Knox couldn’t help but laugh.“We’ll keep you safe.I’ve got people who owe me favors.You have all you need to expose her, and we’ll take care of the rest.”
He wanted Marshal out of his home.The night he returned and was in the process of eating his burger, he felt this connection with Ava, and he’d been about to talk to her when Marshal walked in.The last few days, every time he’d been alone, it hadn’t lasted long enough before Marshal, with his moaning demeanor, would walk right into their space and ruin the vibe.He was getting irritated by the man.
“Fine, you’re right.It’s time to face the evil witch or die trying, and I don’t want to keep living here.”Marshal nodded.“I’ll do it.”
“I’ll go and make the necessary arrangements,” Ava said, getting to her feet.
“Make sure my presence is not known,” Marshal said.“That way, it can be a huge surprise to her.I don’t want to risk her finding a way to escape this.”
“You’re going to be our plus one,” Ava said.She looked toward him, and then left the room.
“She’s scary,” Marshal said.“I don’t think she likes me very much.”Marshal sat down, where Ava’s knitting had been left.
He seemed to be a little twitchy, but Knox had already checked and there was no history of drug use in his life.
Reaching for Ava’s knitting, he wrapped it up, being careful not to accidentally slide the needles out.He’d done that before when she’d been close to finishing something she’d been working on for months.He’d never felt so damn bad in all his life.
Once that was put away, he sat down on the coffee table as Marshal sat back.“Do you have this trouble?”
“No.”
“No, of course not.You and Ava have this weird energy vibe, and do you know she refuses to call me by my real name?”he asked, then burst out laughing.“I’m Blondie’s husband.I’m sure she’s just doing it all in jest now, right?”
“What weird energy?”Knox asked.
Marshal sighed.“Come on.You don’t see the way you two dance around each other?”
Knox was not one for gossip.He glanced toward the open doorway, expecting to see Ava standing there, but there was no sign of her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”He got to his feet and moved away from Marshal, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“Look, I get that you two have this weird friendship, and that’s all great, and I, like, totally get it, but clearly there is something bubbling beneath the surface with the two of you.Anyone can see it, or sense it.”
Knox looked at him and Marshal once again let out an overdramatic sigh.
“You’re always watching her,” Marshal said.“No matter where she is, even if we’re like fifty feet away in the yard and she suddenly makes an appearance.You can sense her.You know she’s right there.”
“I’m aware of my surroundings.”
“Ava is not a piece of furniture.”Marshal shrugged.“All I’m saying is between the two of you, you can cut the tension with a knife, and that will be explosive.You’ll make a cute couple.”
“Do you seriously think you’re the best person to give me relationship advice?”he asked.
“Probably not, seeing as I have a wife intent on killing my ass.”He flopped back on the chair.“Does it make me a loser because I don’t want to stoop to her level?”
“No,” Knox said.
“I bet it makes me weak.”
“It makes you a man who doesn’t want to resort to death to fix your problem.”He shrugged.“Some people do, some people don’t.”
“You do, right?”
“I do my job,” Knox said.
“It would be so much easier if I would be happy to see her ...dead.”Marshal shrugged.“But putting her behind bars seems like the most ideal way to go.At least then I will know she is not spending her way through my fortune.Trust me on this, Knox, find a woman who wants you for you, not for your money and the lifestyle you give her.”
Ava stepped into the room.“Everything is organized for Friday.”
