“What?”
“I’m sorry you got cheated on.”
There went my opinion that FBI agents weren’t human.“What would you know about being cheated on?”
She made a face.“First husband, second husband, six boyfriends, and I think my cat left me for a better house.”
I could feel that.But she was still a Fed.“That sucks.Talk to Casey.He’ll tell you that you are barking up the wrong tree.”
“The owner?”
“Former owner.Two years ago, my best friend, Kat, and I bought the place.”
“But you kepthimon?”
While Casey didn’t have anything that hadn’t already been dug through at least a hundred times, I got defensive.“Why wouldn’t we?”
“He’s a cop.”
“Was.”I leaned in and stared Agent Perkins in the eye and spackled down a thick layer of truth.“You know that there is a saying ‘honor among thieves?’But if you ask around, there isn’t one like that for the police.Sure, they talk a big game about having each other’s backs and holding that thin little line, but when your partner is a lying scumbag who cheated on his wife with a drug dealer’s second mistress while running more meth through the south side than any real dealer, well… they get a hard-on about bad apples, even if they’re innocent.Casey learned just how supportive his brotherhood truly was.I’m very glad he joined the other side and I willdieon that hill, feel me?”
Something worked across her face before she masked it.“I get it.You were a spoiled kid who never learned there are folks putting their lives on the line to keep you safe.”
“I was safe before all that.What I wasn’t after, was a kid.I couldn’t be because my childhood was one big game of hide and seek with your so-called protectors who liked staring through my window at night.I was eight!”
I hadn’t meant to yell.And I really hadn’t wanted to lose my cool around the nosy agent in sensible shoes.
Tall Bob loomed behind Agent Perkins.“Last call was ten minutes ago.Leave.”He leaned a little, using every inch of his six feet four frame to intimidate.While I knew he was a pacifist, I couldn’t confirm that a two-A.M.-drunken Tall Bob with a half a crush on me wouldn’t toss a field agent from the FBI right out on her ass if she resisted.
Little Molly hustled up to join him.
And shewouldtoss Bridget Perkins on her ass.That’s why I hired her.
“Get your ass out.I’m not telling you twice,” Molly warned.
The agent stepped away, hands held high.“Apologies.Have a good night.”
It took much longer to get Bob out because he had this mistaken idea Molly and I needed a man around.I’d walked him out, pointed him in the direction of his apartment building, and was trying to talk him down for the fifth time when Ringo rolled down his car window.
“Yo, Bob.I got this.Go home.”
Bob swayed a little and stared at Ringo leaning to the passenger side so he could see his face more clearly.“I know you.You sat in Ellie’s seat.”
“Yeah, he did, Bob.He’s my bodyguard for tonight.You can go home now.”
Bob didn’t listen to me.“Are you trying to date our Ellie?She’s free, you know?”
“Bob, go home.”
My words were drowned out by Ringo introducing himself to Bob.“I’ll see you at the party, Saturday.”
“Hell yeah.Wear black.”And with that, he waved at me, Molly standing in the door, and shook Ringo’s hand a second time.“Take care of our Ellie.But I get dibs on Molly, understand?’
“Loud and clear, Bob.Molly’s yours.”
I checked with Molly, who’d turned pink.She shook her head to deny Bob’s words and then retreated into the bar to finish cleaning.
I leaned into the car.“I’ll be an hour at least.I’ve got to close out the tills and wipe down the place.Are you going to wait?”
