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“I admit I was hoping you’d know something with your downtown connections.”
“I was thinking the same.”
“Well, either our connections aren’t as good as we thought or there’s nothing to tell. Do you want some time to think it over?”
“No, I’m in. I do have one last case of my own I need to wrap up though.”
“You can bring it in. I’ll let you bill them just like it was your own.”
“I’d rather not. This one is a little personal.”
“Too personal to tell me about?”
“Mal is missing. His brother hired me to find him.”
“His brother? You mean Marv?”
“You know Marv?”
“I worked narcotics, so I know of him or at least the crowd he runs with. His MC was the distribution arm of a considerable methamphetamine manufacturer. I’m not in the loop anymore, but I think the cartel took over that trade so they're either in another business or—”
“—they’re working for the same people who Brantley was.”
“You might want to stay away from that one.”
“I know Mal was a dirty cop. I should have known a long time ago, but I didn’t want to see it. He was my friend for a long time, though. I can’t just walk away if he’s in trouble.”
“I understand, I really do. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think with a guy like Mal, he’s always going to be in trouble. It’s just who he is.”
“You’re not wrong, but I still have to at least give it a day or so. I feel like he’d do the same for me.”
Shaw thought about that for a minute before saying, “Yeah, he probably would. You’re still getting paid though?”
“Yeah,” Margot replied. She left out the part about a ‘family’ discount.
“Good. You want to start next week then?”
“Sounds great.”
“Excellent. Do me a favor though, okay?”
“Name it.”
“Don’t get yourself killed over Mal. Being my partner is going to be a good thing for both of us.”
“Okay, I’ll do my best.”
“Do better than that. I’m serious. You might think you and Mal are alike, but you’re not. You have something to live for.”
“Working with you?”
“Among many other things, but yeah.”
Chapter 3
Margot drove home thinking that perhaps things were looking up. She was about halfway home when her sister called. Margot and Melanie had been through some rough times lately. Margot finding her ex-boyfriend dead in the desert hadn’t helped.
They’re relationship, however, seemed to be on the upswing. They were both making efforts to talk to each other and, most of the time, they managed to do so without an argument starting. Margot found herself glad she was calling. She actually had some good news to tell.
