King and Maxwell (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 6)

“The two worlds don’t recognize each other. I’m about the truth. They’re about entertainment, ratings, and the almighty dollar.”

“I’m all for the truth,” said Sean.

“In your call you said you might have some information for me?” said Carlton.

“Quid pro quo,” said Sean.

Carlton frowned. “I’m in the business of gathering and reporting information en masse, not in dispensing it individually. And I’m certainly not going to pay for it.”

“Well, we’re in the business of digging down to the truth,” said Michelle. “And we need your help to do it.”

“Who are you?”

Sean showed Carlton his ID card.

“Private investigators?” sniffed Carlton. “And who is your client?”

“Confidential,” said Sean. “But depending on what you tell us, we might have some things to tell you.”

“Like what?”

“Like some more background on the story you’re already reporting on with the missing billion euros.”

Carlton smiled. “You obviously have not read my most recent blog. It went up just thirty minutes ago. I expect it to go viral anytime. The eyeball rate is already through the roof.”

“No, we haven’t seen it,” said Sean. “But I’m not a regular blog reader.”

“And he thinks viral is an infection,” added Michelle.

Carlton chuckled. “Well, I am surprised that the media trucks have not swooped in after this one. Or at least the Feds.”

Carlton hit some keys on his keyboard and swung the screen around so they could see it. Sean and Michelle swiftly read through the contents of the most recent blog. Carlton was watching them closely. “You don’t seem too surprised.”

Sean glanced at him. “That the billion euros was going to fund weapons for people seeking to topple the Iranian government and that an intermediate step to funnel the money involved poppies from Afghanistan that you use to make heroin? Yeah, it’s a big surprise to us.” He added, quite truthfully, “Especially the poppies and heroin part.”

Carlton looked at him slyly. “I thought you were into the truth. Because what you just said was bullshit.”

“Who was your source?” asked Michelle.

Carlton did an eye roll. “Please, don’t even go there.”

Sean swiftly counted on his hands and then looked at Michelle. “Is it six people killed and five severely wounded so far in this whole thing or do I have the numbers

backward?”

Michelle did a quick mental count. “I think it’s five killed, six critically wounded. And don’t forget the woman who’s missing and probably dead. That’s all in this country. But that doesn’t take into account all the men killed in Afghanistan. That was a real slaughter.”

“That’s right. I had it backward. Well, in my defense, the body count keeps changing day-to-day. I can’t keep up.”

A startled Carlton looked between them. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“And you know the bombing at the motel in Alexandria?” asked Sean.

“That’s connected to this?” said Carlton in a shaky voice.

Sean said, “Well, since we were there and were almost killed, yeah, it is. So what you have to take into consideration, George, is that whoever is behind this is feeding you information for some purpose that is not exactly clear yet. But what is clear is that they have a habit of cleaning up leave-behinds.” Sean stared pointedly at him. “Do you get what I’m saying?”

“That I’m a leave-behind? But I’m just a blogger. I don’t know anything that could hurt anyone.”