Chapter 10 #3
“Most people don’t like to be talked about,” I said, “but you can’t drop that you know Skeeter Malcolm’s name and not tell us how you’ve heard of him.” I used the name he’d gone by in his previous life. No need to give anything else away.
“The real question is why you’re with him,” she said, looking me up and down. “Little Miss By-the-Books who doesn’t do nothing wrong. Why are you with a murderer and weapons dealer?”
The weapons dealing caught me by surprise, but thank God I’d entrenched myself in interrogation mode and gave away nothing. “I told you, I’m not a cop anymore.”
“So you turned to the other side?” she asked in disbelief. “You’re the last person I thought would go dark.”
“I haven’t gone dark,” I said flatly. “I’m just working from a different angle, trying to find missing girls who have been trafficked. Skeeter Malcolm has a similar goal, so we’re working together.”
A haughty look flitted over her face. “From what I heard when I walked in, sounds like you’re screwin’ him.”
I shrugged slightly, still keeping my bored expression.
“What can I say? A girl has needs and he’s a good lay.
” I paused. “But we’re getting off topic.
How did you find out that Skeeter Malcolm is a murderer and a weapons dealer?
I can’t imagine Razor just dropped that in polite conversation. Or pillow talk, for that matter.”
She glanced over at James, who still had his arm slung over the bench like he was enjoying a day at the park, but the look in his eyes remained deadly.
“I heard him tellin’ someone else over the phone.”
“What was he saying?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” she said in frustration, running her hand over her head. “He said something about Skeeter Malcolm was a dead man walkin’.”
“When was this?” I asked.
She grimaced. “A week ago?”
“A week ago, he said Skeeter was a dead man walking because he was a murderer and a weapons dealer?” I countered. “Must have been quite the unbelievable conversation.”
“I already told you, he didn’t tell me that stuff. I heard him on the phone.”
“Maybe it would help if you tried to recall how the conversation went,” I said. “Maybe set the stage with where you were and what you were doing.”
Venom filled her eyes. “You want me to tell you he took a phone call while I was ridin’ his dick?”
“If that’s how it happened,” I said flatly.
“Well, he did, fuckin’ prick. He said it was an important call, and he had to take it. I started to get off him, because I’ve learned that guys like him don’t discuss business in front of the hired help.”
That was one way to put it.
“So you were still fucking him while he took his important call?” I prodded. “Maybe you pretend you’re Razor and tell me how his side of the call went?”
Her jaw clenched. “He answered with his name and was quiet for a few moments, then said, ‘So, Skeeter Malcolm’s a dead man walkin’. He listened to something on the other line and then said he was busy at the moment, and he’d be by in an hour. That was it. he hung up.”
“So… where did the murderer and weapons dealer part come in?” I asked. “Because you don’t seem like the independent research kind of girl.”
She shot me a dark look. “I asked him.”
I didn’t hide my surprise.
Dani released a bitter laugh. “You’ve taught me that knowledge is power.”
I suppose I had, but asking questions of the wrong people could also get her killed.
“What exactly did you ask?” James asked, still using his lazy tone.
She turned to him, her body going still.
“I asked why Skeeter Malcolm was a dead man. He said you’d pissed of the wrong person.
I asked him why he was so happy that you were a dead man, and he said, I shouldn’t be cryin’ over you, because you were a murderer and a weapons dealer.
Then he said it was too bad you’d stopped sellin’ weapons, but you still aren’t to be trusted. ”
“Did he say why I’m not to be trusted?” James asked with a hint of edge.
“He said you’re a liar and snitch.”
James gave a slow nod. “While it’s true I hold my own special interests above all others, I’m not a liar.
When I make a threat, I can guarantee I mean it.
” He dropped his arm and sat up straighter.
“Since you know who I am, then you’ve probably figured out I’m not a man to double-cross, because I promise you, I’m bigger and badder than Razor ever thought of being.
” James paused, holding her gaze. “Either you get the tape or you don’t.
If you can’t get it, let me know, and we’ll part on good terms. But if you bullshit me…
” His voice trailed off, letting Dani’s imagination fill in the rest.
Based on the way her face paled, she had a healthy imagination.
“Harper, give my new friend your number,” he said, keeping his gaze on the dancer.
I pulled one of the slips of paper from my pocket and held it out to her.
She stared at him for several seconds, then turned to me and snatched the paper. “How do you plan on getting my charges dropped if you’re not a cop anymore?”
Good question, because I had no idea how that would happen either. I’d never made promises to informants I couldn’t keep. I didn’t plan to start now. “Actually—”
“We have our ways,” James said, getting to his feet. “You get those videos, and we’ll take care of the rest.”
She started to leave, and James called out, “Dani.”
She turned back to him, her hand gripping the curtain.
“Don’t try to pass some other guy off as the guy watching your friend. Trust me, I’ll know if it’s not him.”
She stared at him for another second, then let the curtain fall as she left the room.