I shrugged. “Only when I have something worth saying.”
“Sobranie’s a luxury brand,” Suede Jacket said. “This one’s a Black Russian.”
“So it’s a Russian brand,” Bram said.
“An expensive one,” Suede Jacket confirmed. “Where’d you find it?”
Bram shook his head. “Not important. Are these sold anywhere around here?”
“Only one place that I know of.”
“You going to make me guess?” Bram asked.
“Just making the most of the anticipation,” the other guy said. “Atmosphere is part of the fun.”
“We’re not looking to have fun,” I said.
“What a buzz kill,” Suede Jacket handed the baggie back to me. “Cigar lounge at the Carlton airport. They get a lot of PJs flying in on their way to and from the city. Less crowded out here, no paparazzi looking for a celebrity shot, easier to go unnoticed.”
Bram nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Cool. Thanks.”
“Your tab is getting out of hand,” Suede Jacket called out as I fell in behind Bram.
Bram lifted a hand without looking back and raised his middle finger.
We didn’t talk on our way back to the car, but my mind was churning: the cigarettes were Russian.
And they were sold at the municipal airport in Carlton.
It was always possible whoever had broken into the house — whoever had killed Anna — had purchased the cigarettes somewhere else on their way into town.
But it was also possible they’d flown into Carlton, made a pit stop at the cigar lounge on their way out of the airport.
“We got it,” I said, when Bram and I were back in the Hummer.
“What if I saidwegot it?” Bram asked.
“Then I’d say this is closer to our specialty than yours.”
Bram was a killer.
We know how to get into secure places, knew how to steal things.
“You’re not exactly stealthy,” Bram said.
“We get the job done.”
Bram’s jaw tightened. “Any chance you’re willing to tell Cass to leave the house? Come stay at the loft while we sort all this out?”
I didn’t even have to think about it. “Not a chance in hell.”
He got quiet, then pounded on the dash with his giant fist.
The car shook like it had been mauled by a bear.
I waited for Bram to get it out of his system, half expecting him to tear my head from my body, chuck it out the driver’s side window on his way off the mountain.
Then he cursed and started the car.
