It made the sound again, and I walked over to it, deciding that maybe Grissele needed me to do something before she arrived.But the strange number on the screen wasn’t hers.It had to be a wrong number or spam.I’d gotten those back when I had a phone.But this was the first time it had happened with this phone.
Picking it up, I tapped it since there was no lock on the phone.I had no reason to lock the screen.
Don’t speak to or make any contact with Kash.This is your only warning.
The phone slipped from my grip and clattered onto the countertop.I stared at it.A million different things running through my head.How?Who?Why?But deep down, I knew.This might be a rarely used phone that wasn’t under my name, but they could find out anything.I’d been worried when I returned that they might not want me here, but I’d heard nothing.Seen none of them.Until Tuesday, and it would have to be Kash that I saw.
The Southern Mafia owned this town; it owned the South.And I was on their radar even though I’d lied to save Kash four years ago.Done it without thought before they could even ask me to.But they didn’t trust me.Kash was one of them.I wasn’t.
My hands were trembling as I stood frozen.
“It sure smells delicious in there!”Glenda’s cheery voice called out.
I had to get myself together.Make it through this day.I’d think about the text tonight.Figure out what this meant for me here.Could I stay?Tears pricked my eyes, and I fought them back.Not now.I couldn’t fall apart now.
The click of Glenda’s low-heeled shoes drew closer, and I took a deep breath, then let it out.I was fine.I’d done nothing wrong.No need to overreact.I glanced at the phone again.Should I respond?Would whoever that was think I was ignoring them if I didn’t?
Jerking up the phone, I quickly typed out.
I have no desire to.I was in town, getting dry cleaning for my employer.Kash spoke to me.It was a short conversation, and I left.I’m not here for Kash.I just need to start a new life.
I reread it three times, then hit Send.Whoever that went to, I hoped this was enough to keep them away from me.
Eight
Kash
Nothing?What the fuck?
“How is there nothing on Cressida Beck?”I demanded.
Ted didn’t work for the family exactly.He was more of a criminal, who was also a computer genius that we used for anything we didn’t want the family to know we were doing.And when I saidwe, I meant the younger members of the Mississippi branch.Sometimes, there were things we kept from our fathers and Linc.
“Dude, like I said, it’s like she doesn’t exist.I can’t find shit, and that never happens,” he replied.
“That’s impossible.I ran a background check on her seven years ago,” I told him.
“I’ll keep trying, but someone has her information blocked.Or the power to wipe it clean.”
Who would have that kind of power, and why?
The family.
Motherfucker.
“What about the license plate number?”I asked.
“That is registered to a Glenda Spencer.She lives in Madison.I’ll text you her address.But she’s, like, eighty-three years old, man.Has no relation to a Cressida Beck.”
“Who is Glenda Spencer related to?The name is familiar.”I’d heard it before.
“Give me a sec,” he said.
I sat silently, waiting as I listened to the sound of his typing.
“Ah, well, I’ll be damned,” Ted said, sounding amused.
My grip on the steering wheel tightened.I was prepared to not like what he was about to tell me.
