Southern Bound - A Paranormal-Mystery (Max Porter Mysteries Book 1) Read Free

never felt it I guess because I lived there my whole life. But now, meeting these people down here — it's weird. Every single person here is nice."
    "Real nice," Max said, thinking of the stranger in the library. In Michigan, he didn't have these kinds of problems. And they said the economy was picking up back there. Something would have come his way. Or he'd have done something online. Lots of people telecommute nowadays. This whole job smelled illegal anyway — but he had known that from the start.
    Sandra continued, "I called to set up DSL today and when the lady found out we'd just moved in, she gave me the warmest welcome. Up North it's all, 'What do you want?' as if you're imposing on their time to sit on their asses and do nothing. Here, I don't know, I guess I expected banjo-pickers at the gas station ready to string us up if we looked at them wrong."
    "It's definitely not like back home."
    "And did you notice all the Japanese restaurants? There's also some Indian places and even Greek. We never had that. They're more cultured than we've ever been."
    Max looked at Sandra's beaming face and his stomach dropped. First day of work, less than a week living here, and she already had fallen for the place. And the money — they would never get back on their feet without real money coming in like this.
    She must have picked up something in his body language, she could always read him well, because she stopped talking, clasped his hands, and said, "Did something go wrong at work?"
    Max sniffled and shook his head. "Mr. Modesto. I don't care for him."
    "Well, no job is perfect, honey."
    "I know."
    "And we need this money. We still owe the credit card company —"
    "I know," he said with more force than he intended.
    They grew silent, and Max thought about the tension their silences had acquired. There was a time when he would bring her a single rose every day. She would see it, smile, and say nothing — those were the silences he craved. He leaned closer and said, "Hey, hon, guess what? I know my boss is a man."
    "I told you that," she said with less bite and more play.
    "When I was talking with Modesto, I referred to the boss as 'he' and the guy didn't say a word. Didn't even flinch."
    "You're quite the detective."
    "I try," Max said, a genuine smile opening up.
    Sandra took his hands again. "I want you to help me make this work. This is our best opportunity."
    "I will."
    "And we can't afford not to take it."
    "I know."
    "So please, honey, deal with whatever nastiness this Modesto ass sends your way. Please."
    He looked at those brown eyes and his heart lurched. "Okay," he said. "I'll try."
    "Promise?"
    "I promise."
    "Then you are definitely getting lucky tonight."
    Max burst into laughter and that sent Sandra into her own fit of giggles.
     
    * * * *
     
    When he returned to his office, he received a surprise. Behind his desk, admiring the woodwork, sat a well-groomed man in his thirties, dressed in an old-style suit. He did not appear embarrassed at being caught messing with the desk nor did he even acknowledge Max's entrance.
    Max cleared his throat. The man startled at the noise, then looked at Max with a different sense of surprise as if amazed Max could produce such a sound. Finally, he stood (a rather tall, strong body) and said, "You the boss here?"
    "Max Porter. Pleased to meet you," he said offering his hand.
    The man ignored Max's hand but said, "Name's Drummond. Marshall Drummond."
    "Well, what can I do for you?" Max said as he sat in his chair, forcing Drummond toward the guest side of the desk.
    "Other way around, friend. I'm going to help you."
    "You are?"
    "Maybe. After you do something for me."
    "Make up your mind," Max said, writing a mental note to ask Modesto for some kind of security.
    "What I mean is ..." Drummond said, his focus drifting to the bookshelf.
    "Mr. Drummond?"
    "The world is much stranger than I ever thought."
    Max shifted in his chair. "If I can help you with something, please tell me.