AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I drove off, adding another task to my long list. I passed the blackened remains of Margot and Peri’s former house. The kid needed that damn bear; she’d lost too much else.
I pulled off just past the hairpin turn and got out of the Gladiator. I walked to the turn, climbed over the guardrail, and sat on the remnant of the old one that poked out over the ravine. I’d always felt that taking my feet off the ground removed me from Burney and the rest of the world. Except it wasn’t working this time as I noted that the broken rail had a little bit of spring to it and I wondered if perhaps I was wearing the metal out. Maybe I’d been coming here too often and sitting on it? Maybe this was another habit I needed to change?
Since when had life become so hard?
I was trying to decide what it meant that Liz was Cleve’s daughter, but in the end, it didn’t change anything for me if it were true. She’d always be Liz Danger to me. I knew it meant a lot to her since it ripped at the very core of her identity. I knew I still wasn’t and probably never would be the same after what I’d found out about my father.
I looked out over Burney. I realized it was a lot like Liz and me. There was a lot of darkness and secrets in our past, but now we—
My brilliant musings were interrupted as I heard a car slow down to make the hairpin turn. Then stop. I looked and saw Mayor O’Toole get out.
“Cooper!” He called out.
I reluctantly slid back to reality. “Yeah?”
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Thinking.”
“Get out of there.”
I stood outside of the new guardrail, on the narrow six inches of pavement before the ravine dropped off. “I’m not on duty. So, fuck off.” As far as I was concerned he could fire me then and there.
O’Toole’s red face turned scarlet. I was surprised he was up this early on a weekend and wondered what he was up to. I didn’t think the country club would be open. And I doubted he was on his way to pay a courtesy call to Anemone and George at the Pink House.
“Someone told me you went to River Vista the other day, Cooper,” he said. “After being ordered to stay away. That’s cause for you getting fired.”
“Then fire me. Or are you going to fire my boss, Bartlett? Who are you going to replace him with? Pete OneTree?”
He glared, which I imagine had been more than enough to intimidate some people. He looked down the road, which meant he was anticipating more traffic. “Get out of here, Cooper.”
“You know, Mayor, Jim Pitts died here the other day. Hit and run. And Mickey Pitts was killed in prison the same day. I think you’re in way over your head with whatever games you’re playing. Because the other people? They aren’t fooling around. They’re playing for keeps. It’s all catching up to you, isn’t it?”
“Get going.” He looked at my Gladiator. “Why do you have a big teddy bear in the back of your truck?”
“It’s a Jeep,” I said. “And I’m on a forlorn hope.”
“What?”
“Fuck off,” I said.
Shaking his head, O’Toole got back in his Lexus and drove up hill.
I climbed over the barrier and walked toward the Gladiator. I paused as a big black SUV rolled up the road. I stepped to the side of the road. It went past without stopping.
I checked the plate and recognized it. Senator Amy Wilcox.
Curiouser and curiouser.
I waited until it was out of sight, then got in the Gladiator. I followed, in no great rush. As I got to the top, I saw the SUV in the distance. It turned left toward Blue Country Club. By the time I got to the club, there were three vehicles parked in front: Cash’s silver BMW, O’Toole’s Lexus, and the Chevy SUV. At least the Senator drove American, but that’s probably because the taxpayer was footing the bill. Franco, Wilcox’s bodyguard/lawyer, was leaning against the SUV, arms folded, watching me approach from behind his dark sunglasses.
I parked nearby and making sure the safety was on, stuck the forty-five in my belt. After all, Ohio is open carry. I got out and walked over.
“Not allowing the riffraff in?” I asked.
“I knew you’d be sniffing after us once I saw you there on the hill,” Franco replied.
I nodded toward the building. “Bit early for brunch, aren’t they?”
