Southern Bound - A Paranormal-Mystery (Max Porter Mysteries Book 1) by Stuart Jaffe Page A

tightening, Taylor said in an odd and unnerving quiet, "Okay. If that's what you want. I'll just be over here." He walked to the wall opposite the bookshelf and sat on the floor.
    Drummond laughed. "That's one troubled kid. Forget about him, Max. He'll be fine. Now, tell me what we've got to do. See there are lots of binding spells and I don't know this one at all. If I did, I wouldn't be stuck here still."
    Max's attention lingered on Taylor. However, Drummond was right. There were more important things at hand. Max pulled the laptop closer, opened his word processor, and typed: CONNOR SAID THE MARKINGS ON THE FLOOR HAD TO BE COPIED IN A BOOK OR SCROLL OR SOMETHING.
    "It was a book. I remember that."
    WE HAVE TO FIND THAT BOOK AND DESTROY IT HERE.
    "Okay. Does she have any idea where to find it?"
    SHE MIGHT.
    "But she wouldn't tell you, would she?"
    SHE WANTS TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
    "Crap."
    WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?
    "Nothing. Not to her, at least."
    WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
    "There's got to be another way."
    JUST TELL ME.
    "I don't want to go into it. You need to find some other way. There's got to be."
    The laptop beeped the arrival of an e-mail. Max opened the program and read the e-mail twice. ARE YOU READING THIS?
    "Yeah," Drummond said. "Looks like Annabelle got all her stock as a gift."
    LOOK HERE. IT WENT THROUGH FOUR DIFFERENT COMPANY NAMES BEFORE IT REACHES HER.
    "We need to find out who owns those companies."
    SOMETHING TELLS ME THE NAME HULL MIGHT COME UP.
    "Congratulations. You've experienced your first hunch. Now do your book thing you're so good at and let's get some answers."
    WHAT ABOUT YOU?
    Drummond passed through one of Taylor's paper stacks and watched it fall over. "We'll do the best we can until you figure out another way to break this spell or where that book might be."
    Taylor jumped to his feet and said in that same odd tone he had used before, "Gee, sir, I'm so sorry. I forgot to tell you that Mr. Modesto wanted to have breakfast with you at 10:30. I believe he said at Cities. I guess you'll be late."
    "That little prick," Drummond said. Max closed his laptop and glared at Taylor. "Keep it cool, Max. We've got a lot of information on our side. Just go meet with Modesto and make him think we don't know anything."
    Max nodded, grinned, and with as much control as he could manage, he said, "That's okay, Taylor. Mistakes happen. Please be more mindful of my appointments in the future. You wouldn't want me to be late again. Mr. Modesto might ask for an explanation."
    Without a further glance in Taylor's direction, Max grabbed his laptop and left the office.
     

Chapter 12
    When Max arrived at Cities, a restaurant not too far from Dr. Connor's office, Mr. Modesto had ordered for them both and offered a curt nod. He snapped his fingers toward the chair opposite him and waited for Max to sit. Though the gesture (too close to being treated like a dog) boiled in Max's heart, he remained quiet and did as commanded.
    "I do not appreciate being kept waiting," Modesto said as he typed out a text message on his phone.
    "I'm sorry. My new assistant made a mistake."
    "So quick to blame others."
    "No blame, just a mistake."
    "Of course. In other matters, I trust you are settling in fine since I've not heard otherwise. Our employer wishes you to be as comfortable as possible. Also ..."
    Modesto droned on, but Max only half-heard anything the man said. The briefcase stole Max's attention. He noticed it when he had arrived, leaning against the legs of Modesto's chair as if it could feel casual and relaxed. Inside, Max suspected, would be much of the information he wanted. It had to be there. Modesto handled Max for Hull which meant that Modesto would have all the papers pertaining to Max. Even if his hopes were misplaced and the briefcase did not contain crucial information, it still had to have something of use. All Max had to do was wait until the end of the meal when Modesto would to go to the bathroom like