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“Oh!” She wrapped her arms around her stomach and gagged.
Both Thorn and Nutsbe lunged forward, grabbed Olivia, and dragged her away from the trunk.
Hands on her knees, her whole body heaving, Nutsbe kept his hands on her hips to steady her. He looked at Thorn. “That beating? It happened on Tuesday before I was arrested. That’s not new.”
“The dead is new,” Thorn said.
“He was alive when he left the police station. They had an arrest warrant and couldn’t find him to lock him up.”
“Monday was the last time you saw him around? He was alive longer than that.” Thorn leaned in. “What does the note say?” He read it aloud, “Mrs. Pauley, Your deadbeat husband—now dead husband ran up a considerable debt to us. He said you were good for it. We came by your house tonight to have a chat. First time we left a present on your doorstep. You like rats? We don’t like rats. You see what happens when we come upon a rat? Remember that. Second time we came by to see if you were back, you already had company, so we left this gift in your trunk. Here’s what you need to know – Mickey’s being dead don’t mean his debt’s paid. As his wife, it’s now on you to pay up. You owe us 62 large and some change. We’re playing nice here by letting you have the body for closure and a funeral. Might as well pocket this note before you call the cops because nice isn’t usual for us. We’ll be in touch, expect us.”
“Expect us,” Olivia whispered. Lurching forward, she vomited near Nutsbe’s shoes. He ignored it, grabbing her hair back in one hand, and wrapping his arm around her to rest a steadying hand on her hip, ready to take her weight if she were to collapse from shock.
“He hasn’t been in the trunk that long,” Nutsbe said under his breath to Thorn. “Iniquus was looking for bugs—not flies, mind you—tracking devices. So, they did a thorough inspection of her vehicle. That was this morning. If the note is right, they were loading the body into the trunk as the bikers were in her house. I looked into the garage. I didn’t see anyone there. They must have come and gone before I got to Olivia’s.”
“You drove from her house to the hospital with this guy in your trunk. That’s some messed up shit,” Thorn said as he dialed into Iniquus.
“Iniquus Communications. Identification.”
“Thorn, Panther Force. I am at the Alexandria Hospital parking lot E. I am here with Nutsbe and US Prosecutor Olivia Gladstone. We are with her car. There is a dead body in the trunk. Over.”
“Copy. Body in the trunk. Is it a known identification? Over.”
Nutsbe leaned toward the phone. “Nutsbe. That’s Mickey Pauley, legally separated husband of Olivia Gladstone. Over.”
Another gush of Olivia's vomit came up after the dead body comment. So much for the nutritional value of the dinner he’d sent home with her. Nutsbe stepped closer and held Olivia against him.
“Don’t.” She coughed. “I’m getting it on your shoes.”
“Puke, I can handle. It’s tears that are the problem.”
“Yup, better out than in,” Thorn said. “Do you have any water in your car?”
“Yes,” Olivia lifted a hand to point. “In the trunk.” She quickly realized what she said, and she bent again as her body convulsed with dry heaves. Olivia tried to push Nutsbe away.
“Panther Force, be advised the Alexandria P.D. and their forensics lab have been notified. Are any of the Iniquus personnel involved in this situation? Do you need legal? Over.”
Nutsbe leaned over again and said, “Nutsbe here. I am involved. I’ve been working with Sy Covington. Over.”
“Copy. A message has been sent. Nutsbe will hear from Covington directly. If that call has not come through in the next fifteen minutes, apprise Communications. Over.”
“Nutsbe. Wilco. Over.” He adjusted his hand on Olivia’s hair.
“Do you request continuous monitoring and taping? Over.”
“Thorn. Thank you. We’re good. Out.” Thorn put the phone away. He turned to Nutsbe.
Nutsbe, using his hip to bump Beowolf away from both puke and dead body, said, “Strange idea of ‘we’re good,’ brother.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Nutsbe
“This is Olivia Gladstone.” Nutsbe introduced her to his counterpart Deep from Strike Force over the video feed on a big screen in the Panther Force War Room.
Olivia sat next to Nutsbe, her hand gripping his thigh.
“Deep, Strike Force TOC. Glad to meet you, ma’am. Sorry for your troubles.”
