Janet Evanovich - Full Tilt

"You're up to seventy-five cents now," Vera said. "If I were you I'd consider keeping my mouth shut."

"This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of," Jamie snapped, digging through her wallet for the money. "I'm a grown woman, and I'll say what I please." She handed Vera a dollar bill. "Don't forget to credit me a quarter."

Vera stuffed the money through a slit in the plastic top covering a coffee can. "The painters say it'll take a week or so to paint the entire building, what with all the patching and scraping they have to do. They're going to do the interior painting at night so we won't have to close, but we'll probably have to keep all of the windows open. It's going to be hot as Hades around here."

"Go ahead and purchase as many fans as you like," Max said. He looked at Jamie. "We don't need to hang around anyway. We've got other business to tend to."

"Like what?" Jamie and Vera echoed.

"We need to visit city hall."

"You can't just walk into city hall and start asking for documents," Jamie said.

"Yes, but your fiance can."

They climbed into the car a few minutes later.

"I've got some information for you, Max," Muffin said.

"Let's hear it."

"The city mostly uses Beaumont Savings and Loan. Obviously the original loan officer didn't have much faith in how the local government was running things because he charged the city a high rate. Sounds like he thought it was risky. Once a new board of directors were elected, the rate dropped."

"Who's on the board?"

"Pretty much the same people who sit on city council. No conflict of interest there, right? And the firm who handles the city's legal contracts is Standish and Moss."

"Phillip does it pro bono," Jamie said proudly. "The Standishes have always been generous. His mother is on a committee that raises money for charitable causes. She doesn't do it for money. Heck, she doesn't need money."

"Obviously not," Muffin replied. "She charges an annual salary of one dollar. I'm going to have to check them out, Jamie," she added.

Jamie stiffened. "How about me? Are you checking me out as well?"

"Of course not, but I have to look into the people who run things in this town." She paused. "Phillip and his family are among them. As is the city manager who had done time. Five years for tax fraud."

"You're not serious," Jamie said. "Why, he's a member of—"

"Beaumont Baptist Church," Muffin supplied. "Actually, he's a deacon. What people don't know is he received a dishonorable discharge in the service."

"How did you find out all of this?" Jamie asked.

"I've searched military and prison files."

"Isn't that classified information?"

"Sometimes we have to break a few rules," she said.

"Only if it's for a good cause," Max added.

"But surely the government has high security. Otherwise they'd have people tapping into their computers getting anything they wanted. You could go to prison for this."

"Not likely," Muffin said.

Max hesitated. "Jamie, I used to be somewhat of a hacker."

"And a damn good one at that," Muffin added. "There are only a couple of people in the entire world who are capable of breaking through the kind of firewalls we're talking about, and you're looking at one of them."

"Where are the others?"

"They're both in federal prison," Muffin said.

Jamie gaped at Max. "And you're not. Why?"

He shrugged. "I sort of promised the government I'd stop doing it."

"But you haven't."

"It's like this," Muffin said. "A lot of people owe Max favors."

"I don't think I want to know," Jamie said. "I don't want to go to prison for being an accomplice. Vera has told me what sort of thing goes on behind prison bars, and I don't think I'd last twenty-four hours."

"Vera needs to stop filling your head with all that nonsense," Max said. "I'm surprised you listen to her."

Jamie looked hurt. "She's like a mother to me. Who do you think helped me pick out my first, uh, bra? Who do you think told me the facts of life?"

He grinned. "I thought you learned all that in the backseat at the drive-in."

"Very funny, Max."

"I'm teasing. I know you and Vera are close."

"Besides, I need to know all there is to know about prison life," Jamie said, "because you might just end up in one."

"The secret of my success is that I employ the best attorneys money can buy. Speaking of attorneys, here we are." Max pulled into the parking lot of Phillip's law office. "I see Prince Charming's car is here."

"Could you please try to be nice to Phillip?" Jamie asked.

He looked surprised. "I'm always nice."

"You tend to goad him at times."

"I can't help it if he's feeling insecure about the upcoming nuptials. Maybe he's having second thoughts. I know I would if my fiancee spent the night with another man."

"We didn't spend the night together. Not the way you mean."

"It got pretty hot under that blanket, Swifty."

"Oh, God," Muffin said. "You guys didn't do it, did you?"

"Of course not!" Jamie snapped.

"Only because I refused to go all the way with her," Max replied. "I'm telling you, Muffin, she was begging for it."

Jamie narrowed her eyes. "You are despicable. I was feeling scared and vulnerable and you took advantage of the situation."

"I just want to make sure nobody got laid," Muffin said. "Jamie, you're engaged, and you have absolutely no business sleeping beneath a blanket with the likes of Max."

"The circumstances were unusual, Muffin," Jamie said, wondering why she felt the need to defend herself to Max's computer. "It definitely won't happen again."

Someone knocked on the window and Jamie looked up. She felt a sinking sensation at the sight of Annabelle Standish. "Oh, Lord," she moaned, despite the smile she forced to her face. She opened the door and climbed out. "Annabelle, what a surprise!"

"Jamie Swift, I should take you out to the woodshed after what you did. I didn't get a wink of sleep. What do you mean running after some madman in the middle of the swamp? My son is still in shock. Now, be a good girl and give me a hug."

Jamie hugged the woman tightly. As always Annabelle looked as though she had just stepped out of an expensive salon. Her clothes were perfect, not a wrinkle to be found anywhere. "I'm sorry I caused you to worry. I thought—"

"I know what you thought. You thought you could go out there and solve the case without the help of law enforcement. You could have been killed, young lady. I demand that you put a stop to this nonsense and start concentrating on your wedding."

Max walked around the car and stood there quietly.

"You must be the famous Max Holt," Annabelle said, although she didn't look the least bit impressed. "I would appreciate it if you'd refrain from taking my future daughter-in-law on all these wild, life-threatening excursions."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Standish," Max said, offering his hand. "I've heard a lot of wonderful things about you and what you've done for this town."

"Yes, well, I do what I can, but I can't be every place at once. I need someone like Jamie working with me."

Jamie decided a change of subject was in order. "Have you been visiting Phillip this morning?"

"I peeked in on him, but he had a client. All I needed was to have a paper notarized. Honey, we have to get together as soon as we can to discuss some of the wedding details. I know you think we have plenty of time, but September will be here before you know it, and there are so many parties to plan. Not to mention bridal showers."

"Bridal showers?"

"Well, of course, dear. You need to bring your calendar to the house so we can plan the various events. There are at least a dozen dinner parties planned for you and Phillip by our dear friends. But first we must have a party of our own to introduce you to everyone. You can't imagine how anxious people are to meet you." She glanced at her diamond wristwatch. "Oh, my, I'm ten minutes late for an appointment. Do you see my car or my driver?"