Isabella was keeping tabs on Chad’s phone. It was illegal, but I wanted to know what the little bastard was up to.
We took the elevator down to the lobby and walked across campus to the Founder’s Court.
Nova was in a panic. "What happens now? Am I going to go to jail forever?”
"Keep cooperating," I said. "The game’s not over yet.”
44
"We've got a problem," Chad said when he called Shane.
Isabella had recorded the conversation and forwarded me an MP3.
"What kind of problem?" Shane asked.
We huddled around the phone as I played it back for Jack and Nova. We had made our way back to the station and sat in the van in the parking lot, listening.
"Mason’s sister just stopped by,” Chad said. “You want to tell me what that was all about?"
"How the fuck should I know?"
"I'm pretty sure she was wearing a wire. I'm not fucking stupid.”
"Why do you think she was wearing a wire?"
"Why else would she try to get me to talk about things that I don't need to be talking about?" He paused. "If I get a whiff thatyou're trying to set me up or turn state’s evidence, I swear to God…"
"I'm not,” Shane assured. “Would you just relax?"
“How am I supposed to relax when the heat keeps getting turned up?"
"Maybe it is time to lie low for a while," he said in a tentative voice.
"I don't think you understand. This train doesn't slow down. Not for anybody. You work for me. Do I need to explain to you who I work for?"
"No.”
"It's not me you gotta worry about,” Chad said. “These people will kill us all and won't blink. You understand that? I'm sorry about your friend. It's not my fault you two fucked up. But it's gonna get a whole lot worse if you don't take care of this.”
"I'll talk to her.”
"The time for talking is over. Maybe I haven't made myself clear.”
"Look, she doesn't know anything.”
"She knows enough.”
Shane was silent for a long moment. "Consider it done."
"That's what I like to hear. Tell me when she is no longer a threat."
“What about the cops?”
“They should have been taken care of a long time ago. Do I need to find someone else to do the job? Or can you handle it?”
“I can handle it.”
Chad ended the call, and Nova looked like she'd seen a ghost. She sat there, frozen. "He's going to kill me.” She swallowed hard. “You've got everything you need right there.”
