Mercy

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Cameron knew he had screwed up, but he wasn't going to admit it. He leaned against the paneled wall of John's library, his

head bowed, as Dallas and Preston and John took turns tearing into him.

"How long do you think it will take the doctor to remember she saw you at Catherine's funeral?" Preston asked as he jumped

up from his chair. Slamming his powerful fist into the palm of his other hand, he paced back and forth across the room.

"She won't remember," Cameron muttered. "I was never anywhere near her at the funeral. Besides, I was sick of waiting, and

I think the risk was worth it."

Dallas exploded. "How could it be worth the risk, you ass? You didn't get the package, and now you've got people looking for it. You're a mess, Cameron. It's die booze. It's fried your brain."

Preston stopped in front of him. "Now you've put us all in jeopardy," he shouted.

"Screw you," Cameron shouted back.

"Calm down," John ordered. "Dallas, get Monk on the phone. You need to read him that report."

Monk was sitting in his SUV waiting for the doctor and her lover to come out of The Swan. His vehicle was well concealed between two vans at the back of the parking lot. There were four cars in the next row in front of him. It was hot and muggy,

but he didn't turn on the air conditioner. All four windows were down, and he was being eaten alive by mosquitoes. Compared

to standing in the brush watching the doctor's house with bugs crawling up his legs, this watch was luxurious.

He was thinking about calling to tell Dallas about the latest developments, but just as he decided to wait until he got back to the motel, his cell phone began to vibrate.

"Yes?"

"Buchanan's a U.S. attorney."

Monk's head snapped up. "Repeat, please."

"The son of a bitch works for the Justice Department."

Expect the unexpected. Monk took a breath and waited as Dallas read the report. What the hell had the Sowing Club gotten

him into? He could hear voices in the background.

"Where are you?" Monk asked.

"At John's house. We're all here."

"Who's shouting?"

"Preston."

He heard another voice yelling. He thought it might be Cameron. Monk was disgusted. They were acting like rats turning on

one another for a scrap of meat. If there hadn't been so much money involved, Monk would have walked away from this mess. Cameron had already become a loose cannon, and from the argument he was listening to now, he knew it wouldn't be long

before the others began to disintegrate.

"I can't believe you didn't immediately run the report," Monk said. "You've wasted valuable hours."

"You told me he was a football coach… No, you're right. I won't make excuses or blame you. I should have run the report

much earlier."

Monk was somewhat placated by Dallas's taking accountability.

"When can you kill him?" Dallas asked.

"Let me think," Monk said. "I don't like to be rushed. These things take time to plan, and I refuse to go off half-cocked. Spontaneity leads to mistakes. But if your report is accurate-"

"It is," Dallas rushed out.

"Then perhaps he's in Bowen simply because of her. Men will do crazy things for-"

Dallas interrupted him again. "A piece of ass? You think that after he gave that speech in New Orleans, he drove all that way

just to get laid?"

"You haven't seen her," Monk said. "She's quite… lovely. Beautiful, in fact."

"Okay, so what you're saying is that this Justice guy is in town just to see her. Right? I mean, it does make sense, doesn't it?

She does his surgery, saves his life, so he falls for her, and since he has to return to New Orleans anyway, he figures he might

as well drive out to Bowen and screw her."

Monk puckered his lips in disapproval of Dallas's vulgar vocabulary. "Have you reevaluated, then?"

"Hold on," Dallas said. "John's saying something."

Monk patiently waited. He heard Preston arguing, shook his head, and reminded himself once again how much money was at stake.

"The doctor's got to be killed before she remembers where she's seen Cameron before," Dallas said. "Buchanan has had death threats, so John thinks we could make it look like a hit on him."

"And the doctor just happened to be with him and got in the way?"

"Exactly," Dallas said. "We're coming to Bowen tomorrow. You stay on the doctor until I call you. And watch for that package."

"Of course," he said smoothly. "And, Dallas, just so you know, I'll be reading those files before I hand them over."

"You're still concerned your name is there? It isn't. I read the damn thing twice. When this is over, you're going to be set for life. You know that, don't you, Monk?"

"Yes," he said. "I am curious about how much money is in that account, however. If it's as sizable as I imagine, I do believe I'm entitled to a percent. Call it profit sharing, if you like, but since I'm taking all the risks…"

Dallas responded to the greedy bastard's demand by hanging up on him.