Page 62 of Kaine

“I meant the thing about talking to Dylan.”

“It’s nothing. I just need him to check up on someone for me, that’s all. Geez, when did you get so nosy?”

“You pay me to be nosy.”

“No, I pay you, cos I can’t get rid of you.”

“So, what do you want Dylan to find out about Jade?”

“Huh? Who said anything about Jade?” I should know better than to try to hide anything from Xavier. He’s right, I pay him to know my business.

“You do. All the time. With your non-words and moody moods.”

I huff quietly and hope he’ll move on. But apparently he knows me better than I know him.

“So, am I right?” he says, victory already in his voice.

“Shut up.”

He laughs so hard there’s a thud and a curse, and I secretly hope he cracked his phone screen when he dropped it.

“You know, and this is just a thought...”

“Maybe keep it that way.”

“Nah, it’s too good a thought, so I’m sharing it with you”

“What?”

“There are better and, you’ll like this, CHEAPER ways of finding out things about a person, you know. Not everything has to cost $500 an hour.”

“And what way is that?”

“Just ask her, you dumb ass.”