Chapter 10

"Hi, I'd like to speak with Johnny Diamond," I said into the phone. I'd paused just inside my office building.

"I'm sorry, sir, but he's out," the soft voice replied. "May I ask what this is about?"

"Yeah," I said, my voice almost a snarl. "I need to hire him."

"Oh, well..." I heard paper shuffling as her voice trailed off. "I have an appointment for tomorrow morning at 8am. I won't have anything after that until next week, next Wednesday at 10am."

"Tomorrow morning is fine," I replied. "I'll see him tomorrow at 8."

"WAIT! Sir!" she called as I moved to turn the cell phone off.

"Yes?"

"Who can I tell him the appointment is for?" she asked in relief.

"Davison," I replied after a moment's thought. Johnny and I had shared a room at the Davison halfway house. "Just put down Mr. Davison."

I used the back door to get in; the back door opened on some stairs and my office was on the 8th floor just off those stairs. I wasn't up to seeing too many people right now. I wasn't sure I could be civi