Page 33 of Hot Stuff
“So what? I’m stuck in limbo, can’t go back, can’t go forward, until he sees fit to pull his head out of his ass?”
“Basically, yeah.”
“Fucker!”
“Hey.” Oakley puts her hand on my arm. “What’s going on?” she whispers.
“Who’s that?” Drake asks.
“Hang on a sec,” I tell him.
I place my hand over the bottom of my phone, bring it down to my chest, and keep my voice low.
“Cantrell is being a dick. I can’t sign anything with you until the announcement goes out and I can’t announce without all the Is dotted and Ts crossed.”
“Use the pictures.”
“Huh?” For a second I have no idea what she’s talking about, and then it hits me.
The pictures of Cantrell and Kristina.
Bringing the phone back to my ear I speak to Drake.
“Get everything you need to terminate my contract with the Knights and the statement about my retirement ready. And find Cantrell. I want to know where he is, who he’s with, within the hour. I’ll get whatever we need from the team by this afternoon.”
“How? You can’t punch him if that’s what you’re planning. Although, to be honest, I wouldn’t mind you doing that, wouldn’t mind slugging the guy myself.”
“I’m not going to hit him.” I scrub a hand down my face. “I’ve got an incentive for him to get things moving and moving fast.”
“What kind of incentive?”
I look at Oakley. The woman has saved me twice in the last twenty-four hours. First with a job offer and now with the solution to this bullshit with Cantrell.
“Just something I know he won’t want anyone else knowing.”
“You’ve got dirt on Cantrell? Jesus fuck, man, what the hell could you have on him? I know he’s a sleaze and all, but I’ve never even heard a rumor about the guy that could be used against him.”
“No rumors and I’m not giving you details. Just get everything ready and find out where the fuck that prick is. I’m catching up with Shelby for lunch and then I’m going after Cantrell.”
I hang up on Drake before he can dig any further. I don’t want him implicated in any way with this.
Same with Oakley.
“Those pictures can’t be linked back to you, can they?”
“No. But even if they can, I’m not worried about it.”
“How can you not be worried?” I grab her shoulders. “This could fuck up the franchise.”
“No. That’s a done deal and the Rogues organization employed the PI to investigate a number of individuals we’re looking at employing. From the Zamboni driver to the window washers, everyone will or has been looked into.”
“Wow. Okay, I see how that could be okay. You were looking at me, and Kristina is linked to?—”
“Not anymore.”
“Not for a while but it does seem logical as to how you might have come about having these in your possession.”
“Now they’re in yours and you need to use them to your advantage.”
