Play It Safe(69)

I let out a silent breath.

Thirty minutes later, our briefcase lighter, we rose, exchanged handshakes but we didn’t move to the front door.

We moved to Buddy’s office, Lash leading.

He had a man in there but Lash didn’t hesitate to open the door and step in.

I stepped in behind him.

Brutus stepped in behind me.

“I apologize for disturbing you but unfortunately my message can’t wait,” Lash announced, eyes on the man in Buddy’s visitor’s chair then they went to Buddy. “Rue explained to me about your visit, that you threatened her with violence and made her uncomfortable. You did this in her place of employment. Regardless of where you did it, no gentleman, in fact, no real man threatens a woman. Ever. See that it doesn’t happen again.”

Buddy stared up at him, speechless, face a mask of fury.

The man sitting in his visitor’s chair stared up at Lash, speechless, face a mask of shock.

Lash wasn’t done.

“It’s only fair to warn you that from here we’re going to the Mustang Police Station to inform them of your activities at my club in Las Vegas. It’s my understanding you work here but live in Mustang. In about an hour, the local police will know about your threats.”

Buddy didn’t move and didn’t speak and neither did his visitor.

Lash turned, put a hand to the small of my back and started guiding me to the door, Brutus trailing.

But he stopped at the door and turned back.

“I understand you’re a big fish in a small pond,” Lash said softly, his deep, cultured voice carrying a more eloquent threat then Buddy could ever hope to pull off. “But I’ll explain that if you want to swim in the ocean, you must understand that the ocean is populated by sharks and sharks never sleep.”

On that fabulous finale, he turned and guided me out while Brutus followed.

Lash and I were in the backseat of the Lincoln, Brutus at the wheel aiming the car to the road to Mustang when Brutus remarked, “Lash, pure class. Sharks never sleep.”

I turned to Lash, leaned into him and grinned up at him. “It was, honey. That was a stroke of genius.”

Lash grinned down at me and muttered, “Came to me on the fly.”

“I loved it,” I whispered.

“Good,” he whispered back.

I leaned up and touched my mouth to his.

Brutus watched in the rearview mirror.

The three of us were close but still, Brutus thought Lash was banging me. Maybe Lash would let him in one day. It wasn’t my call but I had hope. I didn’t want any secrets amongst my posse.

Like a real family.

I settled into Lash’s side, curled in, head to his shoulder, arm around his gut. His arm curled around my waist and his head turned to look out the window.

My eyes moved to the rearview mirror, catching Brutus’s.

Then I smiled.

* * * * *

It was Lash and Freddie’s play. They called it, I didn’t like it but they wanted it for me.

So we didn’t buzz under the radar into Mustang.

Upon my brief and final return, they wanted me to make a statement. So we did.

Our shiny, shaded-windowed Lincoln rolled right up to the square and parked. Then Brutus got out and opened the door for Lash and I. I alighted and Lash unfolded his long, fantastic body out behind me.

I had my sunglasses on. Lash was also wearing shades. So was Brutus.

I strutted across the street, Lash’s hand on my back just over my ass, Brutus Lash’s wingman.

We caused a sensation. I knew it because I felt it. I didn’t know if anyone watching remembered me and I was in the zone, wanting to get this done and get out of there so I was blocking them all out.

Two down, one to go.

Looking around even though I didn’t want to, I noticed I was right all those years ago. The square in summer had perfectly tended, dazzling green turf and healthy, abundant, colorful flowers burst forth from the urns. However, I did not guess there would be huge, vibrant planters with trailing greenery hanging from the streetlamps.

That was a nice touch.

We walked up the courthouse steps, in and followed the sign to the police section. Then we walked up to the front desk.

“We’d like to speak to an officer named Lenny,” Lash announced.

“You mean Cap?” the man behind the desk asked, his eyes shifting through all of us, alert.

Seemed like Lenny moved up too.

Good for him.

“Likely,” Lash answered.

“What’s this got to do with?” the officer asked.

“We would like to report threats made to my lady friend by Buddy Sharp,” Lash answered, tipping his head to me.

The guy stared at him. Then he grinned.

Not a Buddy Sharp fan.

No surprise.

He grabbed the phone.

Five minutes later, down a hall I saw Officer…no, Captain Lenny coming at me. Surprisingly, he didn’t try to hide his surprise at seeing me.

“Ivey,” he greeted, his eyes moving through Lash and Brutus then back to me. “It’s been a long time.

“Captain,” I replied. “Please meet my partner, Lash Caldiwell.” I motioned to Lash who shook Lenny’s hand. “And this is Brutus,” I motioned to Brutus who jerked up his chin and kept his place behind me and just to my side, close to my back. Lenny read this correctly and didn’t go for a handshake.