She stopped at the stop sign, counted to three in her head, then signaled right, let her foot off the brake and turned the wheel.
Two hundred-dollar bills.
Everyone’s conscience manifested differently. He felt less guilty when he slipped her money. She didn’t encourage him.
He did it for himself. It was cheaper than a therapist, and she imagined it made him feel like a big fucking hero.
The dickhead was blackmailing himself.
15
FLOOD
Back at Upsend Downs, Stone House smelled like something warm and fruity. Ronnie stripped the wet black trash bag off her cast, dropped it on the boot mat. It had been effective for a few hours.
She lifted her wet hat off her head and bent down to hug Nev, then gave her the usual peck on the cheek. “I need to eat a large amount of meat immediately.”
“I know. I madecoq au vin.”
“You’re the best. Where’s Sheila?”
“The woman you kidnapped?”
Ronnie stumbled into the family room and collapsed face-down on a beige suede couch.
“Sold her to the mob for five quid.”
“No rape jokes, please. Not funny.”
“What happened? Long day?”
Nev lit candles. Ronnie wolfed down two plates of red wine chicken with haricot verts and garlic mashed potatoes. Nev plugged an ancient blow-drier to an extension cord, thenbalanced it on a pile of books on a chair, blowing at the damp cast.
“That’s a fire hazard.”
“You’re a fire hazard. Stop moving.”
“Seriously, where’s Sheila?” Ronnie asked.
“Imagine my surprise. I get home. Telly is on. I think nothing of it. I hop in the shower, come out naked as jaybird, find my house has been hoovered, bins emptied, floors waxed, two pies have been baked, and someone’s granny is on the sofa knitting a jumper while watching The Price is Right turned up all the way.”
“Did she see you naked?”
“She’s nearsighted. Her daughter came and grabbed her.”
Ronnie raised her eyebrows, then shrugged and returned to eating. She ate two slices of pie and a bowl of ice cream.
“You’re not in a family way, are you?”
She ignored the jab. “I didn’t eat dinner.”
“How did the meeting with the lawyer go?”
“Fine, I think.”
“Is she hopeful?”
Ronnie shrugged. “Fingers crossed.” She took the bills Brad Collins had given her out of her chest pocket, laid them on the table.
