"How?" Zero. Flat.
"Richard's joint account. Margot's spending shows up on the same statement."
We look at each other.
"I'll do it," Zero says. Already moving.
"We all do it," I say. "Together. Last time we give him even a second of our fucking time."
Richard is in his study.
I can smell the bourbon from the hallway. The study is dark except for the desk lamp.
Zero opens the door without knocking.
Richard looks up from the armchair. Glass half empty. Eyes bloodshot.
He’s been drinking himself in a stupor all day. Probably upset about Margot being gone, probably pissed at us. I don’t really give a fuck how he feels–but if he isn’t being eaten alive with guilt about what he did to Max then he’s worse than I ever thought.
"Boys—"
Zero crosses the room in four strides and has him by the collar before the glass hits the floor.
"Zero—" Richard's hands come up. "Son, I—"
"Don'tcall me that."
"I made a mistake. I know I made a mistake. What I did to Max was—"
"You're going to open your laptop," Zero says. Each word placed like a knife on a table. "You're going to log into your joint account. You're going to show us every charge Margot made since last night. Hotel. Gas. Flight. Whatever she used the card for, we see it. Right now."
Richard looks past Zero to Atlas. To me.
Atlas says nothing. He stands by the door with his arms at his sides and watches.
I say nothing. I stand beside Atlas.
Richard looks back at Zero.
"Uh, okay," he says. Quiet. "Okay. Let me—let me get to the desk."
Zero releases his collar. Steps back. One step.
Richard sits at the desk. Opens the laptop. His hands are shaking. He pulls up the account. Turns the screen.
Atlas steps forward. Scans it.
"The Ridgemont. Four forty-seven this morning. One room. Fourth floor." He keeps scrolling. Stops. "And two tickets through United. Purchased at six twelve AM."
My stomach drops.
"Flights to where?" Zero.
"It doesn't show the destination on the charge. Just the amount." Atlas pulls his phone out. "Four hundred and eighteen dollars. Two tickets. That's domestic."
"When do they leave?" Zero is already at the door. "Tonight? Tomorrow? Are they already—"
"I can't tell from a credit card charge, Zero. It just shows the purchase."
