Liberation Day - A Thorn Byrd Novel

“Mr. Hardy, so very good to see you again,” Eric Olson said as Paul Hardy strode into the office. As he did so, he leaned forward at the waist in a half bow, his tie hanging down. “Governor Milton has been expecting you.”

  “That mean I can go on in?” Hardy asked, not bothering to even look over at the young man beside him.

  ”Come on in, Paul,” Milton called from the office, leaving Olson standing with his mouth open.

  Without breaking stride, Hardy walked straight into the Governor’s office, Olson scurrying in behind him. “Can I get you gentlemen anything? Coffee, water, soda?”

  Hardy cast a sideways glare at Olson, dismissing him with a wave of his hand and turning his attention to Milton.

  “No, I think we’re good,” Milton said. “Close the door behind you.”

  Olson’s cheeks reddened as he bowed again and retreated from the room. Both men waited for the door to click closed behind him before grins creased their faces.

  “Never gets old, does it?” Milton asked.

  “After what he pulled last time? I’d say he got off easy, wouldn’t you?”

  Milton chuckled and said, “Kid’s been walking on eggshells ever since it happened. You can tell it was the first time in his privileged life anybody ever so much as said a cross word to him. Kind of amusing to watch.”

  Hardy returned the chuckle. “Like a baby colt learning to walk, I’m sure.”

  Unable to hold it back, Milton let out a loud guffaw at the symbolism. “Something like that.”

  The two sat silent for a moment, letting the laughter float from the air.

  “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of an invitation today?” Hardy asked.

  “Ah, yes,” Milton said as he leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers across his stomach. He measured Hardy for a moment, trying to determine the proper words to use. “I’m curious as to how things are going with regards to the conversation we had last time you were here.”

  The question brought a bit of surprise to Hardy’s features as he crossed his legs and adjusted his tie before him. “Governor, sir. You know I consider myself a friend to this office, but you also know how I am about my business practices, friends or not.”

  “Oh, I know, I know,” Milton said, leaning forward and having a hand in front of him. “I don’t mean to pry into a single detail of what happened. I just meant to seek your opinion about the services I recommended.”

  “Ah,” Hardy said, his face relaxing a bit.

  “Are you finding them adequate for what was needed?” Milton asked, placing the words out there so as to not offend.

  “I think what you meant to ask is, did I find them adequate for what I needed?”

  Milton’s face sagged a bit. “Oh, so it’s over already? It didn’t go well?”

  “Quite the opposite,” Hardy replied.

  “They’re done?” Milton asked. “Has it even been a week?”

  “They were quite efficient,” Hardy said, nodding. “Of that, there is no denying.”

  “Wow,” Milton said, his eyes drifting to the far wall across from him. “And just like that, it’s over?”

  “Not entirely,” Hardy said. “There is still a loose end or two to tie up, but the heavy lifting is certainly behind us.”

  Milton let out a low shrill whistle and settled back into his chair. “So the project you had? It must not have been that large I take it?”

  Hardy switched the crossing of his legs. “With all due respect, I would not have called you if it weren’t a dire situation.”

  “So it was big?” Milton pressed.

  “Pray you never know just how big,” Hardy responded.

  Milton’s eyes narrowed a bit at the comment and more questions jumped to mind, but he let them slide. “So it was big, and they handled it with ease...”

  “I’m sorry if I seem crass, but might I inquire as to why you ask?” Hardy said.

  Letting the lingering questions fade from his mind, Milton pulled his full attention back to Hardy before him. He spread his hands a few inches to either side and said, “Respecting that I too must exercise some level of diplomacy in what I divulge, a situation has presented itself.”

  A look of realization crept across Hardy’s face. “You need to know if these guys are the real deal?”

  Milton mulled the question for a moment. “In as many words? Yes.”

  Hardy smirked and reached into the inner pocket of his suit coat. He removed a long, thin wallet from it and pulled out the same business card Milton had given him several days before. “The truth is I still don’t know a whole lot about them. What I do know is they have a guy working for them named Thorn Byrd.

  “Ask for him by name. My associates and I all endorse him to the fullest.”

  Chapter Sixty-Six