CHAPTER 77
CHAPTER
RHETT TEMPLE RAN AS HARD as he could on the treadmill, sweat flying off him and spittle coming out of his mouth.
Still Shock stood next to him shouting at him to go faster, to put more balls into it.
Temple became so exhausted he slowed to nearly a stop, was flung off the equipment, and slammed into the wall behind.
“Shit!” he bellowed, picking himself off the floor and pointing a finger at Shock. “You are trying to kill me, old man.”
Shock eyed him with disdain. “I told you I was gonna do that your first day here.”
“I bet you didn’t treat precious Walter like this.”
“Didn’t have to. He worked way harder than you do without me on his ass.”
“Right, sure he did.” Temple toweled off and said, “Look, when do I get the tats and shit?” He made a muscle. “I’m strong enough. I can kick ass, shoot like a pro. Now, I need a new identity, and I’m out of here with a mountain of money and a life of leisure.”
“You don’t know half the shit you need to know, you pussy,” countered Shock.
“No, I know all the shit I need to know, and now it’s time to say our goodbyes. I’ve got the rest of my life to lead and a world to do it in.”
“My house, my rules.”
Temple got up in Shock’s face. “No, because I know Nash is alive and what his new identity is. There are people out there who would love to know that. So it’s my rules.”
“He’s been exonerated. The police ain’t lookin’ for him no more.”
“I’m not talking about the police, and you know it.”
Shock took a step back. “Thought the man was your friend.”
“Nash was pushed in my face by my father as the example of what I should be. Well, to hell with my old dead father and fuck Walter Nash.”
“Like you did Walter’s wife, right?”
Now Temple took a step back. “Hey, if a lady comes sniffing around is it my job to say no? I don’t think so. Not how the world works.” He wrapped the towel around his neck. “So get hopping on the docs. I mean it. Or little Waltie goes bye-bye.”
He walked out of the room, leaving a concerned Shock staring after him.
* * *
Temple skipped his final meal and sat in the same room Nash had used when he had been training at Shock’s facility.
He had been in touch with Mindy, and also with the folks at Sybaritic.
To all of them he was simply traveling around the world blowing off some steam and having some fun.
You could do that when you were rich beyond all reason. Who could tell you no?
Despite his angry encounter with the man, Temple had to hand it to Shock.
In a fairly short period he was stronger, faster, more nimble and limber, and he could process and analyze things he never even knew existed before.
He had become a fine shot and could take apart weapons and put them back together relatively quickly.
Yeah, he hadn’t busted his ass all the time, and never put in any extra training beyond what Shock had required, but it was enough.
He wasn’t looking to be Rocky Balboa going into the ring against some asshole Russian.
He just wanted to disappear in style and kick the occasional butt when he wanted to, probably to impress some ladies.
He had learned all about the killings at Steers’s estate.
He also knew that Nash and Steers were not among the dead.
He had no idea where they were. Maybe someone had killed them.
That would ease his troubles immeasurably.
In any event, Steers, if she was still alive, no doubt had bigger fish to fry than him and would probably stop looking for him.
I can drop out of sight and then go live my life however I want to.
His wealth was all there just waiting for a new identity to send it to. He had set up shell companies and blank wall enterprises in a labyrinth that would have made Steers proud.
It was all there, the finish line in clear sight.
But there was one stumbling block.
Mindy.
She confessed to Nash that I killed my father.
What if she gets nervous, lets something else slip?
What if the cops go to question her? Can she hold out?
No, she’ll blab to try to save herself. And put me in prison for life with all my billions beyond my reach forever. You can’t have that, Rhett. No way.
And then something else occurred to him. Shock was going to put together his new identity. But then he’d know what that was. And he could tell Nash, if Nash showed back up. And they could easily find him that way if Mindy did tell all.
So any new identity from that guy is totally worthless. Which means I have no reason to hang around this place another minute.
He waited until it was late and Shock was asleep.
Then he slipped out with everything he’d brought with him. He’d also taken something that belonged to Shock but that he needed. Temple got into his Porsche and drove out of the gate.
Fortunately, Temple knew some people who could give him a new identity and maybe throw in a few tats as well for good measure.
Temple had grown a Fu Manchu that might not impress many ladies, but he had the bucks to amaze them all he needed to.
The training and rigorous diet he’d undergone had carved his features into a markedly different configuration.
He had looked in the mirror several times and couldn’t swear it was him. Which was good. No, which was great.
He hit the gas, and the Porsche leapt forward.
Temple had some things to do and not a lot of time in which to do them.
He had killed before, now he just had to do it again. He had once grown sick at the sight of a murdered man. But no longer. He had muscles and fighting skills and he would get the tats, badass ones. The best money could buy.
Yes, he was a new man. And he had to get this done. Because the woman was standing in his way, after all he’d done for her. A quarter of a billion bucks, a beautiful home, plus an adorable kid, and all she had to do in return was keep her mouth shut.
And the bitch couldn’t even do that.
Well, unfortunately for you, here comes judgment day, Min, in the form of. . .me.