That afternoon, the air was moist but that did nothing to subdue the heat of the July sun. Jeremy was folded in his backseat on his porch. He could not get himself out of the car and into.his house, his mind was racing, he had to think and he just couldn't, not after his talk with Joseph. Jeremy blamed himself, he'd known that meeting with the man would ruin his evening even more than it had already been ruined but he decided to take his chances, and it turned out he'd been right. Mercury Healer was Jeremy's sweat and blood; he knew he could never get someone as corrupt as Joseph to smell the corridors of power there, much less become a partner, not while he was alive. Although he knew that the man's demands were irrational and straight-out foolish, he also knew how persistent a man like that could be, especially when he thought that he had a bargaining chip and in this case, he did have a solid one. Deciding it was high time to call Abraham Brown, Jeremy pulled his phone out o
Jeremy smirked as he saw the horror on the man's face. Joseph was shocked and he couldn't hide it. His hands trembled as he gazed into the face of the one person he never wanted to see again, a can of worms he wasn't eager to open. "You...how... how did you find this?" He stammered and all Jeremy did was smile. "You aren't the only one with informants in the city, Joseph, I'm sure with this, you will have a rethink about a deal with the Mercury Healer." He said. Joseph nodded eagerly, his hands going over the surroundings as if he expected someone to pop out and see the evidence before him. Folding the documents, he shoved them in his pocket and said, "Listen, I know I got greedy but... I need some money badly, I'm losing my home and I haven't been getting enough cases from the Sinclair firm to pay my bills. I'm sorry, I had to drag you into a deep pit." The man explained, his tone pleading. "But listen, the deal is off, okay, you can keep all the money and I'm not interested in
Coat in hand and reaching for the car keys, Jeremy was ready to follow the lead that his investigator had just sent to him. It was a surprise that the third partner was in South Dakota, he could have sworn that he'd combed the town thoroughly for anyone who was related to his case before he arrived in California to establish the Mercury Healer.As he stepped out into the air, he could feel the wet wind on his face, a promise of rainfall. He felt renewed, he felt like he'd once again discovered his purpose. Jeremy got into his car, the only luggage he could boast of was a box of cufflinks and his cellphone, he wanted to make a trip. As he bailed a taxi to the airport, he could feel anxiety eating at his guts. Was this just another dead end? Was he going to hit yet another brick wall like the other cases? What could he possibly do if this was another failed chase? Jeremy hoped badly that this would be different from the ill luck she had gotten from Sinclair's case. As they drove ou
The plane touched down in South Dakota in a few hours, already, the media was buzzing with news of a strange man who had taken over a flight at such short notice. Jeremy knew that he'd shamed Rebecca and put her in her place, but she wasn't his priority, he wanted to meet Fred at once. From the airport, he was waiting for a cab to go to the location, he didn't want anyone to drive him and he didn't want to be followed, he had a lot of questions to ask and he wanted to be alone with him. As he was standing by the sidewalk, his phone beeped and he looked at the screen, a picture had just been sent to him. The man in the picture had to be shorter than 5'8, he had scruffy beards and his eyes were hidden behind large dark frames. He was seated on a bar stool, nursing a bottle of drink and he had been very unaware of that shot. As Jeremy was wondering how long ago the picture had been taken, his phone vibrated and he took it out of his pocket. "Hello, I'm heading to the location now." H
Fred was too shocked to speak for the next few seconds, he looked at the photograph and back to Jeremy more than twice and then he pulled off his reading glasses. Jeremy could not quite say that the man before him was old. His features were pretty youthful. His hair was full and his beard was still healthy although a little overgrown. His steps were agile apart from the limp in his right leg when he walked and his voice was not thin or frail. It was obvious that although the man was older, he had lived a pretty active life that made him look so agile and healthy. Jeremy had an idea that it hadn't been so from the start. In the photograph he had, Fred had looked much larger, his jaw fuller and his size almost twice what he saw, one reason he'd been surprised at the picture that he'd received from his investigator. "Where did you get this photograph from?" Fred asked, stunned. "I found it amidst my father's belongings, and many more pictures from his work." He replied. Fred looked
The old man looked at him like he'd lost his mind. And maybe he had, but Jeremy did not care, he wanted answers, and he did not find the length he had to get to to find those answers. Outside the small cottage, he looked back at the man. He could see the sadness in his eyes, the bitterness, the hate, and the pain. He almost did not want to believe that his search for the inheritance had left him so broken. "Why can't you have your family back? Are they still in danger? Do you still believe you're in danger?" He asked. Fred modded, "I don't think, Jeremy, I know that they still have their eyes on me, I have to be careful, I have to watch my steps or I'll make one wrong move and they'll come for me again," he said with a dejected look, "Coming here to find me was a bad idea." He said. "Then come with me back to California, I know I can make sure you're safe there." Jeremy offered. Fred shook his head, "No, this isn't a battle, I'll fight it to the end." He decided firmly. "What
The secretary looked at him with wide eyes, he could overhear the man on the other end of the call and he was curious. "What is going on, Sir?" The young man asked. Jeremy hissed as the phone disconnected, and the caller hung up. "You have no idea who sent these letters?" He asked, his tone icy. If there was one thing that Jeremy disliked, it was being baited, it was being drawn out and made to feel like prey, he did not come from a family of prey. The young secretary shook his head, "I don't know who sent it, a delivery was made early in the morning, the box was addressed to your name." He said and gestured to the envelopes that had his name boldly written on them. "How many of these have you gotten?" He asked, the secretary rummaged through his suitcase and finally sighed, he retrieved his diary and looked at it, "There's been a delivery of thirteen packages sir, but the letters are just six, and since you haven't been available to take them, I decided to take it home to you
Jeremy could hear the fear in the driver's voice. "We're being ambushed!" He yelled and reached out to grab his phone and call the cops. But immediately, the driver's door was opened from outside and he was roughly drawn out. "Please!" He yelled as he was thrown to the bonnet of the car and told to remain there."We want nothing to do with you, we don't want to hurt you at all, but that depends on you. Now take your car and get out of here." One of the masked men ordered. The driver nodded frantically, he was short of breath and literally gasping. "Please...don't hurt us, I'm sure you have the wrong man, just let us__" he stammered but the masked man cut him in before he could complete that statement. "I don't quite think you heard me, there is no 'us' in this, man." He said and went to the driver's seat where Jeremy was still seated and led him out, taking him to the side of the vehicle and having two men hold him in place. Jeremy did not struggle, he had a fair idea what the en