Tales of the Forbidden (16 page)

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Cameron Noved slowly walked up the dark steps to a front door of a house he really didn’t want to go inside. When his foot touched the top step, the old door opened. No sound came forth, as if the hinges weren’t as old as they looked. He walked inside and stopped. The door stayed open, letting moonlight from the full moon into the old house. It helped him to see the dark shadow standing at the far end of the foyer, next to the stairs.

“Mr. Noved. Right on time.”

“Who are you?” Cameron asked.

“That’s not important right now. What is important is that I have a job which requires your special talents.” The man spoke lower, his voice deep and raw. “And the payouts will be very much worth your while.”

An envelope was tossed to him, held closed with a rubber band. Cameron slowly bent over, picked it up, and looked inside.

He gazed at all the hundred dollar bills which were inside.

“I require girls, Mr. Noved. I need young, pure girls for my clients. Each cherry you bring me will pay out one hundred thousand dollars, and fifty thousand for used merchandise. The lower class will do just fine, but there is one I wish for you not to obtain. You’ll find her name with the cash. Now, do we have a 132

deal?”

Cameron licked his lips, swallowed hard, and glanced once more at the cash. It was more money than he had ever seen; even more than what he got when his father died. And he would get more with each girl he brought. Life, Cameron figured, couldn’t get any better than this.

“Yeah, we have a deal. Where you want me to deliver?”

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