Smoke and Mirrors

90

Winter climbed into his jeep, slid his Reeder.45 from under the seat, holstered it, and drove toward the plantation at seventy miles an hour, checking his rearview mirror every few seconds for a tail. He was now certain of several things. When Kurt Klein had immediately agreed to pay the five million, Winter knew that Klein had not only been informed of the land situation all along, but he believed Klein himself had put Styer in play to make it happen.

Klein would have to call Styer off the family and go through with the purchase, but Winter figured that would have little, if any, effect on Paulus Styer’s intention to kill him.

Winter approached the roadblock at Leigh’s driveway, slowed and rolled down the window so the deputy could see him.

“How’s it going?” Roy Bishop said, slinging the AR-15 onto his wide shoulder.

“Never better,” Winter said. “Any traffic?”

“Nope. Cold and quiet. Had a Memphis TV crew come up, asking to see Ms. Gardner, but I shooed them off. The sheriff is expecting you.” Winter rolled the window back up and drove toward the house.