In Too Deep. Sharon Mignerey

years as a paid assassin. He liked thinking how retirement would be, being with her without the lies about what he did or where he had gone. Enjoying his favorite music on his state-of-the-art system over coffee that had been ground seconds before brewing. Spending time with his niece and nephew.

      The few dishes from breakfast had been washed and put away. The double bed that should have been hauled off to the dump ten years ago was made. The floor was swept, the battered furniture dusted. So, waiting was all he could do, just as he had done for much of his adult life.

      He suspected that Lily believed Franklin Lawrence wouldn’t still be interested in her now that the trial was over. Max knew better. Men like that—men like him—didn’t let go. Since Lawrence was looking at a life sentence of hard time if his appeal failed, Lily still wasn’t safe. She might be with her family using her married name instead of her maiden name—but she wasn’t safe. Not yet.

      Max’s cell phone rang thirty-seven minutes later.

      “Yeah,” he said.

      “Interesting proposition,” came a gravelly voice on the other end of the line, “assuming you’re J.M.”

      “I am.”

      “So how does this work?” the man asked.

      Max wished for the more secure telephone line he had at his home. “If you agree to the job, I’ll deposit fifty Gs wherever you want. After it’s done, I’ll deposit another fifty.”