I didn’t like that.
“Don’t call me a bitch, Sam,” I whispered.
“You got another way to describe how you’re actin’?” he shot back.
“I didn’t know you were a Ranger.”
“And this is my problem because…?” He let that hang.
“And it’s also over twenty-four hours since you had your powwow with Lee and Tanner and I don’t know about that either,” I retorted, finally bringing the matter in hand.
He took in another deep breath and on the exhale murmured an annoyed, “I see.”
“Are you going to tell me about that sometime in this century?” I asked sarcastically.
“Yeah, but, see, yesterday, sweetheart, you let go of the physical manifestations of your life with that piece of shit which I suspect was profound for you. It also took effort and you were busy all day. Then you got a headache likely because it took effort, you were busy all day and what you were doin’ was profound for you. Then, since I know how tight you are with your family and your posse and your stay here and away from them is indefinite, I figured you’d want to enjoy your time with them so I wanted you to have that and not burden you with outside shit.”
Damn. That made sense and it was nice.
Still.
“Well, thanks for that Sam but I did ask twice to be told and I can see you not wanting to do it through that and me having a headache but you’ve had all day today.”
“Yeah? Should we get in a discussion about people wanting to whack you when we can be overheard in a departure lounge or on a plane?”
Now he was being sarcastic.
But damn again because he was also right.
He kept talking.
“And, you think maybe you can give me a chance to relax and be home, which I haven’t been, Kia, a lot longer than you, and spend some time with a buddy of mine without that shit intruding for awhile?”
Oh man.
Now I was feeling like I was a bitch and a worse one than I thought because he had valid reasons for his decisions and I hadn’t asked nice. I’d been, well… a bitch.
“Okay, honey, maybe I was out of line –” I started.
His brows went up. “Maybe?”
Now hang on a second.
As soon as I remembered, I forgot to stop being a bitch.
“Okay, Sam, I can see you had your reasons but it’s not like I asked you to tell me when you planned to take out the trash. This shit is kind of important, it affects me and you know, my Dad knows, my brother knows but the person it affects, me, does not know. I’m sorry to cut into your relaxed vibe but someone out there might be hunting me in order to kill me. It’s kinda weighing on my mind.”
Sam’s jaw flexed.
I waited.
A muscle in Sam’s cheek jumped.
I waited.
Then I was done waiting and prompted, “Well?”
“Lee and Tanner found the broker.”
I blinked.
Then I breathed, “What?”
“They tracked down the broker. They also…” he hesitated, clearly searching for a word and then found a scary one that said it all without saying anything, “persuaded him to get a message to the man to call the hit off. Easy payday. He backs off, confirms via e-mail he got the message and is a memory. He keeps his pay, the broker keeps his commission and you breathe easy. Ozzie gets fucked in this scenario seein’ as he can’t dismantle that bit of trade but I don’t give a fuck. You’re safe and that’s all I care about.”
“I’m safe?” I whispered.
He shook his head. “We haven’t received e-mail confirmation. What we do know is that the broker has been contacted by that bitch since your dead husband died and he’s been contacted to tell him the job was still on.”
Oh my God.
“She did that?”
Sam nodded.
“Oh my God,” I whispered.
“Something else Tanner found out was that, in case Clementine was unable to collect your life insurance, that bitch did. Clementine named her as second beneficiary.”
God, Cooter was such slime.
“I cancelled the policy,” I told him.
“I know but wouldn’t matter if you did. Her bein’ behind your death would mean she wouldn’t collect. In fact, in one of my briefs with Oswald, he told me your insurance company came sniffing around Clementine’s death to ascertain if there was foul play that would invalidate his policy.”
My breath went out of me.
Therefore I had to force out my, “What?”
Sam shook his head. “You’re good. Murder is covered in that policy and Cloverfield was not involved in their dealings. But I don’t think she cares her actions invalidate your policy or that it’s cancelled. I think the bitch just wants you dead.”