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He cleared his throat and dropped his voice. “Tell him you have to go to the bathroom. Or outside for fresh air. Or, whatever. I don’t care what you tell him. Whatever you do, just make sure you get up and walk away from him. Now.”
I huffed. “I don’t understand.”
It was apparent that Lawson’s contempt for Smith hadn’t gone away despite them getting along so well during game night. I was actually a little disappointed that Lawson had reverted to being an ass. Smith was trying so hard to get along with his husband’s family. And I thought they’d finally turned a corner.
“Please,” Lawson croaked. “Please just do it.”
There was a desperation in his voice that I couldn’t deny, so I covered up the speaker of my phone and told Smith, “He needs to talk about something important. Apparently, he doesn’t care about my relaxing day.” I winked. “Meet me outside after you pay the check?”
Smith nodded, his eyes skeptical, but I blew him a kiss and said, “See you in a second.”
When I got outside, I put the phone back to my ear and hissed, “What the heck is your problem, Lawson? Smith just treated me to a very nice breakfast and next we’re going to the spa.”
His voice was muffled and I realized he was talking to someone else.
“Hello! You made me get up and leave and now you’re talking to someone else?”
“Where are you?”
I turned the corner of the old brick building and leaned my back against the cool surface. “Bo Peep’s.”
“Did you drive?”
I shook my head. “No, Smith picked me up.”
He let out a string of curses and I heard him murmur, “She’s on Fifth Street. Hurry up.”
My patience had long since run out with Lawson and his inability to tell me why the hell he was worked up about something. Between last night and this morning, I’d had my fill. So, my voice was more shrill than normal when I shouted into the phone, “Tell me what the hell is going on, or I swear to God, Lawson!”
“It’s Smith. Smith is the missing link. You have to get away from him. He’s dangerous.” His voice was an octave higher than normal, but even with the obvious distress I laughed.
“You’re kidding, right?” He had to have lost his mind. “Smith is the missing link? For what?”
“I don’t have time to explain. Just start walking east down Fifth and head toward Parliament. We’re on the way. And whatever you do, if you run into Smith, do not go anywhere with him. Tell him you feel sick. You need air. Just do not get in the car with him.” Lawson was breathless by the time he was finished barking orders.
“I know you don’t like him, but Smith is harmless. He’s an actor, for God’s sake. You think he’s gonna hurt me?” I laughed again at the thought and then felt guilty for making fun of my friend.
There was rustling and then a voice that was decidedly not Lawson’s barked into my ear. “Dammit, woman, listen to your man!”
“Excuse me? Who is this?”
He growled, “It’s Pieters. Listen, we just left the hospital where the DEA is currently raiding your best friend’s office because he’s been accused of the same shit you were.”
My heart sank. “Hampton?”
“Yes, woman. Jesus. Now you’re listenin’ to me?”
My voice was barely more than a whisper when I said, “Is Hampton okay?”
“He’s with us now. He’ll be more okay if you do what Lawson told you to do and get your ass outta there.”
“East?” I whispered.
I didn’t hear his response because I was interrupted by the sound of Smith’s silky smooth voice behind me. “Everything okay, Piper?”
I whirled around, my stomach doing somersaults, and shook my head. “No. Hampton’s being investigated by the DEA.”
I watched as every bit of color drained from Smith’s face and then just as quickly he recovered and said quietly, “I think you need to hang up the phone.”
