My mouth went dry knowing where this was going. Randy had either money or product for these guys, and now they were collecting.
“I told you…” I had to clear my throat, which probably make me look guilty as hell. “We broke up weeks ago. I…I haven’t seen him.”
“See, that’s the thing,” Gary remarked. “The first week Randy didn’t show up, we chalked it up to a bender. That happens sometimes. You get…overwhelmed by your…party of choice.” I stood there listening to these men talk about drugs and deals as if they were discussing the weather. “The second week he stayed missing, we thought he might have gotten pinched and was in jail.”
“A quick computer search proved that wrong,” Merrick added.
Gary took a step closer towards me, but he kept a respectful enough distance that, if anyone walking by were to see us, it’d look like we were just some friends talking. “Now, the third week he remained gone, we thought he might be dead.”
“Searched the obituaries and made some inquiries at the morgue, and city records say he’s not dead,” Merrick remarked. “At least, he’s not in Cedar Creek dead.”
“So, the fourth week pointed to Randy possibly skipping town,” Gary continued. “But, you see, that just doesn’t feel right.” He cocked his head to the side. “I think the man done pissed off the wrong person and maybe he just didn’t get a proper spiritual send off, you know?”
The sensation of dread danced down my spine. “I…I still don’t know how I can help you guys.”
Merrick grinned and it didn’t put me at ease at all. “Did you ever see Randy with an engraved wooden box?”
“Very beautiful,” Gary threw in for added flair.
“Indeed,” Merrick agreed. “It about a foot long and six inches wide.”
“And it’s made of real wood,” Gary supplied further. “None of that particle board bullshit. But real solid oak, intricate designs on the sides.”
“Uh, no,” I told them. “But then…I didn’t spend a lot of time at his place. The…longer we dated, the more time he spent at my house.”
“Well, that’s what we kind of figured,” Gary replied. “So, that’s why we think there might be a chance that this box could be at your house.”
My eyes widened.
No way.
I shook my head. “I don’t th…think so,” I stammered. “I never saw him with a box like that.” I started to fidget in fear, but I was sure they wouldn’t see it that way. They probably thought I was panicking over getting caught with the box. “I didn’t really see him with much, actually.”
Gary reached out and started playing with a lock of my hair that had fallen out of my ponytail. My hair wasn’t too long, so that brought him within close proximity of my person. “Well, what we’d like you to do is go home and look around a bit,” he said. “Do you think you could do that for us?”
“Oooor,” Merrick chimed in, “we could go over and take a look ourselves, yeah?”
“No,” I rushed out. “I…I’d be happy to take a look around.” I nodded like a simpleton. “I…uhm, I have tomorrow off from work. I can look for it.” I gave them both a fake, wobbly smile. “It’ll help me get some real spring-cleaning in.”
Gary dropped the lock of my hair. “Good, good,” he murmured. “I knew we could count on you.” He looked over at Merrick. “Didn’t I tell you we could count on her?”
Merrick gave him a brief nod. “You sure did,” he agreed.
“So, how about we pick this up…Monday? Tuesday, maybe?” Gary suggested.
“Uh, I work Tuesday swing shift,” I told them. “I…I could arrive a half hour earlier and…meet you guys here?”
This times Merrick’s grin was all teeth. “Perfect,” he beamed. “It’s so wonderful when people are cooperative, don’t you think? I prefer it to the alternative, really.”
I was flabbergasted by the entire exchange, myself. These men looked like petty thugs, but they spoke with manners befitting the uppercrust.
They were definitely an oddity.
“Y...yes,” I agreed. “I’m sure this…will be…uh, settled easily.”
They both shook my hand, further confusing the shit out of me, but when they turned to walk away, Gary added, “It is especially important we find this box, Robbie. I hope you understand how very imperative it is that you find it.” His head tilted a bit. “Do you understand, Robbie?”
I heard him loud and clear. I knew a threat when I heard one. I also knew they were convinced I had the box or could help them locate it. With Randy gone, I was their last hope of finding it and something told me they weren’t going to give up so easily.
I nodded my head. “I understand.”
Gary smiled, and it transformed his entire face. He was actually decent-looking when he smiled. “Glad to hear it.” Saying nothing further, he turned, and they both walked out of the back alley of the Brighton’s.
Once again, I had to compose myself before heading back home.
Chapter 9
Ciro~
“Seriously, Curtis, I was hoping you’d learn the last time,” I muttered as I shook my head at the poor bastard tied to my favorite chair. “I was convinced your missing pinkie would have been a constant reminder to stay on the straight and narrow.” I let out a dramatic sigh. “Yet, here we are again.”
Of course, his muffled pleas didn’t do him much good at pleading his case, but we were past that point. Unless Luca gave a direct torture-and-kill order, he let me decide how many chances someone deserved, and I took that responsibility seriously.
However, unfortunately for Curtis, my dick was still hard with the frustrations of a certain brunette, and I was going to take those frustrations out on him. I needed an outlet and poor, stupid Curtis was the only one around for me to utilize.
Now, Curtis’ path down the road to the funhouse was his inability to keep his hands to himself, his favorite target being his wife. Now, Nadine-Curtis’ wife-was Fernando’s wife’s sister. Who is Fernando, you
