Chapter 7
SEVEN
D on checked his phone again before starting his car. Slater still hadn’t returned any of his messages.
Fine. He was done waiting. He would take care of things himself.
He backed his Mercedes onto the street and drove southeast down the hill toward Whalebone Cove. But he wasn’t headed there. His destination was far more private.
The familiar white car was already waiting in the secluded pullout when he arrived. He got out, zipping his jacket up against the chill of the wind coming off the water.
“Did you talk to Slater?” his contact asked.
“No. This is just between you and me.”
“Probably for the best. I’m not sure he’d agree to this.”
“Maybe not.” There were things going on behind the scenes that Slater had no clue about.
Rumors were already spreading since the sniper shooting in the woods over the summer.
The shooter hadn’t been caught or identified, but Don knew who the shooter worked for.
The same people Don was in business with.
Which meant he had to take charge of the situation now. “So? What’s the word on the street?”
“The vote’s not looking too promising right now. They’re leaning heavily toward no.”
He had no idea if that was true or not. But it didn’t matter now. He’d worked too long and too hard to get to where he was. He wasn’t going to lose it all because some island hillbillies wanted to stay stuck in the last century.
Only he knew what was really happening. That there were people in the background calling the shots. He was merely the puppet, and they pulled his strings. And if he didn’t get this project approved, they would cut the strings in a most unpleasant way. “Is that right? Unfortunate.”
“Shortsighted and misguided, but the nays mean well. They’re good people.”
Didn’t say much for the person standing in front of him, but then he was hardly one to talk. “They’re stupid if they can’t see what blocking this proposal means.”
“They’re not stupid.” His contact’s eyes chilled. “A lot of people would say you and I are the stupid ones.”
He stared at them for a long moment, fury bubbling up at the insult.
But maybe it was warranted. They were both in debt with dangerous people.
That’s why they both needed this resort to go through.
It was the only way out of the messes they were in.
Different messes, yet they were connected.
For now at least, that made them allies.
“What are we gonna do about it?” he asked.
“You tell me.”
He waited a few beats, wanting to see which one of them broke first. But unfortunately, he didn’t hold the cards this time. Much as he hated it, he had to concede defeat.
Unzipping his jacket partway, he reached inside it to slip an envelope out of the interior pocket. “Here. Will this be enough to swing enough votes our way to tip the scale?”
His contact’s eyes widened as they thumbed through the thick wad of hundreds. The bills all had random serial numbers so they would be less likely to draw suspicion, especially on a backwater island like this.
“Well?”
“I think…” A sideways look. “Yeah, I think this could maybe change some minds. At least make them reconsider.”
“That’s not good enough.” He pursed his lips.
“The cash might do it, but I can’t guarantee anyone will be willing to take it.”
Yeah, he’d considered that obstacle. “Tell them I’ll set up offshore accounts and transfer a substantial amount of money if they vote yes.”
“How substantial?”
“Quarter million each.” He was already in over his head anyway. His puppet masters wouldn’t blink at that amount.
“Quarter million ? Each ?”
“That’s right.”
A frown. “They’re just supposed to take your word for it?”
“I’ll send the money.”
“Quarter million ? From where?”
“Not your problem.”
His contact rubbed a hand over their chin. “I know one of them is going through a divorce. Another one has a mountain of bills from her husband’s cancer treatment. This might sway them. And I might be able to find a couple others.”
“You’ll have to pick them carefully. You realize what would happen if this got out. What the consequences would be.” It wasn’t just his neck in a noose.
“I know.”
He didn’t like leaving this part to someone else, but in this instance, he had no choice. He didn’t know these people. He was an outsider to them, their sworn enemy, and not to be trusted. Which was why the person in front of him was perfect for this. “When will you let me know?”
His contact was already walking back to their car. “Monday night after the vote, just like everyone else.”