make sure.”

He kept his tone light, although he was wound so tight he thought he might crack. He gave Megan's name and homeroom teacher. He finally breathed when the school secretary came back on the line and confirmed Megan was in class.

“Thank you. Sorry, I must have my days mixed up. I’ll be there to pick her up at three-thirty.”

He ended the call, grabbed his keys, and drove way too fast to the school. He would sit outside and wait. Maybe he’d get lucky, and the black Ford would show up. He would welcome a little conversation with that fucker.

Chapter 9

“I haven’t told him anything. I swear.” Diane stood, gripping the edge of her desk for support. Volkov and two of his men had turned up unannounced. He had taken her off guard. She had been studying her phone, having received a picture of Steve and Megan she didn’t quite understand.

“Your husband attempted to talk with one of my men this morning outside your daughter’s school. Why would he do that unless you told him about me?” Volkov's voice was icy. The man was over six feet and broad, his short blonde hair swept to one side. He dressed impeccably in designer suits. Diane could see when he put on the charm how women would be attracted to him. He had brought two men with him this time. They wore less expensive black suits that didn’t quite conceal the guns they were carrying. How had she not noticed before that his bodyguards carried guns? And why were they allowed in the office armed?

“Anyone who saw a man sitting alone in a car, outside a school would be concerned, and would probably go and ask what they were doing.” Especially Steve. He was trained to spot threats.

Diane’s brain was still trying to register the fact that Volkov had stationed someone outside Megan’s school. This whole thing was getting out of control. Oh, God, the photo. She glanced at her phone.

“Ah, I see you got my picture.”

The blood drained from her face.

“Your husband is a petty officer, correct?”

If that’s what Volkov thought, that’s what she would go along with. Better than him knowing about Onyx.

“Yes.”

“No current deployment?”

“He’s between deployments right now.” She wanted Volkov to know Steve was home. That she and Megan were not alone.

Volkov held out a hand to one of his bodyguards who passed him a small white envelope.

“I have little gift for you. So you understand how important it is for you to present the case, and not share anything about me, this case, or my business with anyone.”

He handed her the envelope and waited while she opened it. She gasped out loud. Two photos. One of Megan at her softball game four weeks ago. A game she hadn’t gone to. The second from Jerry’s bar. Megan standing at the jukebox. Volkov had been watching her family for weeks.

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