Chapter 78: Hello, Pet

“Wake up, Mr. Caldwell. We have business to discuss.”

The words floated to Cole as though through a fog. He breathed in deeply, suddenly aware of an intense throbbing in his jaw. Mustering all the effort he could, he opened his eyes. He was in the barn, and everything was sideways, his battered face pressed against the cold concrete floor. Not far from the entrance stood the man in the expensive grey suit.

Mentally bracing himself, Cole groaned and pushed himself up into a sitting position, grateful to lean against the tack room wall.

“There you are. I thought we’d lost you for a moment.” He gave a strangely cold smile that reminded Cole of the sharks he’d seen on the Discovery Channel.

“Your friend sucker punched me.” He looked around again. “Where did Mr. Brown go anyway?”

Again, the other man grimaced in that odd smile. “I’m sure he’ll be along shortly.”