The elevator dinged down the hall, and the door slid open. Footsteps shuffled out.
I drew my pistol and handed Brandi over to Jack. He held onto her arm and kept her from taking off.
I peered down the hall.
A guy rounded the corner with a pissed-off look on his face. He glared at me, marching toward me with a purpose.
Brandi leaned her head out from the storage compartment and peered down the hallway. "Oh shit,” she grumbled to herself, then grew a set. "Fuck off, Rodney!”
35
Rodney looked over his shoulder like she was talking to somebody else. "Me? Are you telling me to fuck off? Woman, you’re out of your goddamn mind!"
I flashed my badge. "Coconut County. Stop right there. Don't move. Put your hands in the air.”
Rodney stopped where he was and looked at me like I was the crazy one. With my gun aimed at him, he got the idea I meant business. "This don't involve you."
"I'm afraid it does."
"I got business with Brandi."
"I don't care who you’ve got business with.”
Rodney scowled at me. He was a short guy whose ego and attitude towered over him. Mouthy and loud. "Brandi, did you forget about our arrangement? Whatever money you come into, I’m due a commission.”
"You're fired, Rodney. I don't need you anymore.”
Rodney's face reddened, and the veins in his forehead bulged. "Oh, you don't need me anymore!?”
"You heard me. Get lost."
"It's time for you to go, Rodney," I said. "Otherwise, I'm going to arrest you for obstruction."
"Obstruction of what?”
"Rodney, I'm going to give you five seconds to turn around and get out of here.”
"Man, I didn’t do nothing. This is a public place. You can't tell me what to do."
"Beat it, loser," Brandi quipped.
Rodney was about to explode, but he contained himself. "You talk tough now. But I’m gonna catch up with your ass.”
"Five… Four… Three…”
"Alright, alright. I'm going.” He took a few steps back. "This ain't the last you’ve seen of me, Brandi.”
Rodney spun around and stomped back down the hallway, swinging his arms like a child who'd just had a temper tantrum.
"See what I've had to put up with for the last four years," Brandi said. "I get a little sympathy for that, right?"
Rodney reached the end of the hallway and disappeared around the corner. The elevator doors opened, and it sounded like Rodney stepped aboard.
The doors closed, and the level went silent.
“Looks like Tabitha ratted you out,” I said to Brandi.
She frowned. “Bitch!”
