Read Online Gold of Kings by Davis Bunn - Free Book Online

floor, rolled himself up, and slept well. Harry was still dressed in the shorts he had purchased from the hotel boutique. He raised himself onto the sofa, sipped from the mug, and took stock. His body was sore, but nothing hurt too much. Harry drained the mug, set it aside, and pushed himself upright. When Storm reached over to help, Harry said, “I’m okay.”
    â€œYour shirt was a goner. Stained and torn and ugly to start.” She handed him an oversized Gators T-shirt. “This should fit. Our first stop will be for some new clothes.”
    He showered and inspected his bruises and decided he would live to fight another day. He slipped the T-shirt over his head and was enveloped by a distinctly feminine fragrance, one pleasant enough to stifle the groan from raising his arms. When he came out, Storm met him with a recharged mug and a breakfast of toast and fruit. Harry downed another two Advil, sat at the counter, then ate in silence. He liked the lady’s calm intensity, the way she was comfortable both with silence and his presence, giving him space, treating him like a friend.
    Finally he set down his mug and said, “I was in jail.”
    She gave that a slow nod. “When?”
    â€œUntil four days ago. Seventeen months. Barbados. Sentenced to four years for stealing treasure out of Barbadian waters. Which I didn’t do. But that’s for another time.”
    â€œSean got you out?”
    â€œHis pal did. Don’t ask me how.” Harry spun his mug and debated whether he should give her the other barrel, describe what Pinter had discovered.
    She answered that one for him with, “Do you mind if we hold the rest of this talk for later? I’ve got…things.”
    Harry slipped from the stool. “What can I do to help?”
    â€œI don’t know. I mean, I don’t even know…”
    â€œStorm, I’ll only say this once.” Harry took a big breath. “I’ve given this a lot of thought. Sean didn’t bust me out of prison because then I’d owe him one. He did it because he trusted me. He can’t be here to help you. I can.”
    Storm just stood and stared at him with that darkly fractured gaze. “Was he murdered?”
    â€œYou want my take on it, I’d say, absolutely.”
    She tied her fingers in a knot, a strong and lovely woman trying hard to hold on. “I don’t understand any of this.”
    â€œThat’s why I’m here. To help find out what we need to know.”
    Â 
    STORM WROTE OUT THE ADDRESS where he was to meet her, and sent him off with instructions precise as military orders. Harry’s first stop was the fanciest barbershop he had ever visited. The old guy was seriously displeased with Harry’s state. Harry used the time to give himself a long inspection. He found a few deeper lines and some he hadn’t seen before. The biggest difference was his eyes, which had gone prison flat. Something a fancy haircut couldn’t disguise.
    He returned to Worth Avenue and entered Saks. He bought gabardine slacks and knit shirts to match, a couple of cotton sweaters, belt, shoes, and a midnight blue Armani suit. Harry had not worn a suit since his last court appearance and could not remember the last tie he’d owned. Not to mention a dress shirt with studs and a bow tie, whichStorm had insisted on. He managed the entire process without once looking at the prices. Harry waited while they hemmed his pants, then dressed in slacks and a sports shirt. The woman rang him up on Storm’s credit card.
    He used Storm’s key to let himself into the upstairs apartment and dropped off the purchases he wasn’t wearing. Harry took a long moment to study the empty chamber. Sean’s absence compressed the air. Harry said to no one in particular, “I won’t let you down.”
    Harry took a taxi to the church and retrieved his rental car. He followed Storm’s instructions across the