She grimaced. “A week ago?”
“A week ago, he said Skeeter was a dead man walking because he was a murderer and a weapons dealer?” I countered. “Must have been quite the unbelievable conversation.”
“I already told you, he didn’t tell me that stuff. I heard him on the phone.”
“Maybe it would help if you tried to recall how the conversation went,” I said. “Maybe set the stage with where you were and what you were doing.”
Venom filled her eyes. “You want me to tell you he took a phone call while I was ridin’ his dick?”
“If that’s how it happened,” I said flatly.
“Well, he did, fuckin’ prick. He said it was an important call, and he had to take it. I started to get off him, because I’ve learned that guys like him don’t discuss business in front of the hired help.”
That was one way to put it.
“So you were still fucking him while he took his important call?” I prodded. “Maybe you pretend you’re Razor and tell me how his side of the call went?”
Her jaw clenched. “He answered with his name and was quiet for a few moments, then said, ‘So, Skeeter Malcolm’s a dead man walkin’. He listened to something on the other line and then said he was busy at the moment, and he’d be by in an hour. That was it. he hung up.”
“So… where did the murderer and weapons dealer part come in?” I asked. “Because you don’t seem like the independent research kind of girl.”
She shot me a dark look. “I asked him.”
I didn’t hide my surprise.
Dani released a bitter laugh. “You’ve taught me that knowledge is power.”
I suppose I had, but asking questions of the wrong people could also get her killed.
“What exactly did you ask?” James asked, still using his lazy tone.
She turned to him, her body going still. “I asked why Skeeter Malcolm was a dead man. He said you’d pissed of the wrong person. I asked him why he was so happy that you were a dead man, and he said, I shouldn’t be cryin’ over you, because you were a murderer and a weapons dealer. Then he said it was too bad you’d stopped sellin’ weapons, but you still aren’t to be trusted.”
“Did he say why I’m not to be trusted?” James asked with a hint of edge.
“He said you’re a liar and snitch.”
James gave a slow nod. “While it’s true I hold my own special interests above all others, I’m not a liar. When I make a threat, I can guarantee I mean it.” He dropped his arm and sat up straighter. “Since you know who I am, then you’ve probably figured out I’m not a man to double-cross, because I promise you, I’m bigger and badder than Razor ever thought of being.” James paused, holding her gaze. “Either you get the tape or you don’t. If you can’t get it, let me know, and we’ll part on good terms. But if you bullshit me…” His voice trailed off, letting Dani’s imagination fill in the rest.
Based on the way her face paled, she had a healthy imagination.
“Harper, give my new friend your number,” he said, keeping his gaze on the dancer.
I pulled one of the slips of paper from my pocket and held it out to her.
She stared at him for several seconds, then turned to me and snatched the paper. “How do you plan on getting my charges dropped if you’re not a cop anymore?”
Good question, because I had no idea how that would happen either. I’d never made promises to informants I couldn’t keep. I didn’t plan to start now. “Actually?—”
“We have our ways,” James said, getting to his feet. “You get those videos, and we’ll take care of the rest.”
She started to leave, and James called out, “Dani.”
She turned back to him, her hand gripping the curtain.
“Don’t try to pass some other guy off as the guy watching your friend. Trust me, I’ll know if it’s not him.”
She stared at him for another second, then let the curtain fall as she left the room.
