“Bullshit!” he roars, balling his fists. “Don’t make me tune you up again, Malone. I’m still fit for a fight, and you’re pissing me off more and more every day. You’re actin’ out ‘cos your heart hurts and your marriage sucks, but ya know what? I recall a time, way back when I caught my ex-wife fucking a cop,but that cop wasn’t me.You said I was running on hate and tempting fate, ‘cos I didn’t mind taking a beating or stepping in front of a gun. You said I was being reckless, and if I kept it up, you’d give me something new to focus on.”
“Something new,” I snort, trying, but failing, to make the sound like a laugh. “I was gonna run you down with my truck and put you in the hospital in traction. Busted legs would’ve slowed your bullshit.”
“Exactly! So now it’syoustepping in front of guns. It’syoudisappearing for half the fucking morning, turning your phone off and forcing me to explain to Fabian where the hell my partner was—except, I didn’t know! So I had to make some shit up and hope it wouldn’t get us both fired. It’syoutaking secretphone calls, and when I ask you about them, you tell me to mind my fucking business.”
“Because the calls are none of your business.” I pick up my busted vest, knowing I need to bag it and hand it in to Lieutenant Fabian after this. Along with an explanation for how our knock-warrant for Masslin, the roofying rapist bastard, escalated into a whole-ass gunfight. “I’m allowed to exist outside of you. I’m allowed to talk to people and it not be about you.”
“Just fucking talk toher!” His voice crackles on the last word, while behind him, two uniformed officers come to a curious stop. The instant our eyes meet, they shuffle along and do the thing Fletch can’t;mind their own business. “You sent her away,” he growls. “Youbroke this. We’ve already had this discussion, Arch! You said you had a pet wolf you needed to protect, and then you decided you loved her anyway, even with the wolf thing riding shotgun.”
“You need to shut the fuck up.” I cast a wary glance back toward the door as Officer Clay tiptoes through. He does all he can to appear as small as possible. To not be noticed. But if Clay’s on site, Banks is on site. And Banks’ face is a face I can’t see today without tearing the whole fucking thing off, so I peel my teeth back and meet Fletch’s glare. “Stop talking. More importantly, stop bitching about a relationship you’re not even a part of.”
“I don’t understand this.” He steps away, shaking his head from side to side. “I don’t agree with it. And worse, I know it’s not you. You don’t want this, Arch. You would die before giving her up, which meanssomeone elseis pulling your strings.” He knocks his hat back and scrubs his fingers through his hair. “Either that, or you’ve completely lost all the good sense youwere born with.” He tugs his hat back into place and sneers. “Pick up the phone and fix it, Malone. Because women like her? They don’t stick around for long.”
“You think she’ll move on so easily?” I snarl. “Less than a week apart and she’s already planning a fucking dinner with someone else?”
“Nah, dickhead. As in, she’s one of thosefor-lifetypes. So if the man she loves doesn’t want her anymore, what do you think she’s gonna do?” He gestures toward the destroyed couch, the cushion stuffing lying in clumps and behind it, four bullet holes in the wall. “Probably the same shit you’re doing. But even with all that Malone blood in your veins, I still reckonshe’sthe one with a mission and enough drive to get it done.” Growling, he snatches my vest and studies each chink in my armor. “Three inches up, and one of those rounds was going straight through your voice box. Then what?” He turns and snatches his phone from his pocket. “You die, she’s out here with enough rage to power an entire city, and… you expect her to survive it?”
“What are you doing?” I take a single step forward. “Who are you calling?”
“Morgue. I wonder if the chief is available for this case?”
MINKA
Soph
Take the meds, Mayet. Tell me when you do, so I can monitor.
I ordered all your new tech today. Cost me an easy six figures, and that money is coming out of my pocket.
Tell me who wants me dead.
Jennifer:
Soph said you’re starting the M&Ms today! That’s super exciting. Keep thorough notes: time you took it, your weight when you took it, how long it’s been since your last Factor infusion, all that sort of stuff.
I LOVE DATA!
Michelle Mancino:
Estefan called me this morning. He told me you took an attitude with him earlier this week. Ballsy move, Mayet. Not sure if you know who’s who in this world, but might I suggest you watch The Godfather?
It’s currently on streaming services. It ought to give you a general idea of what’s up and who you shouldn’t cross. Hint: Cordoza is the really important, really powerful one.
Not that I think he’d whack you, since he kinda likes you—not as much as he likes me—but still. Be chill, Chief. Be chill. He’s getting old and doesn’t need you stressing him out like that.
Soph:
Are you stressing my sister out, Minka Mayet? Stop it!
Jay Bishop:
I’m peeking through the blinds of a meeting room inside the Checkmate Offices, Chief, and I see two Solomon psychos and a Lawrence.
They’ve all got their phones out, all conducting separate conversations, but all of their conversations lead back to you. Should I put you on the payroll yet?
Who wants my wife dead? Is it Jen? If it’s Jen, tell me so I can stand between them. Especially around the middle of the month. That’s when things get extra messy.
“For God’s sake.” I lock my phone and toss the device onto my desk. Sitting back, I watch through my office windows as the rest of my staff hum and work around me, dead bodies laid out on almost every single autopsy table, medical examiners busily slicing through their DBs while the air conditioning keeps each suite icy cold, and the filtration system allows for the stench of decay to slide straight up through the vents instead of linger and make us retch.
