Page 16 of Stone Deep
“Guess they didn’t keep it charged for him,” I said. “What a dick.”
It didn’t take him long to notice Hunter and me leaningagainst the front of my car. His face paled, and his gaze darted in every direction as if he was trying to figure out which way to run.
“We’re not going to hurt you, fuckface.” I turned to Hunter. “You should probably stay here. You’re extra scary, and he already looks ready to piss his pants.” I pushed off the car and started walking toward him.
The guy held up his hands in surrender. “I’m unarmed.”
“Yeah? That makes three of us.” I motioned behind me with my thumb. “Unless you count that guy back there who could easily kill you with just his fist.” I stopped a few feet from him. If he ran, there wasn’t any way I could chase him down with the stitches in my side. “Just need a little information, then you can be on your way and we never have to set eyes on each other again. I sure as hell know I don’t want to see you again.”
“Why the fuck would I tell you anything?”
“Because if I hadn’t dropped the charges, you’d be waiting in a jail cell for your public defender in his forty dollar three piece suit and cheap smelling aftershave.”
“You assaulted me first.”
“I kicked your knee, which, I assume, from the way you look ready to spring into cheetah action right now, isn’t causing you too much pain.” I patted the thick gauze under my shirt. “I, on the other hand, lost a pint or two of blood and had to sit through seventy-five stitches. I was defending a girl from three assholes. You were defending your pride. I think we know who the true weenie is standing on this sidewalk. All I want to know is where I can find your buddy Kyle’s brother.”
“Don’t know where Damon is.” He shrugged casually, but he was still looking pretty damn uneasy. His attention kept flitting to Hunter, who was still leaning against the car. “From what I hear, that crazy bitch who pulled the gun on us?—”
“Fake gun,” I reminded him.
“Whatever. She’s nuts. She’s trying to blame Damon for her sister’s death. Total whack job.”
I curled my hands into fists but kept them tight against my sides. The last thing I needed was to get my own ass thrown in jail over this loser. I stepped closer, and he flinched.
“Listen, you asshole, and listen good. Tell me where to find Damon, and you won’t have to be jumping at your own shadow for the rest of your life wondering if I’m coming after you for payback. You’re out of jail, but you might just have been better off inside. Unless you tell me what I need to know. Then we’re through here.”
Hunter must have pushed off the car because some of the color left the guy’s face again.
“Who is that?” He pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced at it like he was reading a text. “My friends are just around the corner.”
“Really? That was very considerate of the cops to keep your phone charged for you.”
He took a step back.
“Look, don’t shit your pants. We’re not going to hurt you. Just tell me where Damon is, and we’ll be gone.”
Hunter stood next to me. The guy stared up at him, and his throat moved as he swallowed back fear.
“This is him?” Hunter asked. “This is the motherfucker who stabbed my brother.”
“Palm Springs,” he blurted. “Damon works for Blue Lagoon Pool builders. He’s working on some pool in the California desert. That’s all I know. I swear.”
“See, that’s all I needed.” I turned to leave, but Hunter stayed.
“I don’t know,” Hunter said. “I sure hate to skip the opportunity to make this asshole feel some pain for what he did.” Hunter raised up his arms and pretended to lunge at the guy. The man turned and ran like a chicken being chased by a fox.
Hunter had a good laugh. We walked back to the car.
“It really would have been fun to smear his face on the sidewalk,” Hunter said as we climbed inside.
“Yes, yes I know.” I reached over and patted his shoulder. “Maybe someday Hunter can squash the scared little man. Just not in front of the county jail.”
TEN
BRITTON
“Ididn’t tell you about the epic disaster with that Gucci purse I was bidding on.” Nina poured granola into her yogurt and stirred it up. We’d taken our lunches out to the tiny corner park at the end of the street.
