Chapter Thirty-Four

Cass’s friend Blair lived in one of the older residential neighbourhoods in the city. It was full of charming old homes that had been converted into apartments, and as Billy drove through it, I surveyed the area critically. It was not as safe-looking as I wanted it to be.

“You’re not just gonna see her,” Billy finally said.

“I’m not looking for her,” I muttered.

“Bullshit.”

“I was just thinking about what a crappy neighbourhood this is,” I said.

Billy gave me a look that let me know he didn’t believe me at all.

I tapped my fingers on my knee. The steady stream of alcohol I’d been consuming all day was starting to wear off a little, and the result was the beginnings of a headache and an enhanced feeling of desperation.

“What did I do, Billy?”

The other man shook his head. “Which part are you talking about? I’ve got a list.”

“All of it!” I yelled without meaning to.

“What were you expecting?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted in a weak voice. “I brought a normal, everyday girl into this mess of a life I’ve got going on…I just need to know she’s safe, all right?”

“All right,” Billy agreed, and he pulled the car up in front of one the old houses.

“Will you wait here?” I asked him. “I promise to control myself.”

The other man nodded curtly. “Ten minutes.”

“Unless she wants me to stay,” I said hopefully as I let myself out.

I pretended not to hear his groan as I slammed the door shut. My spirits dropped and my anxiety lifted more than marginally as I went around the side of the house. The basement door was wide open, and I frowned.

“Cass?” I called, and then added, “Blair?”

There was no answer.

I took a cautious step forward, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I was suddenly wishing I’d brought my weapon.

“Dammit,” I said as the cool metal of a gun barrel pressed down on my back.

“Unbelievable.”

I was so surprised by the authoritative tone in the familiar voice that I almost spun around.

“Don’t move,” the voice commanded. “Where’s Billy?”

“Doc?”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” he said. “It’s just plain insulting.”

“Where’s Cass?” I countered.

“What is with you and that girl?” the other man asked.

I shrugged and he sighed.

“Billy’s around the front, boss…” The voice trailed off as the speaker caught sight of me with the gun pressed between my shoulder blades.

“Thank you, Gary.”

“Yeah, thanks,” I added sarcastically.

I got a solid shot to the kidneys for my efforts, and I had to force myself to remain upright. I looked up and met my former accountant’s eyes.

“You’re alive.”

“And kicking,” he replied.

“Well. That’s one less death I’m responsible for,” I said.

“Your girlfriend—no, wait, it was wife, right? She’s alive, too. She’ll stay that way as long as you’re behaving,” he told me.

“Fine,” I agreed quickly.

There was long pause and the Doc laughed. “I’ve been thinking of you as impervious to feeling for so long I really expected you to just tell me to go ahead and kill her.”

I didn’t answer.

“Gary has a phone here. You’re going to use it to text Billy. Tell him you’ve reconciled with the girl and you’ll make your own way home later,” the Doc instructed. “And be convincing.”

I typed the message.

Using Blair’s phone. All is good. Staying with Cass. Call later.

I handed the cell back to Gary, who nodded and pressed send.

“Sorry about this,” the Doc said, then cracked me on the head with the butt of the gun.