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“Steel.” The door revealed Theo, not Larry.
Great.
“Where’s Larry?”
“He’s gone.”
“Where?”
“Hell if I know. I got here a few hours ago, and he was gone. Probably out with that new chick of his. Gretel.”
“You mean Greta.”
“Whatever.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Probably same thing as you. Looking for Larry.”
“What for?”
“I could ask you the same thing, Steel.”
“He has information I need.”
“Same here.”
“What does he have that you need?”
Theo grinned. “I’ll tell if you will.”
Right. Not going there. Instead—
I pulled out my pistol. I didn’t aim it at Theo, just held it, looking at it.
“What the fuck, man?” Theo inched backward.
“My father’s. Well, mine now, I guess. He was always armed. Now that I’m the owner of the ranch, I figured it wasn’t a bad idea.”
“What the hell kind of shit do you do on that ranch, Steel?”
I blew lightly on the nose of the gun. “I get what I’m after.”
“What’s this abou— Shit. You came to threaten Larry.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because you’re thinking about threatening me. I can see it on your face.” Theo’s voice didn’t waver, but a bead of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Good.
“Why would I want to threaten you, Theo?”
“The drugs. You don’t like the drugs.”
“I like less that you and Tom lied to me at the beginning. But it’s just marijuana. That’s what Tom told me. He’s a daddy, by the way.”
“I heard.”
“Don’t you think the two of you should get on the straight and narrow? I mean, he’s got a kid involved now.”
“We’re on the straight and narrow.”
“Not if you’re dealing in drugs.”
“It’s a little weed, Steel. Nothing major.”
One thing about Theo—nothing worried him. He’d always been that way. He wasn’t an iceman like Tom. No, Theo was more complex. Somewhat sociopathic, even.
Why had I ever hung around these guys in high school?
I blew on the nose of the gun once more and packed it back in the holster. “Think about it. There’s a kid involved now.”
“We’re looking into a new venture, anyway,” Theo said, visibly relieved that I’d put the gun away.
“Yeah? Larry didn’t talk you out of this one?”
“Talk us out of what? What the hell are you talking about?”
No surprise. I’d already known Larry had been lying to me. “Who are you dealing with?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Maybe I want in.”
Theo guffawed. “Good try. You already told us you wanted out.”
“Yeah, that’s before my old man died.”
“You’re saying you got out because of your old man?”
“I’m saying I’m sitting on a fucking shitload of cash, Theo. It’s all mine now. To do with as I please.”
His eyes widened. Mention a shitload of cash, and Theo always got interested.
“I need something in return,” I said.
“What’s that?”
“Tell me the truth.”
“About what?”
“About what happened to Sean Murphy.”
“We’ve been through that, Steel. I’m clean. You know it. I had nothing against the guy.”
“I believe you. I also believe you know what happened.”
“I don’t. Honest.”
I nodded. “Okay, we can play it that way. No cash will be coming your way for your new venture, then.”
“Fuck.” Theo walked over to Larry’s couch and sat down. “Who says we need your cash? Besides, if I knew something, I’d tell you.”
“Would you?”
“Of course. How long have we been friends? Six, seven years?”
Friends was a stretch, but I didn’t say it. “I’ve had the best PIs on this for months now, and nothing. Who do you know who’s that good at hiding something?”
“Only one person.”
“And she’s locked up.” I paced slowly around Larry’s small place. “Right?”
“Right. You know that.”
“Of course. I have witnesses who claim the same thing. Nurses and orderlies at Piney Oaks. Even her doctor.”
“It wasn’t her, Steel.”
“All the evidence points that way. True.”
“You’re not convinced.”
“When it comes to Wendy Madigan, I’ll never be convinced of anything.”
“She’s out of it. Trust me.”
Trust Theo Mathias? Good one. “How do you know?”
“I’ve visited her. Haven’t you?”
“Hell, no.”
“Really? You just turned your back on her? After everything?”
“I did. Once I met Daphne, I knew where my future was, and it wasn’t with Wendy.”
“Well, I’ve seen her. She’s doped up. Doesn’t even know where she is half the time.”
I nodded. I had no reason to disbelieve Theo, but I’d have to see for myself.
I had to visit Wendy.
The thought repulsed me.
I hadn’t come here to interrogate Theo about Murph or Wendy. I’d come to interrogate Larry about the gangster Theo and Tom were allegedly working with. Somehow, though, when I pulled my gun out, I got the distinct impression Theo knew something.
I could be wrong.
But I didn’t think so.
“When’s the last time you visited Wendy?” I asked.
“Actually, it was yesterday,” he said.
My eyebrows shot up. “Did you happen to visit her before my wedding?”
“Fuck it all, Steel. How the hell am I supposed to remember that?”
“You don’t have to. I can check the visitors’ log at the facility.”
“You haven’t done that already?”
“The PIs have. They didn’t see anything suspicious. But they wouldn’t consider you suspicious.”
