“We gotcha, Miss Frida,” Junior said, coming over to assist.
Frida seemed more relaxed with Junior nearby, and she allowed him and Noah to grab the trash bags and follow her back to the house toward the garage.
“So, uh… I’m sorry.” Noah knew he didn’t have much time to talk to Frida, and he needed to make the most of it. “I know I’ve been an extra fuckin’ large douche to you, your husband… Hell, I’ve been an asshole to everybody.”
Frida glanced at him warily, but she didn’t run.
“I wanted to say I’m sorry, okay?” Noah went on earnestly. “If there’s anything I could do to make up for it, anything you need, let me know, okay?”
“Wow. You wanna kiss her ass a lil harder?” Junior chuckled.
“I’m trying to be nice, okay?” Noah bit back.
Frida actually smiled. She still didn’t say anything, but this was a definite improvement over their previous interactions.
The trash cans were just inside the first bay of the garage, and Frida led them there to drop off the garbage. Junior helped pile the trash inside the cans, and Noah slapped the lids on.
Junior made a face at his hands and grumbled, “Stay here. There’s a hose fuckin’ outside, and I’m gonna go wash up. If you try to fuckin’ run—”
“Yes, I know.” Noah grimaced. “Something awful about my balls.”
“Top of the fuckin’ class.”
Noah watched Junior leave, and he quickly tried to think of what to ask Frida. He had been fighting for a chance to talk to her, and now he had no idea what to say.
Frida smiled nervously, and then she finally seemed to realize she was alone with Noah. Her eyes widened, and she turned to leave.
“Hey, wait! Please?” Noah pleaded. “Uh, so, you like to cook, right? I really, really like your food. That thing with the truffle stuff? Super good.”
Pausing, Frida frowned.
Noah didn’t hear Junior coming back yet, so he decided to go for it. “Look, I know you don’t like me. I get it. I was a giant bag of dicks. You don’t owe me anything at all, and you really don’t owe my uncle anything either. I know he was an asshole too. But, hey, we both know he couldn’t have killed anybody, right?”
Frida’s frown deepened.
“I just need to ask you one teeny tiny thing, and then I swear I will do anything you want. Please.”
Frida hesitated, but she waved for Noah to go on.
“Okay!” Noah heard Junior’s cursing, and it was getting closer. “My uncle and that Carbone guy were seeing the same chick. I wanna know who it was, okay? Maybe they know something that can help me prove my uncle didn’t kill anybody.”
Frida shook her head. “No.”
“No?” Noah’s heart sank.
“Not a lady.” Frida’s voice was quiet, barely above a whisper. “It was a young man named Odie. He works at a club owned by Mr. Star.” She opened her mouth to say more, but Junior came bursting in.
“Ah! Good! You didn’t run.” Junior grinned. “Good. ’Cause I woulda fuckin’ hated to chase your punk ass down.”
“Right.” Noah tried to ignore Junior and focus on Frida. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Frida smiled warily. “Be… better.”
“What?”
“That’s what I want you to do for me,” Frida explained. “Be a better person.”
Noah was floored by the request. “Uh, yeah… sure.” He cleared his throat. “No, I mean it. I am trying, okay? I am gonna try.”
