o longer shaky or weak; it was fluid and efficient. She s

contract safely into his brief

the contract. "My dear brother and his wife couldn't even mana

s signed. Her legal cover was estab

wncast eyes lifted, and the green irises within were suddenly hard and col

high-backed chairs, and sat down. She folded her hands on t

o you think you're doing? Who

hen she spoke, was completely different. The thick, Appalac

ney," she

d money? A beggar, telling me what she need

about three companies. 'Veridian Holdings.' 'Azure Equity P

. His briefcase slipped from his numb fingers and landed with a soft

shell corporations you've been using for the last five years to systematically

sibly know that?" Sheryl

ou really think I spent the last ten

ed across the table, his hands reaching for her thr

st casual arc. She picked up a solid silver butter knife from the table setting. In

but the pressure was enough. A th

He could feel the cold metal, could feel the

ing to a whisper. She stared into his terrified,

!" he hissed, sweat beading on

will be anonymously emailed to the FBI's white-collar crime division. And then," she added, a cruel glint in her eyes, "I will personally drive to the B

d him. He was trapped. Utt

air. With a trembling hand, he pulled a chec

ryl shrieked, lungin

rack that sent her sprawling to the floor. "Shut

ibbled out the check, his signature a jagged mess, and stampe

it. "On the tabl

eful. She held it up to the light from the window, examining the watermark. Satisfied

d, the hair clip behind her ear performed a micro-scan of the magnetic strip, initiat

ng down at the brok

le," she said, her voice dripping with

the doorway, glancing back at Vicky, who had shrunk into a corner of the room, sil

ning sun washing over her. She had her cover, and