Page 27 of The Deeper Game
“I don’t want some guy hurt if it’s not him. I mean, creepy proposition, fine.”
“Don’t worry,” Thor said. “They’ll figure it out. This is their thing.”
Bolo rose. The three of them were talking. Bolo gesturing.
“‘I’m innocent,’” Thor said. “That’s what Bolo’s saying. Look at his hands. His shoulders. ‘I know nothing.’”
“Then youfucking-gprove it,” I said, taking Odin’s part.
Thor smiled.
“Isis is so beautiful,” Thor said, playing Bolo’s part now. “I lost my mind when I said that thing about watching, but I didn’t send the box.”
I snorted. “You prove it or the clouds willfucking-gweep as we gouge out your eyes with a small, shit-covered stick.”
“Odin would never say that,” Thor said. “A shit-covered stick.”
“I know.”
“Bolo will try to prove his innocence, though,” Thor said.
“Guilty until proven innocent,” I said.
“Man insulted you mightily,” Thor reminded me.
We watched Zeus walk Bolo away from the table. Odin flicked a bill onto it and followed.
“Here is yourfucking-gmoney,” I whispered.
They headed out the doors and across the parking lot. Bolo was a big guy, but he was dwarfed by Odin and Zeus, who both stood well over six feet. They seemed to be heading toward our SUV. I wasn’t sure how I liked the idea of actually having to talk with Bolo, considering his indecent proposition.
Zeus came around, yanked open the driver’s side door, and got in.
Odin opened the passenger side door and shoved Bolo in. His hat fell off onto his lap.
“Eyes on the front,” Odin said, getting in and squishing him to the side. “You don’t get to look at her.”
“I didn’t leave anything on your porch,” Bolo said. “I was in Vegas until the morning. I just got back today. Thor—”
“You’re not dealing with Thor, you’re dealing with me and Odin.” Zeus started up the truck. “If you’re telling the truth, I’ll find out.” He peeled out of the parking lot.
I felt a little sorry for Bolo. You could practically smell the fear on him. Was this the kind of man to leave a threatening package? Or to dress as Abe Lincoln and leave a warning?
Twenty minutes later, we were all traipsing up to Bolo’s long-term room at the Hampshire Hotel. Bolo swiped his key card and swung the door open.
The place was trashed.
Odin sat Bolo on the couch. “Babysit him. And Isis sits here.” He pointed at a chair across from Bolo, which was pretty much the last place I wanted to sit. “And if you so much as look at her, Thor will break your fingers.”
“How about if I sit here?” I nodded toward chair off to the side.
Odin growled his grudging assent, not in the mood to argue. “Be grateful for her benevolence.”
Thor pulled out his Sig and set a foot on the arm of the couch, gun in hand, looking every inch the mercenary, whileOdin and Zeus poked around. They were looking for the paper and markers.
“Ask Double D,” Bolo said. “He was with me.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Odin said. “Double D never lies.”
