MM01 - Valley of Fire Read Free

morning.”
    “Good. I’ll pick you up in my car. The drive should take only three days, two if we push. It's cheaper than flying. We can take bedrolls—” Rick McGill burst into laughter. “What's so darned funny?”
    “You be here at seven o'clock in the morning, Martha Ann. My plane will be ready.”
    “We're flying?”
    “Yes. In my private plane, a twin engine Cessna.” Her face went pale. “Unless you've changed your mind about going.”
    “I haven't changed my mind. I'll be here.”
    He stood at his window and watched her walk all the way out to the big black limousine. She was a luscious number that put all the other women he'd played around with in the shade. It would have been fun to have had a brief flirtation with her. Rick shook his head with regret.
    As the car rolled down the street and out of sight, he decided that the Fates must still be watching out for him. He'd had a narrow escape with his last woman, Diane. She'd loved skydiving and cuddling and dancing to the golden oldies. And he'd come within an inch of falling in love with her. Falling in love didn't fit into his life-style. There were too many pretty women out there for him to consider settling down with one. He was only forty. He had years of fun left before he did anything as mundane as settle down.
    He went back to his desk and sat down. Pulling out a pad of paper, he began to jot down notes. He wrote an exact description of his client, right down to the estimated price tag of the diamonds on her wrist and finger. Suddenly a part of their conversation replayed itself. “Give me a ballpark figure.... Driving is cheaper than flying.” For somebody with all the trappings of wealth, she'd certainly been concerned with money.
    With his notes in hand, he picked up the phone and dialed. What he'd told Martha Ann O'Grady about not working with contracts was absolutely true. He'd discovered that it was useless to ask for addresses and phone numbers, since most people seeking his help gave him false information anyway. If he wanted to know the truth about his clients, he had to find out for himself.
    “Records,” the voice at the other end of the line said.
    Rick smiled. “Clinton, Rick McGill here. I need a favor.”
    “You always do, buddy. Shoot.”
    “What have you got on a Lucky O'Grady?”
    Rick heard the sounds of the computer in the background. As Clinton began to talk, Rick began to smile.
    By the time he'd hung up, he was laughing. Rolling his pencil idly between his fingers, he said aloud, “I do believe there's more to you than meets the eye, Mrs. Lucky O'Grady.”

 
     
    Chapter Two
    “Well, how did it go?”
    Evelyn turned toward Martha Ann as the rented limousine carried them down Broadway, past the courthouse, past the old Lyric Theater, past city hall. The powerful car engine hummed, and the efficient air-conditioning cooled the two women.
    “Rick McGill took the case. We leave for Las Vegas in the morning.”
    Evelyn flung her arms around her sister. “How can I ever thank you.”
    “By smiling.”
    Evelyn leaned back in the seat, snuffled loudly, took her handkerchief out of her purse, and blew her nose, then gave Martha Ann a watery smile.
    “How's that?”
    “That's more like it. And I intend to see that you do nothing but smile from now on. When I bring that husband of yours home, he'll turn into the finest family man in northeast Mississippi.”
    “How much is it going to cost you, Martha Ann?”
    “Don't worry about that.”
    “But I do. You're not rich, and Lord knows, I don't have any money. I hear these private investigators don't come cheap.”
    “I have some money saved.”
    “But is it enough?”
    Martha Ann gave her sister an impish grin. “I know how to turn it into a fortune.”
    “Martha Ann! You're not planning on gambling.”
    “I practically put myself through college doing it. I can do it again.”
    “Lord, but that was nearly twenty years ago.”
    “Don't say it. You make me feel