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

Otherwise, I've got a lot to do and I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
    Drummond's eyes snapped onto Max with a fierceness that dried Max's throat. "Are you?"
    "Yes."
    "I'm waiting."
    "Excuse me."
    "You said you'd have to ask me to leave. Go ahead. Ask."
    "Um ... will you please leave?"
    "No."
    Drummond sat in the left guest chair, leaned back, and rested his feet on the desk. Max sighed as he rose to his feet. "Look, I'm not interested in stupid power games. Leave or I'll call the police."
    "You need to listen up. I know a heck of a lot more about things around here than you. And I'm willing to help you out because right now, our interests are pretty much the same. After all, don't you want to know who's pulling your strings? So, sit." Drummond waited. Max held still a moment, his brain tumbling to catch up on how fast the tone of this meeting had altered. He sat. "Good."
    "What do you know about my boss?"
    Drummond chuckled. "Stan Bowman."
    "That's his name?"
    "No. That's the name I want you to find out about. I want to know what happened to that bastard. You find that out, and I'll tell you all about this office, that book that keeps falling out, and the witch's spell under your desk."
    Max's stomach churned hard. "Witch's spell?"
    "Stan Bowman. Research him and I'll tell you."
    With a shaking hand, Max pulled out a pencil and wrote down the name Stan Bowman. "O-Okay," he said, "What else?"
    "Don't do this from here. Got it?"
    "Yes."
    "I'll meet you tomorrow."
    "Okay."
    "And don't say a word to Modesto about me, Bowman, or this meeting. You so much as hint about it, you'll find out how bad things can get."
     

Chapter 3
    Max tried to keep silent around his wife that night. He told himself that he wanted to find out all about Stan Bowman, find out about Drummond, find out anything, any concrete answer, before he spoke with Sandra. Otherwise, she would be full of questions and he would be full of idiotic silence. She would worry and regret relocating. She would find some way to blame herself.
    But as he searched and googled and combed through the quieter corners of the internet, as he learned more about Stan Bowman and what became of the man, Max knew he had to release the mounting pressure within. He had to tell her so he could blot out the pictures in his mind. He had to tell her so he could sleep. Not all of it — he couldn't be so cruel, but some ... yeah, he had to tell her about that sick monster.
    Around nine, they settled in for a late meal of fried rice, lo mein, and some wine, and he started. "I met this man, Drummond," he said, keeping his eyes on his food. "He had me look into this horrible story about Stan Bowman."
    "What?" Sandra said, her voice snapping hard as her face twisted into a you've-got-to-be-joking smile.
    "It's just a little side trip, that's all. And he said he could give me information about —"
    "Stop it. Right now. I mean it. You can't go screw this up for us."
    "Honey, I'm not going to —"
    "You have a job. One that pays you well. And you know if they find out you're working for somebody else on their dollar, they'll fire you." All the harshness fled Sandra as she crossed her arms and fought her tears. "We can't afford that. We'll lose everything."
    "I'm not getting fired."
    "You said that in Michigan," Sandra said, her mouth a tight line.
    Max downed his glass of wine and then breathed deep. "I thought that was all behind us. You said you forgave me. We're supposed to be building a new life down here. Now I'm trying my best. You like it here, right? The people are nice and all, right?"
    Sandra nodded.
    "Okay. Then allow me a little room to find where I fit in. I won't lose my job. I'm doing this research at home on my own time. I never signed anything, never agreed to anything that says I can't do this thing at home. Besides, if they try to fire me for the way I use my personal time, we'll sue them for millions, and then all our money troubles will be gone."
    Sandra let out a relieved