Chapter 32 #2
With a grin, I send the video to Delphi. She’ll kill me later, but I love it when she’s feisty. It’s that thought that relieves the tension in my shoulders. No matter what happens this afternoon, nothing will stop me from heading home to my woman.
I wait for Havoc to give me the green light before heading to my old rental.
Toot pulls in just in front of me. He opens the garage and takes the bike inside, but I leave mine parked outside in view of the neighbors.
Climbing off, I remove my helmet and wait for Toot, who closes the garage and walks over with a nod in greeting.
He doesn’t say anything as he lets us in, not until he closes the door.
The place is spotless and smells clean and fresh.
There’s a vase of wildflowers on the kitchen counter and one on the coffee table next to the sofa, which has a soft-looking throw lying over the back of it.
I walk into the kitchen and do a double-take when I spot a picture pinned to the fridge, clearly drawn by a child.
“You have any clue who’s been living here?”
“No. I didn’t even think about this place until Havoc called me into his office. Don’t suppose it really matters as long as he’s not cheating on Nevaeh. She might be small, but I have a feeling she’d take him out more efficiently than a trained killer.”
“She probably knows more ways to get rid of a body too.”
He grins and nods. “Lucky bastard.”
“You gotta thing for psychos, huh?”
“I got a thing for all things female. I’m an equal opportunities kind of guy.”
“Yeah, you’re such a giver.”
“You have no idea. I’m gonna head upstairs. I’ll keep the door open so I can hear.”
He hefts his backpack farther up his arm and walks off, leaving me to look around.
I walk into the kitchen and pull open the fridge, frowning when I see it full of fruits, vegetables, eggs, cheese, and yogurt.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen such an array of healthy food before.
Well, perhaps Amity’s fridge, as she’s a clean eater.
But then her body is her work, so it’s understandable.
I grab a couple of bottles of water and close the fridge, carrying them over to the dining table.
I spot the coffee machine on the counter and consider making some, but nix the idea.
I don’t want to make this asshole any more comfortable than necessary.
The sooner I can get rid of him, the better.
When my phone chimes, I pull it out and see a message from Delphi.
I grin, but don’t bother opening it because I can hear a vehicle approaching.
I don’t want to be distracted. When I hear it pull into the driveway, I get to my feet and head to the door.
I check out the older model Ford truck and see only Jack—or whatever the fuck his name is—in the driver’s seat, though the tinted windows make it difficult to know for sure.
I glance at the plates, not bothering to memorize them.
I can grab them from the security footage later.
The last time I met him, he arrived in a swanky new Benz, so the choice of transport makes me suspicious.
I open the door as he climbs out with a large envelope in his hands and makes his way toward me.
“Kruger, glad you could see me.” He holds out his free hand. I ignore it, stepping back and indicating for him to enter. He does, not looking intimidated in the slightest.
I take him in. He’s around my height, but leaner like a swimmer.
He’s blond, sporting a full beard this time.
He’s wearing a pair of jeans and a bulky jacket instead of his suit, which is excessive for the temperatures we’ve been having lately.
I have to assume he’s armed, and the jacket is his way of hiding it.
I close the door and walk behind him. “Take a seat at the table.”
He does so without question, taking a chair that leaves him in sight of the door and the hallway. This guy isn’t an amateur. He’s sitting so he has the entrance points in view, and nobody can sneak up on him. I take a seat opposite and lean back, waiting for him to start.
“Sorry for pulling you away from your woman while she’s resting. I won’t keep you long.”
“Appreciated. Though I have to ask why you want to meet me at all. I know Nathan has told you we can’t help and has refused to take your case. Makes me wonder if I should be concerned that you seem to be stalking him.”
He grins. There is a coldness to it that I don’t remember seeing in him before. “I don’t usually swing that way, but perhaps I could make an exception.”
I tilt my head, trying to get a read on him, but the guy is stoic as fuck. Still, I’m not buying the shit he’s selling. “Nah, I don’t think you will. Why don’t you tell me what you really want, Jack? Or perhaps you prefer I call you Sam?”
He grins, leaning back in his seat comfortably, like we’re two friends chatting. “Figured that out, did you? I did wonder what was taking so long.”
“How about you tell me what you want and stop wasting my fucking time.”
“That’s fair, I suppose. Okay then, let’s get down to it, shall we? I’m looking for someone.”
“Who? Because it sure as shit isn’t Annie Davis.”
“No, it isn’t. That was a test to see how good you were.”
“Lovely. Tell me, did we pass or fail?”
He smiles. “I guess that’s subjective.” He taps his finger on the table. I think he does it to annoy me, so I don’t react. But then I realize it’s some kind of tune. I try to figure out what it is, but lose my train of thought when he starts speaking again.
“I don’t have all day, so get to the point or get the fuck out.”
“Alright. My client is looking for his wife.”
I roll my eyes. “Really? Another test? And who the fuck is your client, exactly?”
“I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to say. Client confidentiality and all that. All we want is information on his wife, and we will leave you in peace.”
“And who, pray tell, is this mystery wife?”
“Lilac Burton.”
I shake my head. “Never heard of her.”
He opens the envelope and reaches inside, pulling out a stack of photos before tossing them my way.
I catch them as they slide across the table.
It takes me a second to take it all in, and when I do, my blood boils red hot.
Each picture is of Lil, and over half of them have me in them.
Now I know what he wanted with the Ohio chapter so bad.
He thinks she might be hiding out there.
“What the fuck?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. Tell me, Kruger, does your woman know you’ve been fucking Lilac on the side?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shove the photos back at him, but my mind is running a mile a minute.
“Oh, please. She’s been whoring herself to your club for years. Don’t try to bullshit me and tell me you haven’t sunk your prick inside her. Because I know differently.”
“I think we’re done here.” I stand up just as he opens his coat. I freeze when he smiles victoriously. My eyes move over the contraption strapped to his chest and hiss.
Speaking loud enough that Toot will hear, I snap at him. “You’re wearing a fucking bomb. Are you insane?”
“I figure your woman escaped one once before. Perhaps she’ll get lucky and escape once again. But only if you tell me what I want to know.”
“Fuck you. You blow that thing up and we all die.”
“And Lilac will know it was her fault. She might be a whore, but she’s far from dumb. She’ll have to live with more blood on her hands, and still my client will keep coming for her.”
“Who is your client?” I grit out.
“I already told you. I can’t release that information. He doesn’t give a fuck about any of you. He just wants his wife back. If the only way to get her back is to start picking you all off one by one, then so be it.”
“And you’re willing to risk yourself for this prick?”
“If necessary. He’s paying me enough money to keep my children’s-children’s-children wealthy for a very long time.”
“Lil’s been missing for months. We’ve been looking for her and we can’t find a fucking trace. I guess at least now we know why she ran.”
“Hmm...perhaps my client tipped his hand too soon. He does tend to get a little exuberant when it comes to her.” He gets to his feet and brushes the sleeve of his jacket as if the red blinking numbers on his chest aren’t counting down to zero.
“I suggest you find her and find her fast because my client is getting annoyed. And when he gets annoyed, he tends to…dabble in people’s lives.
Tell me, Kruger, how’s that boy your woman took a shining to?
Back at home with his pathetic excuse for a mother, right?
I don’t know why the courts in this country always favor the whore over the provider.
No worries, I remedied that. Two hundred forty thousand might be a lot to trailer trash, but it’s a drop in the ocean to my client.
” He walks toward the door, pausing with his hand on it before he turns to look at my confused expression.
“Sorry, I should have dumbed it down for you, shouldn’t I?
” He yanks the door open before grinning.
“Bail was set and paid in full a few hours ago. Oh, to be a fly on the trailer wall. I’ll be in touch. ”
He strolls outside, closing the door behind him as he whistles a tune like he doesn’t have a care in the world. I yank the door open, gun in my hand, and aim at the truck as Toot thunders down the stairs.
The truck pulls out of the driveway and speeds off. As much as I want to shoot, I can’t. I have no idea what the blast range on that thing is, but I know the neighbors have at least two stay-at-home moms with kids living here. I can’t take that risk.
“What the fuck was that, Kruger?”
I turn to look at him before it hits me like a brick. “That motherfucker posted bail for Josh Milton. He’s going home. He’s going after Theo.”