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“Seems like we both have issues with our employees,” Lamont said mildly.
Jackass chuckled, his good humor seemingly restored. “How are you going to deal with Eckert?”
“I haven’t decided,” he lied smoothly. He’d stopped for a drink when he’d been halfway home and had decided exactly who he’d use to get rid of the hit man who’d allowed himself to get caught. “Do you have any suggestions? Because if he talks and someone investigates, we’re both likely to catch some heat.”
Jackass’s eyes narrowed. “Only if you can’t hold your tongue.”
“True. But that was the purpose of this partnership, was it not? Both of us are motivated to keep the other safe. Now, answer my question. Do you have any suggestions?”
It would be better if Jackass made the arrangements. Then any snafus could be traced to him. Not me.
Jackass opened his mouth like he was going to rant, then drew a breath and smiled coldly. “I’m not doing your dirty work with Eckert. You’re on your own there. Figure it out yourself.”
It was worth a try.“Then why are you here?”
“We need to find Xavier Morrow. He’s got to have told the lady PI about what he saw by now. They got cozy at Broussard’s office today. Even had food delivered from Rocky’s kid’s restaurant. With all that time, Morrow’s got to have spilled everything.”
Lamont had already figured that out, minus the catering. “But if he’s dead, he can’t testify. It’ll just be hearsay. It might get rough for a while, I’m not gonna lie. I don’t relish the scandal, but there’s no way they’ll get a conviction without Morrow’s testimony. Not against me.” He’d be able to spin it. Somehow. “I’ve got too many allies in high places. Broussard can’t hurt me. He’s got no body. He’s got no anything. Except for Morrow. So I agree, he’s got to go. How are you planning to do it? Considering you’ve got all the men, after all.”
“So do you.” Jackass pointed to the bookshelf. “I’d bet my next paycheck that you’ve got a list right there in that safe.”
Lamont made a point of bringing his pistol closer, leaving his palm on the grip.
Jackass rolled his eyes. “For fuck’s sake, Monty. I’m not going to make you open it. You’ve gotten very paranoid lately.” He tilted his head. “Is that why you jumped from your car and ran through traffic like your ass was on fire tonight?”
Lamont drew a deep breath, rage bubbling up from his gut. “You were following me?”
“Of course.” Jackass smiled like a crocodile. “My man followed you all the way home. I couldn’t have you in danger, now could I? I was only protecting you.”
Liar. Liar. Liar.It was a very thinly veiled threat. “What about Morrow?”
The smile disappeared. “I’m getting access to all of Broussard’s real estate holdings. He’s hidden Morrow and his group somewhere, but I don’t know where. Do you know where he’s hiding them?”
“No. I never socialized with the man. I don’t know his hidey-holes. That would have been your domain.”
“Not so. Broussard kept to himself when he was on the force. I never spent time with him. Only Rocky did. And we can’t ask him.”
Lamont sat back in his chair, taking the gun with him. “Speaking of. How did Gabe Hebert know to hire a PI? Did he suspect that his father didn’t commit suicide? Did Paul Lott tell him? Or did Xavier Morrow contact him before this week?”
“I don’t know if the Morrow kid contacted Gabe Hebert before today or not. But Hebert definitely knows that his daddy didn’t kill himself. Rocky’s boy got himself a private autopsy.”
Lamont sucked in a shocked breath, gaping. “Fucking hell.”
Jackass nodded soberly. “Yep. That about covers it.”
“How do you know this?”
“The chef told his pretty cousin, who told her parents, and my mole in the restaurant overheard. My mole told me, and I investigated. Gabe suspected something weeks ago. When the coroner released Rocky’s body, Gabe just made it look like a cremation occurred. In reality, the body was sent from the funeral home to a private pathologist.”
“So the mortician had to know, too.”
“He did. He’s not around to say a word anymore.”
Relief coursed through him. “And the private pathologist?”
“She’s no longer a problem, either.”
Lamont was reluctantly impressed. “You’ve been busy today.”
