“That one is mutual. I was dead before you showed up.”
Shaw nodded and smiled. “I did save your ass, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
“See, that’s why I’m here. We saved each other.”
“Obviously. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Speaking of obvious, tell me you see what I’m getting at.”
Margot considered it for a minute and then asked, “Are you offering me a job?”
“No, I’m offering you to be my partner.”
“You want me to replace Stick?”
“No, I want you to be my new partner. Stick was Stick and you’re Margot. I’ll never get another Stick, but I think I could be happy working with a Margot. You’re tough and smart, otherwise neither of us would be here.”
“If I was smart, I wouldn’t have walked into Brantley’s trap.”
“Look, if you don’t want to be my partner, I’ll understand. You don’t have to talk me out of it. If I didn’t think you were up to the job I wouldn’t have ever asked.”
“I guess you caught me off guard. I figured you wanted to talk about what happened out in the desert.”
“I admit I was hoping you’d know something with your downtown connections.”
“I was thinking the same.”
“Well, either our connections aren’t as good as we thought or there’s nothing to tell. Do you want some time to think it over?”
“No, I’m in. I do have one last case of my own I need to wrap up though.”
“You can bring it in. I’ll let you bill them just like it was your own.”
“I’d rather not. This one is a little personal.”
“Too personal to tell me about?”
“Mal is missing. His brother hired me to find him.”
“His brother? You mean Marv?”
“You know Marv?”
“I worked narcotics, so I know of him or at least the crowd he runs with. His MC was the distribution arm of a considerable methamphetamine manufacturer. I’m not in the loop anymore, but I think the cartel took over that trade so they're either in another business or—”
“—they’re working for the same people who Brantley was.”
“You might want to stay away from that one.”
“I know Mal was a dirty cop. I should have known a long time ago, but I didn’t want to see it. He was my friend for a long time, though. I can’t just walk away if he’s in trouble.”
“I understand, I really do. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think with a guy like Mal, he’s always going to be in trouble. It’s just who he is.”
“You’re not wrong, but I still have to at least give it a day or so. I feel like he’d do the same for me.”
Shaw thought about that for a minute before saying, “Yeah, he probably would. You’re still getting paid though?”
“Yeah,” Margot replied. She left out the part about a ‘family’ discount.
“Good. You want to start next week then?”
“Sounds great.”
“Excellent. Do me a favor though, okay?”
“Name it.”
“Don’t get yourself killed over Mal. Being my partner is going to be a good thing for both of us.”
“Okay, I’ll do my best.”
“Do better than that. I’m serious. You might think you and Mal are alike, but you’re not. You have something to live for.”
“Working with you?”
“Among many other things, but yeah.”
Chapter 3
Margot drove home thinking that perhaps things were looking up. She was about halfway home when her sister called. Margot and Melanie had been through some rough times lately. Margot finding her ex-boyfriend dead in the desert hadn’t helped.
They’re relationship, however, seemed to be on the upswing. They were both making efforts to talk to each other and, most of the time, they managed to do so without an argument starting. Margot found herself glad she was calling. She actually had some good news to tell.
“Hey, Melanie, what’s up?”
“I just talked to Dad.”
Margot was silent for a second. With Randy gone, their dad was the major source of disagreement these days. He was currently incarcerated for his role in the death of their mother. Like Melanie, their mom had a thing for abusive men. And their mom’s attraction to the wrong type of man had proved to be fatal.
“You know I’ve made it clear I don’t want to hear anything he has to say.”
“I know but he’s sick, really sick. He’s not going to make it much longer.”
“Too bad. You know who didn’t even get to make it this long, thanks to him?”
“You don’t have to tell me. I’m well aware.”
“Are you?”
“He’s still my dad. I don’t think it’s fair that I lose both parents because one of them made a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
“Yes, a horrible mistake but still a mistake.”
Margot caught herself before she said something that would likely escalate the situation and instead said, “I’m guessing you called because he said he wants to see me?”
“I told him how you felt about that, but he made me promise to ask you. So, even though I know it’s probably a waste of time, I’m asking.”
“Are you just asking because you promised? Or do you still think I should go?”
“I think you should go, but I’m asking mostly because I promised.”
“He knows that, even if I go, I’ll still hate him?”
“He does, but he still wants to see you one last time. Could you at least think about it before you say no?”
“I don’t believe there’s much to think about.”
“Then don’t think that much, but don’t answer me until tomorrow.”
“You think I’m going to sleep on it and come to a different conclusion?”
“No, but that way I’d feel I’d done my best.”
“Alright, I’d tell you no tomorrow instead of tonight. I’m
