Page 63 of The Woman in the Hollow
“Yeah,” I agreed. “When I get a few minutes, I’m gonna comb through my deals and crew, see if anything seems off. Especially deals Big Ed did recently.”
“Lemme know if you need any help.”
“Will do,” I agreed.
“Know Hazel was supposed to be here today to meet deliveries and start setting shit up. I’ll handle that. Might not be as good at it as she is, but I’ll make it work.”
“Appreciate you,” I said, giving his shoulder a squeeze, then moving back into the shop.
“It’s me, babe,” I called softly, not wanting to startle her any more in one day. “How are you feeling?”
“Everything hurts,” she admitted, slowly getting to her feet, the task seeming like it took a lot more effort than it should.
“We need to get you cleaned up.”
“I think there’s glass in my hands.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to be pleasant. Can I ask you something?”
“About the guy?”
“No. The cameras caught him.”
“Oh, okay.” She shifted her feet.
“Why were you digging up a body in the woods?”
Her eyes went round at that. But I watched as her jaw tightened and her shoulders tensed.
“Why was there a bodyburiedin the woods?”
“What was your plan once you found it?”
“Did you kill him?”
“No. No, absolutely not. That man? That’s Big Ed. He was a friend of mine. And worked for me on occasion.”
“Why did you put him in the woods if he was your friend?”
“Because he has no family and I need the cops not to show up here.”
“Because you’re in the mob.”
That was a bold question.
“Yes.”
Her lips parted at that. She hadn’t been expecting my honesty. In reality, though, everyone around here knew who I was, what I was wrapped up in. The only reason she had to ask was that she wasn’t from the area.
“Who killed him?”
“I wish I knew.”
“Because you’d kill them?”
“They killed my friend. They hurt you. They’re making my whole family go on lockdown.”
“Is this normal for you?”
