"It would be a good idea if the restaurant stayed closed for a while," Boner said. "You three should stay somewhere other than your own apartments. Harlow, I'll help you move into mine."
"With your noise-hating neighbor?" I didn't like the idea of hiding, but his place was tiny. It wouldn't fit all of us.
"She can stay in mine," Archer said. "You all can. My place is big enough for everyone."
"By everyone, you mean…" Jules winced.
"Everyone," Archer said firmly. "Including you. If they decide to go after Cass, they could use you against him. And vice versa."
Jules muttered something that sounded like, "I fucking told you not to get involved with these people."
I fucking hated that he was right.
Again.
"We were involved the minute they touched Auggie," Cass said. "They might decide to kill us to clean up after themselves. This way, we can make plans and defend ourselves."
"What he said." Boner pointed a finger gun at Cass. "If they're coming after any of us, we should get the hell out of here.
"What do I tell Gina?" I asked. If I had to keep the restaurant closed for a long time, she would have to find a new job. I'd be letting her down too.
If I was going to be sick over any of this, that would do it. That and underestimating these people. Especially if Erin was working with them.
If I couldn't trust Erin, who could I trust?
What about the men in this room with me? They could be suspected as well. I hated myself for thinking it, but I couldn't rule it out. Not right now.
"I'll look into Erin," Cass said. "If she was hiding anything else, I'll find it. Did anyone else work for you?"
"No, just Erin and Gina," I said.
I wouldn't be looking for more staff anytime soon. Fortunately I hadn't hired anyone else yet, or they might have been the ones to find her. As bad as it was, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Okay, maybe notanyone, but I wouldn't wish it on someone I chose to work for me.
"I vote we don't tell her anything," Boner said. "She saw what happened here. She knows to be careful. Right?"
"There's regular, everyday New York City careful, then there's this," I reasoned.
You could watch your back everywhere you went and still be caught out by something like this. Someone Erin apparently trusted. Someone she'd let in and turned her back on.
"Did she looked surprised?" Jules asked. "Gina, I mean."
"Did you?" I cocked my head at him.
He scowled. "I already told you, I had nothing to do with this. Cassius, tell her."
Cass looked back at him and blinked a couple of times.
"For fuck sake, I only met her once and that was here with all of you," he snarled. "I didn't kill her."
I closed my eyes for a few moments. I shouldn't bait him, but I couldn't seem to help myself. Something about him just drove me crazy.
Vice versa too, I knew that. If I wasn't baiting him, he'd be baiting me.
"I know you didn't kill her," I said finally. "I don't remember if Gina looked surprised. She was horrified."
I ran those few minutes over again in my head, but came to no further conclusions. Everything happened so fast. I was horrified and shocked myself. I wasn't watching for her response.
"It's probably a good idea if you don't tell her where you're going," Boner said. "Just in case."
