Who knew?
I hooked a right onto the freeway as my phone went off. BLOCKED was flashing across the screen.
What the fuck?
“Hello?” I said into the line, curiosity getting the best of me.
“Hey, Cane.” The tone was cool and full of complete bullshit.
My blood ran cold.
“Simon Powers.” I scanned for a spot on the freeway to pull over. I couldn’t drive with any sense and deal with this motherfucker. “How’s that leg treating you?”
“Better now with this wad of cash I got from some copper I came across. Money makes everything feel better. But I know you know all about that.”
I pulled over to the side of the road. I needed to concentrate.
“You really are the scum of the earth.”
Simon laughed maniacally over the phone. “Just getting a little back from what you took from me.”
“I didn’t take jack shit from you.”
“I’m about to take everything that fucking matters from you.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“How’s that girlfriend of yours? What’s her name? June? Jenna? Hot little piece, I’ll say that for ya.”
“You motherfucker!” I seethed. “Don’t you fucking say her name! I will find you, fuck the law. Fuck everything. Do you fucking hear me?”
“Cane, Cane, Cane.” Simon laughed. “It’s like taking candy from a baby. Just tell that baby of yours not to wear that tie-dyed shirt when she goes for a walk. Makes it too easy to spot her. At least make me work for it.”
The line went dead.
I replayed his words again as I fumbled with the screen and dialed Jada. I felt like I had walked into a freezer, my entire body chilled.
“Hey, baby,” her melodic voice rang out.
“Jada,” I said hurriedly, “do you have a tie-dyed shirt?”
“What?” she asked, obviously confused.
“Do you have a tie-dyed shirt? Just answer me.” I scanned the inside of the car for something to focus on, something to help me calm the fuck down.
“I … yeah, Cane, I do. How would you even know that?”
“FUCK!”
THIRTY-SEVEN
Cane
“Parker.”
“Nick, it’s me.” I swerved through the traffic, heading to my office but not sure that was where I should be.
Where do I go?
