Becoming Rain (Burying Water #2)(86)
The next stop. How much closer will that be to the person who can finger Luke in a lineup? “That’s good.”
“Yup.” Again, that tightness in his voice.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, just . . . Rebecca and I decided to take some time apart.”
So the girlfriend finally has a name. “I’m sorry, Warner.”
“It is what it is.” So matter-of-fact. “What do you have planned for today?”
“Uh . . . just some grocery shopping and stuff. I’ll talk to you later?”
“Sure.” The phone clicks awfully fast. He’s obviously more upset about his breakup than he’ll ever let on.
Maybe I’ll buy him a case of beer and invite him over later this week.
But today . . . today, I have something more urgent to do. Searching out Elmira’s phone number, I head over to the safe behind the painting and dig out my personal phone to make the call.
Chapter 45
LUKE
“Fuck!” I slam my phone down, earning Miller’s glare. “Sorry. The cops are still dicking me around.” My car was supposed to be released last week, but apparently they have a backlog in their investigations unit. They said I’d get it back next week. Maybe.
Miller grunts as he eases his body out of his chair and drops several checks on my desk. “Here. I guess you’re supposed to sign these now, right?”
“What is this for?” I eye all the digits staring back at me.
“Tax man.”
“Already? I thought all that got squared away with the lawyers when we changed ownership over.”
Miller laughs, an odd and grating sound. “You’re never squared away with paying taxes. These are the next installment. Don’t worry, the money’s already sitting in the account to cover it. You just have to sign it over.”
I scrawl my name across the line and hand it back. “Don’t ever leave me, Miller.”
He responds with another grunt as he ambles back to his corner. I pick up the plaque that showed up mysteriously on my desk this morning, tracing the engraved letters that spell out “Nurse Boss Boone.” And I smile. Tabbs and Zeke are obviously behind it. It’s their way of congratulating me, while still getting their digs in. I don’t mind so much anymore.
I can’t believe this garage is mine. Not bad for a twenty-four-year-old guy. Based on the numbers I just handed over to the government, and the earnings statements I saw while signing ownership papers, I could make a good, solid living off this place if I keep it up.
A good, solid clean living, running this place and flipping cars, just like Rain suggested.
I eye my burner phone sitting next to my personal phone. Quiet and unassuming. I haven’t gotten used to it. Do I really want to spend the rest of my life carrying one of those around? Wondering who’s listening on the other end?
Do I really want to sit at a bar with my girlfriend and my uncle and worry about an angry Russian showing up to yell and spit at us?
I lay in Rain’s bed last night for hours, listening to her breathe against my chest, thinking about everything. Wondering if, when she actually finds out what I’ve been doing with Rust, she’ll change her mind and leave me.
Stupid, really. If I should be worried about anything, it’s jail time, not losing my girlfriend. Yet Rain, and what she’ll think of me, is the one constant worry that keeps popping into my head. Lately, it’s even louder than my worry about disappointing Rust if I tell him that I think I want out.
What will he say?
Chapter 46
CLARA
“Did they give you any trouble?” Elmira closes in for a double air kiss on either side of my face.
“Not at all.” Aside from the registration lady’s once-over of my jeans and black boots. By the time I made it through the security gate, a valet, and a front desk, I knew this was the most exclusive of exclusive clubs.
“Good. We pay enough in membership fees that they shouldn’t.” She offers me her trademark smile—small, slightly standoffish—before gliding down a long hall with signs pointing toward the swimming pool. Other signs point toward the squash and tennis courts, a curling rink, and a golf store. Double-glazed doors with iron inserts hide a spa. I’m guessing the soothing smell of essential oils in the air is coming from there.
“Thanks for meeting me today.” Honestly, when I called Elmira this morning, I expected to get her voice mail, but she answered. I held my breath when I suggested lunch and I deflated with disappointment when she declined, saying her day was full. Then she suggested I meet her here, as she was on her way for her morning swim.
“Of course. You sounded like you wanted to talk.” She leads me into the spacious change room. “These are all visitor lockers.” She points to a row of cream-colored metal. “It’s quite secure, so you’re fine to leave your purse, your jewelry . . .” Dark, youthful eyes—free of all traces of makeup except some mascara—flicker to my chest, where my dragonfly pendant normally hangs. “I’ll meet you out there in five?” She doesn’t even wait before she disappears around the corner.
My wariness grows. She makes me uncomfortable. If it weren’t for this case, and for Luke, I’d go out of my way to avoid her.
But she may know something that can help me, I remind myself, as I peel off my clothes, slide on the bathing suit that I stopped and bought on the way here, and head out to the pool. Elmira’s already there, her shiny black hair tucked into a cap, making her look more like a little girl than ever before. We’re the only two in the pool area. I do a quick scan of my surroundings, as I always do. No lifeguard, no cameras. No other swimmers.