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“And how do I do that?” I ask, realizing I probably don’t want the answer.
“You just do.”
“That’s not something you worry about,” Alex says.
“You leave that to me,” Benny says.
“Is it illegal?”
The two men exchange another look. “Depends on who you ask.”
“I’m asking an attorney.”
“Not if it’s self-defense.”
“I see,” I say, sucking my bottom lip between my teeth. And then, “I need to talk to Greg.”
“Talk is cheap,” Benny says. “Alex tells me Mooney killed your dog.”
“Well, he’s still missing. But—”
Benny’s mouth twists. “He sent photos.”
“Yeah.”
“Dog’s dead, honey. Sorry.” He looks at Alex. Then his eyes narrow as they return to me. “But there’s no point in sugarcoating it. Takes a real sick son of a bitch to do something like that. Animals and children…they’re off limits. Any good criminal knows that. The rest of ’em ain’t good. And your guy—believe me, he’s in the latter category.”
The clock is ticking. I don’t want to be late to pick up the girls. My throat has gone dry. Something about Benny Dugan brings my emotions to the surface. It’s not a good feeling, thinking that at any moment I might show my cards. I stand and smooth my skirt. “I’d better get going.”
Alex looks disappointed. Ben Dugan is expressionless. He stands and extends his hand. “Your friend knows where to find me if you change your mind.”
“Her mind isn’t set one way or another,” Alex interjects.
“I just don’t want to do anything that might lead to trouble.”
“You’re a bit past that point,” Alex says.
“It’s only trouble if you get caught,” Benny chimes in. “And I never do.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
One minute I feel out of my league. The next I feel ecstatic. One minute I’m in control. The next, I feel completely out of control. My emotions fluctuate wildly, swinging one way and then the other, like a pendulum.
I watch the clock, impatiently waiting to call Greg. He’s in meetings all afternoon. Meetings I can’t interrupt. So I bite my nails and stare at the clock.
I need to discuss the situation with Benny Dugan with him. I can’t imagine that he’ll support taking such measures, but at least he can’t say I didn’t tell him this is what I had in mind. To think that the situation with Jack Mooney could soon be a thing of the past makes me feel equally giddy and on edge. It reminds me there are always options. Everything is possible. With this behind us, we’d be able to focus on more pressing matters. Matters like the impending holidays and the dissolution of my husband’s company.
If I can get Alex to close on the Germond house before the end of the month, or any home at a similar price point, I will hit gold status and then some. If that happens, I’ll have earned the vacation Greg and I so desperately need. I’m sure his parents would be glad to keep the girls while we are away. Just thinking about the R&R, and the time to reset and think about what is next, makes me feel lighter. The weight that’s been pressing down on my lungs is slowly letting up.
I’m in such a good mood that when I pick up the girls, I surprise them with a trip to the ice cream shop. It helps that it’s warm out. With highs in the upper seventies, it’s warm for winter, for sure. Even in Texas. The weather this year seems to be swinging as widely as my emotions.
It seems like it’s been forever since we’ve done anything fun, anything spontaneous. With only a few weeks until Christmas, things are going to get hectic, and this outing is exactly the kind of thing we need to do to offset the chaos that is to come.
We take our ice cream, cups for Blair and Naomi, and a cone for me, out to a table on the sidewalk where we chat about school, the holiday play, the girls’ upcoming dance recital, and everything in between. It’s such a far contrast, this scene and the one I just took part in. It hits me, pain in my chest, a reminder of what is at stake. Do I go forward with Benny’s plan? And if so, could I be implicated if Benny Dugan were to get caught doing whatever it is he’s planning to do? And what that thing is, I’m not exactly sure. I only know it isn’t good. Although, it’s possible my imagination is making it out to be worse than it is. But, after all, Jack Mooney has been terrorizing my family. He did kill our dog, and he did show up at my daughter’s school. He’s followed me and he’s hinted at doing far worse. To my mind, he deserves whatever’s coming to him. And yet, I still can’t help but wonder if it makes it right.
The thoughts are overwhelming, so I force them out of my mind. Blair is in the middle of telling me about music class when something across the street catches my attention. This is a busy shopping area, and it’s the holiday season, so there is heavy traffic and people everywhere. I am trying to be present with my daughters, but I am also keeping an eye out for Mooney. Naomi looks at me with wide eyes and then quickly looks away. Her face has suddenly fallen, going from pure excitement with the rush of sugar, and the thrill of talking about her class party, to something else. Something sad.
“What is it?” I ask.
