“Hey,” Rob said. “It’s early. Is everything alright?”
“Yeah…”
“Oh, never mind,” he said, cutting me off. “Everything’s notokay. Because you’re trying to get my niece killed, you ass face.”
I cringed. “Good morning to you too.”
“Good morning,” Rob mumbled.
“And just for the record, Scarlett is my niece too, Rob.”
“Lies. Only in the friendship way. Everyone’s always tryingto steal my niece and nephew away from me. I’m their one and only uncle.”
Every now and then Rob got defensive about the whole frienduncle thing. Usually when he was mad at me about something. And if he was bringingthat up, then I wasn’t off to a good start for getting the camera. Angry Robwas hard to negotiate with.
“Blood isn’t everything,” I said.
“Did you call to tell me your other non-related niece isgoing to get murdered too? How long have you known that my daughter is introuble with freaking mobsters? A week? A month? Longer?”
I would have hung up on him, but my hands were on the wheel. “Imade a mistake…”
“A mistake is bringing me a burger without bacon when Ispecifically asked for bacon.”
“That happened one time,” I said.
“Best friends know best friends’ burger orders.”
“True. Which is why it only happened one time. I know youlike your burgers without the lettuce and tomato because veggies have no rightto be on top of meat. And mayo doesn’t belong on hot things, which is why youalways ask for extra ketchup on the side. And crispy bacon of course.”
“Exactly.” The laughter was back in Rob’s voice.
It was now or never. “I need a favor, Rob.”
Rob groaned.
“I know Hunter Tech has a prototype for an undetectable camera.Can I borrow it?”
“There’s only one prototype, man. And how do you even knowabout that?”
“You told me.”
“I never told you about it,” Rob said. “It’s highly classified.”
I laughed. “Isn’t that only for government stuff? Rob, youtold me a few guys’ nights ago. We were talking about sexting, remember?”
“No, I don’t remember.”
“Well, you did get pretty drunk,” I said. “Pretty sure youeven sexted me.”
“I did not sext you. I only sext my wife.”
“Rob you sext me all the time. I have at least a dozen textsof your left ass cheek on my phone.”
“Fine, I occasionally send you pictures of myself in whatsome might deem compromising positions. But only because you’re the only onethat’s seen my mole since it first showed up, so who else is supposed to tellme if it’s grown?”
“A dermatologist.”
“Psh. I’m not showing a stranger my left ass cheek. And bythe way, you should delete those photos after I send them to you. They’re alsohighly classified.”
I laughed. “So in exchange for staring at your ass a fewtimes a year, can I maybe borrow that camera? I’ll give it back, I swear. Ijust need it for one night.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes.” There was an awkward silence.
“I’m going to need more details than that, Matt,” he said. “Whatdo you need it for?”
I didn’t want to tell Rob about my mission to get thehitwoman to confess everything. He’d tell me it was too dangerous. He’d tell menot to go through with it. But I didn’t really have a choice. Telling him itwould help save Scarlett would guarantee me a yes. “It’s to get Poppy and Mr.Pruitt off my back. And keep Scarlett safe. I have a plan to corner thehitwoman that’s after me and get her to confess everything. I’m hoping thefootage will be enough to get Mr. Pruitt sent to prison where he belongs.”
“You’re going to corner a hitwoman? All by yourself?”
“Tanner’s helping me.”
“Tanner? Ugh. He barely counts as help. I’ll help you.”
I didn’t want Rob to help me. He had a wife and kids at homethat relied on him. Not that something happening to Tanner wouldn’t be awfultoo. I’d sure miss him a ton. And what would Nigel do without him? Probablyfollow me around…
“Rob, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Too late. You need me. I’m the one with the camera.”
I sighed. “Fine.”
“But there is one condition?”
“What’s the condition?” I asked.
“You have to say that I’m your best friend in front ofTanner. Tonight. Right before this all goes down.”
“Rob, I’m allowed to have two best friends.”
“You are not! It’s not a plural term. Accept my conditions oryou can count me and my fancy camera out.”
“Can’t I just tell you that you’re my best friend over thephone?”
“No, it has to be in person.”
Geez, he was more like Tanner than he realized. Maybe thatwas why they butted heads so much.
“Do we have a deal?” Rob asked.
“Fine. Come to my practice today. The hitwoman has been to afew of my games and practices. We’re hoping she shows up again.”
“Done. See you later,” he hung up the phone just as I pulledup to Tanners’ apartment building.
Tanner was going to be pissed about worrying him last night,sure. But he was going to be more upset about Rob joining our secret missiontonight. And completely devastated when I said Rob was my best friend in frontof him. Fuck.
I slowly made my way inside and onto the elevator. Why wasn’tI allowed to have two best friends? Honestly, I had four. Because Mason andJames were up there too. Crap, I had to apologize to James too. I’d promisedPenny.
The doors dinged open and I crossed the footbridge, avoidinglooking down at the moving tarp. Really, what the hell was in that water? Thedoor was unlocked so I let myself in. Despite the fact that the sun had risen,the apartment was pitch black. And I had no idea where the light switches were.
I kept my hand on the wall and tried to make my way into thegreat room. Seriously, how was it so dark? Did he have blackout curtains in hismain living area? And if so…why? I found the corner of the wall and knew I wasturning into the great room. But I didn’t have to guess where I was for long,because a light turned on in the middle of the room.
Tanner was sitting in an antique wingback chair that I’mpretty sure hadn’t been in the great
