"I have a situation that needs to be taken care of. It should be easy for someone of your capabilities.”
"I'm not interested in doing your dirty work.”
"I bet six figures would change your mind.”
Gavin paused again. "Are we talking mid-six figures or high-six figures?”
Tiffany laughed. "Considering you’re scrounging for money to pay next month's rent, I don't think you can afford to pass up this opportunity. $100,000. I can pay you as soon as the estate goes through probate.”
It was Gavin's time to laugh. "You want me to extend you credit?"
"I'm good for it. You know that. I always hold to my word.”
"What good is $100,000 going to do me in a couple of months?”
"All of my expenses are being monitored. I'm under close scrutiny. I can't move money around right now. Otherwise, I would have gotten on the dark web and hired someone. But I can't move money to my crypto account. It'll look suspicious.”
“Not my problem.”
Tiffany sighed. "Fine. I'll find somebody else. I guess I was wrong about you. I thought you were man enough to handle the job.”
Tiffany lingered on the line just long enough.
“What exactly do you need done?”
"Nothing you haven't done before.”
"That could mean a lot of things.”
"How about you meet me at the Seahorse Shores at 10:00 PM. I’ll go over the details. You can take the job or leave it. I'll make it worth your while either way.”
Gavin thought about it for a long moment. "10:00 PM?”
"I'll text you a room number.”
Tiffany ended the call before Gavin had a chance to change his mind.
She backed out of the parking space, pulled out of the lot, and turned onto the road, heading back toward Palm Haven.
I shared a look with Jack. We knew exactly what she wanted him to do.
60
The laser listening device picked up vibrations on the window. We sat in the parking lot of the Seahorse Shores, listening in on their conversation. Gavin Carver had arrived exactly at 10:00 PM and met Tiffany in room #8. She was definitely slumming it at the Seahorse Shores, but it was the kind of place that took cash and didn't ask questions.
Neon glow from signage bathed the parking lot in a wash of color. People came and went. The roadside motel was notorious for drug deals and illicit trysts.
"I'm glad you came," Tiffany said, her voice crackling through the computer speakers.
We had the hi-def cameras pointed at the unit. A sliver in the curtains allowed a glimpse inside.
"What do I gotta do?”
"It's very simple. She's an old lady. Break into the house. Make it look like a robbery gone wrong. Whoops. Problem goes away.”
"The problem goes away for you, but it just starts for me,” Gavin said.
"Don't get caught.”
