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“I was with some of my buddies,” he said in dismissal. “They’ll vouch for me.”
Yeah, she knew they would. They’d all lie for each other, and that was the problem. “I want a list of the members’ names on Monday,” she said calmly. “We’ll be checking everyone’s alibis. I know you want to get your money back, and I can help. Since both crimes appear to be related, you’re in luck.” She gave him a saccharine-sweet smile. “You and I get to share information from here on out.”
Eli turned his head to the side and spat. At least she could be grateful he’d turned his head first. “I don’t take kindly to partnering up with cops.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t take kindly to partnering up with creeps. But sometimes we don’t get a choice. Life’s tough like that.” She was so done with this guy.
“I want my money back,” Eli growled.
Cora shrugged and reached for the doorknob. “It’s evidence. Can’t do anything about it right now. But you know what they say about patience being a virtue.”
The scowl he gave her was borderline murderous. “I’m not too big on virtues, McLeod.”
“Tell me something I don’t already know. Send me a list of those names by Monday morning, first thing.” She yanked open the door and got the hell out of there.
21
Liam was slumped on a bar stool with a smeary glass of untouched beer in front of him. The bartender had insisted if he took up space, he’d have to pay for it. But he was too focused on Magnus to drink anything. The idiot was trying to hustle some of the bikers at pool.
Jesus, did the man just fall off a turnip wagon? He had to know it wasn’t worth the risk. Liam’s opinion of Magnus had been steadily falling over the past few weeks, and now this was a record low. Magnus was swaggering around the pool table, smiling and talking to the bikers as if they were friends. What he didn’t catch were the dirty looks the men exchanged whenever his back was turned. The snide comments. The crafty glances at the pool table. But Liam saw it all, and he feared Magnus was in over his head.
Cora’s phone buzzed on the bar in front of him. He’d pulled it from his back pocket when he sat down and was using it to track the time. The name “Finn” flashed on the screen, and Liam felt the usual stab of jealousy, followed by frustration. He hadn’t realized Finn and Cora were on such familiar terms, but he should be glad of it. Getting them together was the ultimate plan, after all. Letting the phone ring, he considered his options. If he ignored the call, which he dearly wanted to do, then it would just go to voice mail, and she’d have to call Finn back. Liam didn’t like the idea. But if he answered the call now, then he’d have to actually speak to the man, and he didn’t like that, either.
Staring at the buzzing phone, a thought suddenly occurred to him, and he perked right up. Liam would get immense satisfaction out of showing Finn how close Cora was withhim. They were roommates, after all, and she entrusted him with her phone. In this society that seemed tantamount to exchanging wedding vows. Some people even seemed more attached to their phones than their spouses. Would it be a petty move on his part? Sure, but it wouldn’t jeopardize his task to get them together.
Before he could change his mind, Liam answered Cora’s phone. “Hello.”
There was a pause, and then Finn said, “I’m sorry. I think I dialed the wrong number.”
“Not if you’re calling Cora. This is Liam. Cora’s having me hold her phone for a bit. We do that sometimes.” It was petty of him to say it, but it sure felt good.
“Oh.” There was a brief pause. “Hi, Liam. Is Cora around?”
“She’s in a meeting at the moment.”
“With Eli? That’s what I was calling about, actually. I just wanted to check to see how the meeting went.”
“It’s still going on, but—damn. Hold on.” Liam strained to hear what was happening at the pool table near the wall. Magnus looked to be in a heated discussion with a couple of the bikers. They were arguing over the game. “Idiot man,” Liam whispered.
“What’s that?” Finn asked.
“Magnus is with us,” Liam said, annoyed. Magnus and one of the bikers had resumed the game. The biker, a large man with a beer gut and a bushy red beard, was staring daggers at Magnus as he rounded the table. Magnus, on the other hand, looked arrogant and cocky as ever.
“What’s he doing there?” Finn sounded unhappy. He wasn’t the only one.
“He weaseled his way into driving us tonight. Cora’s talking to Eli in the back room, and Magnus is trying to hustle someone at pool. I knew it was a mistake to let him come.”
Finn whispered something under his breath that sounded a lot like a swear word.
Now it was Liam’s turn to be surprised. “What?” Did Finn just show some less-than-perfect emotions? Did he perhaps have a personality, after all?
“Nothing. Can you tell Cora—”
“God’s teeth,”Liam muttered as Magnus’s opponent suddenly threw his pool cue to the floor and shouted in Magnus’s face. “Looks like our idiot ride is in trouble. I’ve got to go.” He hung up on Finn, who’d been in the middle of asking another question. Cora could call him back later when they were out of this mess.Ifthey got out of this mess.
Now Red Beard and two of his unsavory friends had rounded on Magnus. With every step they took, Magnus backpedaled, holding his hands out and talking fast. Liam couldn’t hear what he was saying, but it didn’t seem to be having a good effect on the men. Suddenly, Magnus spun and walked briskly toward Liam. He looked grim and uneasy.
“The boys and I had a little misunderstanding,” Magnus said in a low voice, so the men wouldn’t overhear. “I bet them money on a game, and it seems they were a lot better than they looked. I don’t suppose you have two hundred dollars in cash I could borrow?”
