Page 77 of Petty's Crime

Red drums his fingers on the desk and rolls his eyes. “She could have fuckin’ killed him.”

I continue my amateur psychoanalysis. “When they were forced apart, he gradually came to his senses. He vowed never to be in the same position again. He came to despise the weak man who’d been taken advantage of.”

“And became someone else.” Red frowns. “A man who’d never be exploited again.”

“He became an ass.” I huff a brief mirthless laugh.

“Fuck.” Red drops his head into his hands and rubs at his temples.

There’s a knock at the door. When Red calls out for the visitor to enter, Twister steps inside. His eyes flick to me, then to his prez, and they seem to have some unspoken conversation over my head. After a series of grunts and chin lifts, Red turns to me.

“I’ve been reminded that you’ve seen something I didn’t mean for you to see.” When I query with a tilt of my head, he explains, “Your ex, Saul. You weren’t meant to see him like that.”

“I can imagine.” I give a small smile. “But I suppose you’re pushed for prisoner space.”

Twister snorts and Red shakes his head.

I remember who else was there. “You didn’t seem to have any problem with Britney seeing him.”

Now Twister looks abashed, and Red’s eyes roll. “She wasn’t supposed to be there either. She must have snuck down. With the prospects at your house, there was no one standing guard.”

“Fuckin’ women,” Twister growls.

“Fuckin’ prospects,” Red retorts. He raises an eyebrow. “I suppose they’ve been running their mouths which is how you found out what was happening to Petty?”

Wary of getting the two men in trouble, I choose my words carefully. “They let something drop, and I asked questions.” Wincing, I admit, “I didn’t give them much choice. I, er, maybe suggested I’d drop them in it with you if they didn’t tell me everything.”

“You threatened them?” Red’s voice rises. “Seems you like making threats.”

Blanching, I try to defend myself. “It’s not my normal modus operandi, but I was desperate, Red. As soon as I got an inkling Petty was in trouble, I had to come.” My voice rises. “If I hadn’t, where would Petty be now? With the injuries he already had, you might have killed him.”

My words ring in the air long after I’ve said them.

Twister looks like he doesn’t quite know what to say to me, so changes the subject. “The prospects are here now. They came back with their tails between their legs. Thought you’d want a word with them.”

Red waves his hand dismissively. “They can wait for now. First, we’ve got other fish to fry. Like Saul in the basement.” He eyes me carefully. “You going to threaten to go to the cops and say we’re holding him prisoner?”

Knowing Red may have doubts about me, I gather all the sincerity I can. “No. I won’t. I’ll be making no threats, but I’d really like to talk to him.”

“For fuck’s sake, why?” Both men look perplexed.

I haven’t an immediate answer. I already misjudged the man, then when he went to jail, I expected he’d stay far away. Instead he stalked me, made me afraid for my life, and those snakes… I shudder. They were the final straw. I’d like to see him face-to-face and get the question answered, why me? Why does he hate me so much?

“What do you want to happen to him?” Red asks me directly, seeming to ignore my request. “And don’t ask us to let him free. He might be sensible enough to avoid you in the future, but what about some other woman? Leopards like him don’t change their spots.”

I can’t argue with Red’s suggestion. “He’s damaged in the head.”

“You think he needs therapy?” Twister snorts derisively.

Even I know he’s probably far too gone for that to help. “I want to speak to him,” I state again. “I just want him to tell me why he targeted me, why he wouldn’t let me go. Unlike Petty, we weren’t married, there was no real commitment.”

“And after you’ve talked?”

“I don’t care what you do with him as long as I never see him again.” If I don’t know, my hands will be clean.

Red gives me a long hard look and taps his fingers against his desk. After a few seconds, he sighs. “Okay. I’ll let you see him and get the answers you need. That’s if he has any to give.”

“Britney’s down there, Prez.”

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