“No sir, nothing.”
“You had Nyquil in your medicine cabinet.”
“Yeah, I had a cold. Is that a crime?”
“What about the Zoloft?”
“I already told the NTSB. Those were from over a year ago. I didn’t want to flush them because the alligators in the sewer would eat them. Next time, I will, and killer crocodiles will take over New York City. Everyone’s bare asses be damned.”
I think I’m clever, but apparently the gray-haired, pot-bellied man has no sense of humor. “This is serious. You nearly crashed your bird into a cruise ship.”
He has no clue what he’s talking about.“Hey, I saved a lot of lives by finding the only empty spot in the whole fucking harbor because someone else’s poorly maintained helicopter failed. Fuck this. I’m done. If you need me again, call my lawyer.”
When they leave, Amy pales. “You were so rude to those officers.”
“A sin I will no doubt need to atone for the rest of my life.” I cross myself, just to piss off the converted Baptist by my side.
“You’re being horrible.”
“I’m being me. If you find it distasteful, you can go home. You’ve proven you’re a good Samaritan. How about we take a selfie together so you can post it on your Facebook feed?”
Again, my sarcasm is wasted. She leans over, places her head next to mine, and arm outstretched, snaps her camera app. After, I reconsider calling Sam. How much would a good assassin set me back?
I’m still muttering to myself when Alistair Montclair stops by. “How’re you feeling today, young lady?”
“Like I fell from the sky, clunked my head inside an upside-down helicopter and drowned only to be brought back to life in an alternate universe.”
He sits next to me, takes my hand, and glances out the door. “Family?”
“Yeah. My sister. I got my dad’s DNA, she got my mom’s. Everything is always all about her.”
“Families can be complicated.”
“Tell me about it.” As I roll my eyes, his twinkle.
“Well, I would, but we should talk. Your lawyer said-”
“No thank you.”I can’t start racking up debt, even in the form of favors.
“I have the money. Let me spend it. Please. You’d be doing this old man a great favor.” Clearly, Dash inherited his charm from this man.
I scoff at his ridiculousness. “You’re not old.”
“Old enough to win this argument.” He waves at a fortyish blond standing in the doorway.
Having already been accused of being rude this morning, I say nothing more as the woman in the pinstripe suit rolls in a chair and parks it next to Alistair.
“Hi, I’m Darcy Liu. Do you mind giving us a moment?” Her gray eyes focus on Dash’s father.
Smiling, he stands and pats my thigh. “Not at all. I’ll be outside if you need me.”
All business, my advocate pulls a laptop from a designer bag and balances it on her knees. “Okay, let’s go over the accident. Start wherever you want.”
As she asks questions and takes notes, I mention Mac’s checklist, the shaky takeoff, and the wild descent into the water.
Done, she nods, and focuses intelligent eyes at me. “What are you leaving out?”
“They found Sertralinein my medicine cabinet. The pills are old and still there because I didn’t know how to dispose of them.”
