AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re saying I should have my friends contact the press?”
“No,” I insist. “Just that it wouldn’t be your fault if they do. No one could blame you, so long as you keep quiet.”
She gives me an overdramatic wink that almost has me believing she’s psychic, if only because she’s a shitty liar.
“Thank you,” she says. “What’s your address? I’m going to send you a housewarming present.”
“That’s not necessary. I’ve lived in the same house for years.”
She leans back in her chair and smiles at me. “The present is because your family is moving in.”
Sighing, I rub my temples. “It’s Thursday. I’d know by now if they were moving in this week.”
“If you’ve lived there for that long, I can find your address by myself. Damien showed me how.”
“Is Damien one of the voices in your head?” I ask. It’s easily the most unprofessional question I’ve ever asked a client, but she basically just admitted to wanting to stalk me, so there you are.
“He’s a private investigator,” she says, looking into my eyes and holding my gaze. It’s a little uncanny, to be stared at by this psychic, and I feel that a goose walked over my grave sensation. “You’ll be meeting him soon.”
I swear to Christ, it’s at that exact moment my phone buzzes. I’m not a superstitious man, but I flinch.
“You’d better get that,” Josie says knowingly. So maybe she didn’t come here because she’s afraid. Maybe she’s up to something.
When I check my phone screen, I see Danny’s number. My heart thumps at a faster pace. I lift up a hand to Josie in a please wait gesture and answer it.
“Danny?”
“Yeah,” he says, his voice agitated. “Ruthie asked me to call you, because she’s too shaken up to talk right now. Someone vandalized her van.” A beat passes. “It’s bad. We’re here at Tank’s shop.”
“Is she hurt?” I blurt, my voice loud in the small office. “Is she okay?”
“She hasn’t been harmed, but I wouldn’t say she’s okay. The van’s really messed up.”
Fuck, fuck. Ruthie’s been pouring her soul into her project, preparing for this weekend. She must be devastated. It must feel like the failure she’s feared is happening. But that’s not the only thing that worries me…
That van didn’t mess itself up. Someone did it on purpose, and I doubt it was a random crime. Someone did this because they know how important Vanny is to Ruthie.
“Have you called the police?”
“Yes. They’re on their way, and I also called those P.I.s Burke knows. I have a feeling they might be more helpful for something like this. There’s property damage, obviously, but whoever did it didn’t take anything. The cops are more interested when something’s been stolen.”
“Could your mother be responsible?”
“I’m hoping that’s what they can tell us,” he says, a low rumble of anger beneath his voice.
“Can we fix it?” I ask. “Or do we have to buy new stuff?” I think again of how much effort Ruthie’s been pouring in, only for the cup to be broken.
“Maybe a mixture of both.”
“I’ll be right there,” I say, already getting up and grabbing my coat from the tree.
“Thanks.” Silence hangs over the line for a moment before he adds, “I didn’t just call you for Ruthie. I wanted your take on this, man.” Then the line goes dead. Maybe he’s still mad at me, but he hasn’t lost all faith in me.
“Where are we going?” Josie asks eagerly.
I’d forgotten she was there, which is ridiculous given she’s sitting right in front of my desk, but my focus is now on getting to Ruthie. Helping Ruthie. Showing Danny…whatever it is he needs to see.
My gaze narrows on her. “Ruthie’s van was vandalized. Did you have something to do with this?”
