Page 7 of The Session

“They could almost be twins,” Tru said.

“Carol and Marnie could have been twins. Max had a type,” Morris pointed out. “Offering him a job was a harebrained idea. Marnie would freak the hell out if she saw that kid lurking around here. I don’t think having a living ghost walking around would be good for anyone.”

“He seems like a nice kid,” Kincaid offered.

“Maybe,” said Morris. “But I’m suspicious. If it’s not a shakedown, then what? It’s a bit too convenient. How did the letter and check happen? We’re good at billing and inventing expenses. I’m pretty sure we’ve never accidentally given away so much as a dime.”

“Maybe someone in accounting made the connection and wanted to do something nice,” Tru suggested.

“Ha. Have you met our accountants? No. Something else is going on,” Blaise replied.

“I’ll have Internal Accountability take a look,” Morris said. “Maybe we’ll do some Personal Accountability Sessions,” he added.

“Does it have to be that drastic?” Tru asked.

“I’d like to have Mark Greenley go through one and find out what he’s really up to. But I don’t think I can make it a condition of the grant.”

“Um, no. So you don’t think Max might have had the money sent to him?”

“Maybe. He checks in on his progeny from time to time. But the amount is a bit absurd.”

“Maybe it was a probe?” Tru ventured.

“A test? See if the kid figured it out? Possibly,” Morris said. “But I’m not going to ask him and neither should you. Like I said, let sleeping dogs lie. If Max has plans, that’s his business. Let him focus on that. We have enough problems.”

“And if Mark comes asking for a job?” Tru asked.

“We shut the blinds and pretend nobody is home.”

“And if he figures out who his father is?” Tru asked.

“He’s an adult now. Carol was paid off. It wouldn’t be the worst thing ever alleged about Max. Let’s just hope Mark goes back to Georgia and moves on.”

“Or . . . we bring him in.” Tru watched Morris carefully for his reaction.

“Into the organization? Out of the question.” Morris shook his head. “That kid isn’t cut out for this. If he’s not being sincere, that’s bad. If he is sincere, that’s even worse. That Boy Scout is too on-the-level to make it in this line of work.”

“You’re forgetting something,” Kincaid said.

“What’s that?”

“That Boy Scout walked out of here with $10,000 of our money based only on a story.”

“Are you saying he made it up?” Blaise asked.

“No. Just that you’re only asking that now. I think we forget that our training and programs are all designed to emulate charisma and sincerity. Mark possesses it naturally.”

Kincaid glanced at Tru, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

Future Strategies

Tru thanked the cashier and picked up her coffee and pistachio cookie from the counter. She had spotted Susan when she walked into the Salt and Bean but made it a point not to go directly to her in case they were being observed. Their interaction should look completely random.

Tru walked over to the small wooden table in the corner next to a chest covered in board games. Susan had a tall cup of tea in front of her with smudged lipstick on the rim. She gave Tru an uneasy smile.

“Thank you,” Susan said, looking past Tru toward the door to see if anybody was following her.

“I was careful. I’ve been dealing with Summit security since I was a kid,” Tru answered.