The Shot: Traincoach of Death, Book 1 Read Free

like a shrew? She jumped up and started pacing. Moreover, his estimations are right on. She had noticed it when she went to college and a large number of people, whom she did not know, recognized her. Now guilt tugged at her heart for her not-so-nice answer to him.
    “Fair enough, Mr...Bill.” She corrected herself at his look. “An astute observation. So, I’ll answer your earlier statements: yes, it is frustrating. Even more so when the man is in cahoots with my father and only interested in the money. I hate liars, cheats, and sneaks. I took the business classes in college, enough to get a minor in business. But there’s a reason I majored in art history and English. I don’t like the backstabbing that goes along with working in the business arena. I don’t know if your Poodle searches revealed it, but I’ve worked in the company from the time I became old enough to sit at a dinner table and use the proper forks. At first, I only had to look pretty. Then my mom began teaching me more about the business our family—on her side—started so long ago. Before she died, I’d learned more about business than most teenagers knew about gaming and smart voicelets.”
    Bill sat back in his comfortable chair and looked at her calmly for a minute before answering. “My searches didn’t show any of that. However, I’m not surprised. Most kids who grow up in a family business learn young. What did your father think of it?”
    “Mostly he ignored it. When he did pay attention, it was to say there was no point in teaching it to me.”
    Bill stood up and put his hands on her shoulders, effectively stopping her pacing and forcing her to look at him. “I don’t understand the dynamics in your family or your father. But I promise you, I only do what I want to do. No one, not even you, will manipulate me into doing something I don’t want to do. I’m going on this trip because it’s a good opportunity to see how the business is faring. Numbers and reports only tell you so much. If something happens between us, it will be because we want it and not because of your father. Maybe, when you trust me more, you can tell me why your father is so determined to see you wed,” he said in a tone of voice which intoned he wouldn’t be denied. Then, in a lighter tone he added, “Fifty-three? Really?”
    Stunned and relieved, she couldn’t find her voice at first. “Yes,” she said, smiling, which turned to laughter. “When my friends were complaining about their fathers trying to scare off their boyfriends, mine set me up with men of his choosing.” His touch warmed her, and she tried not to think about it. Nice or not, she’d not be caught up in her father’s schemes.
    “I...” Whatever he intended to say became lost as the traincoach lurched and a loud crash of metal rent the air.

Chapter Three
    Since Bill’s hands remained on Victoria’s shoulders, they didn’t fall, just pitched forward a bit and retrieved their balance. It startled her to have this happen before they’d left the station, though, and hearing that noise while on a train put her nerves on edge regardless of their position. They both stuck their heads out the windows, looking to see what had hit them. Victoria could not believe her eyes. A huge train, the engine so far ahead she could not make it out, had just backed into her family’s traincoach.
    “Dial, Father,” she said into her earwing. Holy hell, how did this happen? Father is going to blow a gasket! Grinning, she looked at Bill and couldn’t suppress her laughter. “Oh, I can’t wait to see what Father does about this,” she said with glee. Something had happened to his precious schedule.
    “Oh?” Bill replied.
    “He prides himself on his self-control, but he also does not take changes or mistakes well. Oh, just a sec.” She paused as she focused attention on her father’s voice in the earpiece. “Hello, Father. I’m on the train, and you’ll never believe what happened,” she