Read In the Shadow of Evil for Free Online

the best way to get rid of it? Not another burning. Couldn't do that right on the heels of this morning.
    But with the bids under review and the casino jobs about to be awarded, he'd have to accelerate his schedule.
    His phone rang, jarring him from his thoughts. "Hello."
    "You're late with my check. Again." Andrea's voice grated against his ear. "I'm sick of this. Don't make me take you back to court. I will, you know."
    Yeah, he knew all about his ex-wife's fascination with the legal system. "Sorry, Andy. I'll get the check in the mail Monday."
    "I've told you not to call me that."
    Right. After their divorce had become final, she'd decided to go by her full name. Not the pet name he'd given her back when they were dating. How easily someone could change.
    Like warping from a sweet girl with the softest eyes into a greedy, image-freak woman. Heartless.
    "I'd better have it by Wednesday or I'm calling my attorney."
    When had her voice turned into a whine? "I'll mail it Monday, just like I said. I don't have control over the postal service."
    "Then maybe you should have mailed it sooner. Like when it was actually due."
    How could he have loved her so much once? Had he really been that blind?
    "And the kids won't be able to spend the weekend with you."
    He curled his free hand into a fist. "But it's my weekend," he ground out between clenched teeth.
    "Deena and Ellie have a slumber party. They've been looking forward to it for weeks now."
    "Then why didn't you offer to switch off with me this weekend?"
    "Don't be difficult. They really want to go. Would you begrudge them that just to get back at me?"
    She never understood. He loved his kids . . . wanted to spend time with them. He never wanted to be an absentee father. "Okay. Then it'll just be Eddie and me. We can go hunting or have a guy's night." That sounded good. It'd been a long time since he and his son hung out alone together.
    Andrea sighed into the phone. "He has a date."
    "A date?" His son was dating? Wasn't that something he should've been told? "He's only fifteen. He can't even drive yet."
    "I'm taking his date and him to the school dance."
    Over his dead body. She'd embarrass Eddie. "I'll take them." If Eddie was dating, it was time for him to have that conversation with his son.
    "He asked me to drive them."
    "I'll be happy to do it." But he knew she would keep this from him if she could. "If the girls are at a slumber party and I take Eddie, then you'll still have the weekend free for you." Hadn't she complained about his long hours at work, whining that she had no time for herself? She'd griped at him to make more money, then hollered at him for never being home. No pleasing the woman.
    "This is important to Eddie. I'm fine with taking him." She sighed again, a long, heavy sigh. "You can get them all weekend after next. No sense messing up our schedule."
    Typical Andrea, keeping their kids' important things from him.
    "I'd rather have them my weekend. Not wanting to mess up our schedule and all."
    "Don't get smart with me. Technically, you're so far behind on child support I really shouldn't even let you see the kids until you're current."
    She held all the cards. What else was new?
    But maybe . . . once he got the big bucks from the casino job, he'd hire a top-notch lawyer and take Andrea back to court. Get that absurd child support amount lowered. Or better yet, get joint custody and do away with this every-other-weekend gig.
    "The check had better be here by Wednesday. And it'd better not bounce again." She didn't bother to say good-bye before hanging up.
    One time. Only once did his check bounce, but she wouldn't let him forget it. Typical Andrea, always focusing on the negative.
    He replaced the receiver to its base. The folder sitting on his desk mocked him.
    He had one more building to take care of, then it was smooth sailing. He'd be in the clear. He'd have the money to put Andrea in her place. Maybe he'd go for full custody. See how she liked being