In the morning, I shoot Kennedy a text asking if we could meet for coffee to discuss the case. I would have invited her to the cabin, but, as it turns out, I’m deficient in both the makings for a decent cup of Joe and whiskey. I should probably rectify that, but, in truth, I prefer the Starbucks down the hill for one and the bar on the backside of Loveless for the other. I guess that makes me a social drinker.
But Kennedy doesn’t opt for the Starbucks down the hill, in fact, she doesn’t bother responding, or going anywhere with me for that matter, so I choose something far more close to home, all by my lonesome. The Corner Store is only a little more advanced than I remember. The sign out front is homemade, something just a little stiffer than cardboard with its red paint faded to brown in the sun. The uneven lettering lets you know right off the bat there’s a good chance they’re serving up a little listeria with their à la carte lunch menu
I head in, and the scent of apple pie and coffee lights up the air.
“McCarthy.” I hear my name shouted from the back of the café. It’s Gavin seated with Ace. I give a brief nod before putting in my order to a tall girl with unruly black hair piled on top of her head, her eyes glowing like high beams, sunk beneath circles upon circles of black eyeliner. It gives her a ghoulish effect, but she’s pretty enough even with the Halloween haunt she’s got decorating her features. Her crooked nametag readsNEVA.
“I’ll bring it to you,” she says, nodding toward Gavin’s table, so I head on over.
My head feels thick, still fogged up from the rejection Kennedy served up for dessert last night.
“What’s up?” I take a seat at the table. Gavin is wearing that signature ear-to-ear grin of his. It hasn’t left his face since the day he got Demi back in his life. It’s hard not to forget the heartache they went through,shewent through with that psychotic stepmother of hers. But now it’s all been resolved, Gavin and Demi get their happily ever after, and they should. They deserve it. I glance to Ace. “So you’re Reese’s husband. I had dinner with Kennedy last night.”
Ace shakes his head. It’s clear what he’s disapproving of, and it’s not the fact Kennedy pan seared a fish for me. “Reese says Ken hired you. Is there anything we can do to help? You need me to kick Stearns’ ass?”
“No. I need his ass very much intact. In fact, speaking with him is at the top of my to-do list today.”
“He’s laying low.” Ace blows out a breath. “Rumor has it he’s thinking about dropping his own classes. It’s a real shit storm.”
“No kidding.” Gavin winces. “Why the hell would he put that shit out there? I get it. He’s pissed at Kennedy. Hell, even I’ve heard of the crap she’s heaped on him since their breakup. Stupid stuff that would piss anybody off, but this is beyond good taste. His naked ass is out there, too.”
“Kennedy says she didn’t do any of that crap to Keith,” I say just as Neva comes over with my coffee. I reach into my pocket and hand her a couple of bills for the effort.
“What’s this for?” She wrinkles the money in her hand.
“It’s for you. It’s a thank you.”
Her head cocks as if she’s still curious as to what she might have done to deserve it.
“It’s a tip, Neva.” I offer a simple smile, hoping I didn’t just piss her off with my measly monetary exchange.
“A real fucking tip?” She holds it out like it’s suddenly morphed into gold. “You see this?” She shakes her fist before Ace and Gavin. “You turkeys can learn a thing or two from this guy. You just made my day,” she says to me before sauntering back to her station.
“It doesn’t take much to make the girls around here happy,” I muse before setting the coffee to my lips and burning myself.
“That’s my sister.” Ace says it flat. “And I wish she’d strive for something more than making coffee for tips. I wish it took more than a couple of bucks to make her day.”
“At least its decent work,” Gavin says it sober because his wife may have dabbled a little in prostitution before they met, and I mean a little. I believe Gavin was her only real customer. At least I’m hoping that to be true. Speaking of the truth.
“So tell me something about my new client. Is Kennedy an upstanding citizen? Is she known to be straight with people? Is she known to spin a tale or two?”
Gavin and Ace exchange a brief a glance before reverting their pissed expressions back on me.
“I get it.” I lift a finger. “She’s your friend. And that’s exactly why I’m relying on you to tell me that she’s the great person I believe she is.” Her words from last night haunt me.You can lie to me a little if you like. I might have lied to you a little.
I did lie to her, and it wasn’t just a little.
“She’s good.” Ace is the first to vouch for Kennedy. “She’s solid. Kennedy doesn’t dick around. I’d trust her with my life. Reese says she’s the best sister—best friend—a girl can have.”
Gavin pipes up. “Kennedy is good people.” He glances past my shoulder with a faraway look in his eye.
“But?” I could feel it coming a mile away.
Gavin looks to Ace, then over his shoulder. “I’d better get going. Now that I’m down a man, I’ve got twice the work.” He gives Ace a friendly sock to the shoulder. “Demi is actually doing a few deliveries with me this afternoon.” He drains the rest of his coffee before getting up. “For what it’s worth, I’ll be hitting the Westfield’s.” He gives a brief wave before taking off.
“Let’s hear it.” Ace leans in. “What the hell has you so rattled about Kennedy?”
“I’m not rattled. This is big. Each minute there’s another sick fuck looking at her body. It makes me insane. I couldn’t sleep last night. I need to shut this down, and the worst part is I’m not sure I can.”
