“Shit. I’m real sorry.”
“It’s a damn setup, that’s what it is. We just need to figure who and why.” He holds Google maps and sticks his phone in my cup holder.
“That’s her brother’s address. You can leave me off there.”
Chapter Five
Sam
Knowing Suds and Sienna are gone, I rush home to start my online course in electricity.
I had just finished the part where Ben Franklin flew his kite in a storm, which seems pretty stupid, when my doorbell app pings.
“Hey Frankie. Was sup?” I buzz him in.
At least he didn’t bring Chloe. I don’t need my kitten learning any more bad habits from his cat-oholic feline. I greet him in the open area that used to serve as a dentist’s waiting room. He glances around to make sure we’re alone then follows me into our office-apartment. There, he opens the fridge, grabs a beer, and sits.
“We need to talk.”
“Your ex trying to get custody of Chloe again?”
The hitman shakes his head, no. “Nah. She’s given up on dat. It’s this woman, a Mrs. Nardo? She wants me to off her husband. She gave your name as a reference.”
“Wow.” My mouth drops open. My aunt’s hair salon was, and apparently still is, darker than the dark web for the over-seventy crowd.
“Damn.” Vying for time, I jump up, snatch a beer of my own, and twist off the cap. “Mrs. Nardo, huh?”
Catrina hops on the shelf and licks my bottle, making Frankie chuckle. “She’s just like her aunty Chloe.”
God, I hope not. His cat is the devil incarnate.“Yeah. A sweet little angel.” I push Cat’s butt off the kitchen counter and gulp.
After a few swallows, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. “Listen, even though Mr. Nardo is a cheating bastard, I don’t think she really wants him killed. She’s not all there, you know, mentally. It’s probably not the best job to take on.”
He frowns. “No shit. I was only gonna do it as a favor for you.”
“And I really appreciate it, I do.” As much as I hate cheaters, and may have wished one or two dead, I draw the line at murder.
Frankie sighs, clearly disappointed. “I could just maim him, perhaps in a drive by? Then, he’d be out of her hair. She showed me the pictures you took. Nice work, by the way. Very professional.”
“Thanks. Appreciate it… I wondered how the old man could keep it up, so to speak.”
He snickers at my poor attempt at humor, which is a good sign, but I need to tread carefully. It’s not a great idea to insult a hitman, no matter the reason.
Suddenly, a way to save Mr. Nardo comes to mind. “I really think if she wants her husband dead, she should pay Suds and Sam, first.”
The big man nods, finishes his drink, and then stands. “I get what you’re saying and I respect that. You let me know when she pays her bill. Nice talkin’ wid youz.”
“You too. Take care and say hi to Chloe for me.”
As he trots down the stairs, my phone rings and it’s Joey.
“Hey cuz. I’m downstairs.” The outside camera shows the two men shaking hands.
Not until the hitman’s out of view does my cousin hiss. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph. What the fuck is he doing here?”
“Tell the whole world, why don’tcha?” Giving up onElectronics for Dummies, I buzz him in and wait in the foyer.
He pushes past me and helps himself to my last bottle. “What did Frankie want?”
