Jimmy let him ramble away, admittedly grateful for the distraction. He had never been so happy to see the gates to Cold’s compound, both to be free from Charlie’s matrimonial plotting and to see his lover again.
He practically bolted out of the car when they pulled up to the front door, not even bothering to wait for Jerry. He ran straight inside, calling out desperately, “Rod!”
“In here,” Cold’s cool voice replied.
Jimmy found him in the lounge, calm, collected, and meticulously dressed in a fresh three-piece suit as if he had never seen the inside of a jail cell.
Valdemar was there as well, perched on the end of a sofa and swinging his legs. Lorre and Jules were making drinks at the bar while Pym paced restlessly. All the Gentlemen were there except Tamerlane, who was still presumably in jail, and Thirdsies.
Jimmy rushed into Cold’s waiting embrace, and he was taken aback at how suddenly emotional he was. It came over him in a wave as he stammered, “The cl-clerk... at the flower shop... he... he...”
He couldn’t bring himself to say it.
“Righteously plugged himself?” Jules offered.
“Shhh,” Cold soothed, a firm hand stroking the back of Jimmy’s neck. “It’s over now.”
“Did you know?” Jimmy demanded suddenly. He jerked his head up to glare at Cold. “Did you know that was going to happen? Wait, no, there’s no way... You couldn’t have... did you?”
“His death was not expected,” Cold said simply, his expression blank.
“But you know who he was?”
“Not until Christine told me yesterday,” Cold replied.
“This can’t be a coincidence—”
“Don’t worry about it now,” Cold cut in smoothly and squeezed Jimmy’s neck lightly. “We have more pressing things to worry about.”
“Like when can my boy come back?” Valdemar piped up. “He’s going a bit stir crazy in his little hidey hole.”
“Can I at least go see him?” Pym asked urgently, turning to face Cold.
“Not yet,” Cold said firmly. “There’s still work to be done. Mr. Waugh’s death has changed my plans, and I will need to adjust.”
“Tamerlane still ready to go?” Lorre asked, sipping at his glass.
“Yes,” Cold said. “Once he’s in the infirmary, you will go visit him.”
“Oh, I can’t wait,” Lorre said with a coy grin. “I’ll make sure it’s a really productive visit.”
“What the hell?” Pym barked. “Lorre is getting conjugal visits and gets to play doctor while I’m stuck here waiting?”
“There’s more important shit going on than you getting your dick wet,” Jules growled in warning.
“Lorre is going to deliver a message,” Cold said calmly. “Be patient, Pym.”
Pym looked like he wanted to argue, but he held his tongue. He fumbled with his glasses, blindly accepting a cup that Jules had poured for him and chugging it.
“Now,” Cold declared, “we move forward with the rest of the plan. Does everyone understand?”
“Absolutely!” Valdemar sang out, hopping off the couch with a leer. “I’ll go pay Geemaw a little visit first thing tomorrow.”
Jimmy flinched hearing that name. Geemaw was an old gangster’s girl who used to work for the SSPD. She’d spent a good portion of her career copying police reports and stealing evidence.
She was the one who provided the blackmail Cold used to force Duplin into helping him. There was no telling what else that woman had stashed away after having worked for the force all of those years.
“The authorities will wantMonsieurPoe to make a formal statement soon,” Jerry added quietly from the doorway. “Shall I make the arrangements withMademoiselleBeccali?”
