A job I’m currently on right now.
I park my car and head up the walkway to Conner’s house. His vehicle is in the driveway, so I know he’s home. I just hope he’s up for what I have planned. Otherwise, this could go bad really fast.
I knock on the door and wait.
“Coming,” I hear his voice from the other side of the door.
When he swings it open, I can tell I’m the last person he expects to see. “Hey, Conner.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” He’s clearly shocked to see me. He looks over my shoulder like he’s expecting someone else to be with me.
“I’m here alone. We need to talk though. And it’s in your best interest to listen to what I have to say.”
“I don’t exactly trust you. No offense,” he says as he blocks the doorway and crosses his arms over his chest.
Am I surprised? No. Maybe honesty is the best policy.
“I was sent here to send you a message. One that’s physical, if you know what I mean. And unless you want me to beat your ass, I suggest you let me inside.”
That seems to get his attention. He curses under his breath and then turns and walks through the doorway. Since he doesn’t slam the door in my face, I follow him inside.
The place is homey, a stark contrast from what the yard looks like outside. A couch lines the wall, and a TV sits opposite on top of a rustic-looking entertainment center. There are pictures all over, his family I assume, but I can’t make out the details of the photos.
“Nice place,” I say as I tuck my hands inside my pockets. I don’t want to appear any more intimidating than I already do. I need him on my side, not running scared.
“Uh…thanks.” He opens the fridge and grabs a flavored soda water, offering me one as well.
I wave him off and he sits at the round dining room table.
“I take it Emmett sent you,” he states because it’s not a question. He knows.
“He did,” I say and take a seat across from him. “Want to tell me why he wants me to rough you up? His words, not mine.”
He huffs out a humorless laugh. “He didn’t tell you? I’m surprised. He told his last bodyguard. But maybe that was his mistake,” he says the last part under his breath.
How much does he know about the last bodyguard? Nobody has seen or heard from him since his surprise disappearance. With the friends that Emmett keeps, most likely the man is buried six feet under.
“I know nothing. But if you don’t tell me now, I will follow through with my instructions to do to you what I did to the guy last weekend.”
He takes a sip of his grapefruit soda water. “What, you’re going to kill me? Is that it?”
I cut him off before he gets any ideas. “No, I’m not going to kill you. Choke you out a little? Maybe. But kill? No. Not my style. Tell me, Conner, why the hell does Emmett want me to hurt you when I’ve only seen you interact with him in the office a few times and outside of the office in questionable company.”
He rubs his hands over his face, frustration radiating off him. “I can’t tell you. So just do what you came here to do and get it over with.”
I need to take this in another direction because he may be the only hope of getting the information I need. “What about your daughter? Why did he threaten her?”
His whole body goes rigid at the mention of her. “Don’t you dare do anything to her. I’m begging you. I will do whatever you want, just leave her alone.”
I should have led with that.
“Then tell me everything. I’m on your side. If I weren’t, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“How do I know you’re not going to run to Emmett and tell him everything I tell you, so he has a real reason to kill me.”
“You don’t.” Now is the time to get personal with him. Give him something so he knows I’m serious. “I have a girlfriend who I need to protect. And I assume since we both saw a man get murdered, that we’re in deep shit…together. Look, Conner, you don’t know me, and I don’t know you, but as far as I’m concerned, we are in a similar enough position to maybe figure this out together.”
He stares at me for a few beats, contemplating his next move. “I got into some financial trouble after my wife passedaway.” He finally says and my eyes widen at his confession. “And before you judge, I know I’m an accountant and am good with money, but her insurance lapsed and the bills for her treatments kept piling up and before I knew it, all the money I had saved ran out. Debt collectors were coming after me for missed payments well before she passed, and I couldn’t handle it.
