“All right, tell Shirleen, what in the fuck is goin’ on?” She lifted her hand and her thumb jerked to the door Hector just walked through. “That boy has been in a foul mood all day. Now, foul moods aren’t unusual with Hector, he’s moody but he’s edgy. A boy’s edgy, you gotta give him room for the moods; it comes with the territory. If he’s good at his job, would put down his life for the boys and he ain’t difficult to look at, like Hector, you do things like that. But this is different. Everyone’s been givin’ him a wide berth all day. Even Luke, Vance, Lee and Mace and those boys ain’t scared of nothin’.”
I had to admit, I kind of felt better that badasses Luke, Vance, Lee and Mace also thought Hector’s “foul” mood was worthy of wide berth and I wasn’t a total wuss.
I looked at Shirleen and realized she actually expected an answer.
“Um…” I hedged.
“Ain’t no ‘ums’ with Shirleen. He’s pissed way the fuck off and you look like, like… I don’t know what you look like but somethin’ ain’t right.”
“Well…” I started then I stopped.
She waited.
I stayed silent (really, what could I say?).
“That’s it,” she announced. I watched as she stabbed a button on her phone with a frosted-apricot fingernail and I heard a dial tone coming from the speaker. Then she hit another one and the speed dial engaged and a rapid succession of tones could be heard then a ring then two then a voice came on the line.
“How’s it hangin’, sugar?” Daisy answered the phone.
“Shit’s gone down with Hector and Sadie. Sadie’s standin’ here, cat’s got her tongue and Hector’s gone electric,” Shirleen declared and I was also quite pleased I wasn’t the only one to feel Hector’s angry electric current, it made me feel less of a freak.
“Oh shit,” Daisy’s voice said.
Boy, she could say that again.
“Powwow. Fortnum’s. Tomorrow at noon. We’re gonna get this shit sorted,” Shirleen decreed and I felt panic seize me as I hadn’t planned for this either.
“But, I –” I started and Shirleen’s hand whipped up, palm out to face me and, since she was scaring me a little bit, my mouth snapped shut.
“Gotcha, I’ll get the phone tree activated,” Daisy’s voice said.
Phone tree?
The Rock Chicks had a phone tree?
Battle stations!
“Really, I –” I started again but stopped when Shirleen’s brows snapped together (so much for my puny battle stations) and Daisy’s voice came over the phone.
“No back talk, comprende?” Daisy warned. “Be there or face Rock Chick consequences.”
I had no idea what Rock Chick consequences were but, then again, I didn’t want to know.
“Oh, all right,” I gave in.
How bad could it be, a powwow?
I’d survived worse, heck, I was surviving worse at that very moment!
The door opened and Hector came through.
“It’s time, mamita,” he announced.
See what I mean?
“Tomorrow, noon,” Daisy’s voice reminded me.
“All right,” I responded, making my slow way toward Hector who was waiting for me, holding open the door.
“Noon,” Shirleen repeated to my back.
That back went straight, my head whipped around and, for the sake of my pride, I snapped, “All right!”
This, for some bizarre reason, made Shirleen grin.
“Well, all right,” she muttered through her grin.
Blooming heck!
Why was my life so difficult?
Chapter Sixteen
Uglier and Uglier
Sadie
“Have a seat, Sadie,” Tom said on a welcoming smile when I entered Lee Nightingale’s office for the second time in my life.
They were all there, Tom, Eddie, Lee, Hank and Vance. They were all standing and they were all looking at me with carefully closed faces.
Oh boy.
Time for Pretend Sadie.
I stopped by one of the chairs in front of Lee’s desk and I felt Hector close behind me. I took a deep breath, did a group scan, playing it safe, beginning the game and allowing myself a small, friendly smile.
Then I looked at Lee and announced, “I’ve changed my mind.”
Lee’s brows went up.
I continued, “See, I figure you won’t let me pay you and that isn’t fair. You and Hector and everyone are doing so much for me, I can’t ask you to do more.”
Lee smiled and I found myself momentarily taken out of my role and staring (he really had a nice smile).
Then he started talking. “Sadie, the Rock Chicks are a permanent red line item on my budget. They have been for months. We’re used to takin’ this kind of hit.”
I had to admit, I hadn’t prepared for that either, especially his assumption that I was a Rock Chick.
His assumption gave me one of those weird, happy glows, the kind I couldn’t allow myself to feel or all would be lost.
Oh well, I had to power through.
“Even so, I think I’d prefer to hire someone else. This is making me uncomfortable,” I replied what I thought was nicely but firmly. “So, if you have a recommendation for another PI, I’ll give them a call.”
Immediately I saw that my nice but firm didn’t work.
Instead, Lee shook his head (still smiling) and Hector’s hands came to my shoulders.
“Sadie, sit down,” Hector said softly in my ear.
I twisted to look at him. “No, really, I –”
“Sit,” he interrupted.
Sweet, Pretend, Guarding-Her-Heart Sadie slipped and I glared at him.
My glare deflected off his Cool, Collected, Macho Man Shields and pinged around the room, unnoticed by anyone.