Sinner Read Free Page B

says as she places the plate of pancakes and breakfast meat in front of me. It smells like heaven.
    "Another diet soda for me, please," I say looking at my mostly empty glass.
    "I'm good, Ma'am. Thank you." Adam says cheerfully.
    He has such impeccable manners for a criminal. It amazes me how polite he is in contrast with some of the rich and supposedly sophisticated people I know from work. They were allegedly raised well, but they're bossing and demanding. I rarely ever hear Tom say thank you for anything.
    The waitress brings my soda back, and we dig in. Adam was right about the butter pecan pancakes. Every bite is like a carnival ride for my taste buds. He laughs twice when I let out an audible groan of pleasure after taking a bite. The salty, fatty bacon and sausage offset the sweetness of the pancakes perfectly. I'm going to have to go out to dinner with Adam more often. But, I can't do that. Can I?
    "Your boss is going to sell valuable information about his investments to the highest bidder. Those bidders aren't other investment bankers, Lilith. They are criminals. I need evidence of this, or lots of decent people are going to lose their life savings. The authorities have tried to bring him down, but Tom is too rich, powerful, and protected. He's practically untouchable, but I'm determined." Some of the earlier sincerity is gone from his voice, but my gut tells me not to call him on it. Yet.
    He has a good reason to lie - My inner voice tells me. I can feel it, and I want to hear more.
    "If you're not law enforcement, why do you want to bring him down. How do you know about this, and why do you care about a bunch of strangers’ money?" I don't know how to be anything but direct at this point.
    "I represent another interested party. Someone who wants to see this information fall into the right hands." I can read Adam well, and this is total bullshit. He's not even trying to hide the fact he's deceiving me.  Something else is going on here, and now I have to know. I just hope at some point Adam feels like he can trust me with the truth.
    I take the last few bites of my food without saying anything. Adam's watching me expectantly, but I'm trying to play it cool. If I don't act like this is the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me, maybe I can maintain some semblance of a power balance in this partnership.
    "I'll help you," I say and try not to smile. I fail.
    "You will?" Adam says with as much excitement as I feel. I also sense something else emanating from him. I think it's relief. He's carrying a huge burden right now, and it has nothing and everything to do with the money. "Thank you so much for your discretion and understanding, Lilith. You have no idea what it means to me."
    "I hope that someday you'll tell me." He picks up on my meaning, but before he can speak, his eyes flick to the other side of the restaurant.
    "I have to go now, Lilith. Some of my associates are here. I'll contact you soon." Something about the way he said associates makes the hair on the back of my neck stands up.
    I turn and see two enormous men standing just inside the diner's entrance staring at Adam. He walks to them quickly, and they follow very closely behind him as he exits the restaurant.
    "That was odd," I whisper to myself. I guess it's not really that strange, considering everything.
    "Stiffed you with the check, huh." The waitresses cheerful voice booms.
    "It's okay. I don't mind." He did totally stiff me with the check, though.
    Oh well, Adam can owe me one.

Chapter Four
    Adam
    I wanted to exchange contact information with Lilith before I left the diner, but then Vladimir's goons showed up to collect me. I wanted to get them as far away from Lilith as I could and fast.
    Contacting her will involve me calling her at work because I didn't get her cell number. The goons saw me talking to her, and having her information on my phone could be dangerous for Lilith. The last thing I want is for her to end up in a cell waiting