by Nora Kane
“Do you really want me to?”
“Yeah, I really do.”
“Would that make you get me out of here faster?”
“Yeah, if I had any control over that kind of thing.”
Margot looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll go talk to the doctor.”
After he was gone, Shaw looked at her. “You feel bad lying to him?”
“Worse than when I shot Mal.”
“Good, if you didn’t, I’d worry about you. We don’t have a lot of choice on this one, but let’s make it the last one.”
Chapter 12
“Hey, I didn’t expect to see you. Last I heard, you were in the hospital.”
“Can I come in?”
“Of course, can I get you something? I think it’s late enough in the day that we could have some cocktails.”
Margot stepped into Phoebe’s house and told her, “Sounds good, but I’m working today, and the doctors told me not to mix my pain meds with alcohol.”
“Probably sound advice. What can I do for you?”
“For starters, call off the hit on Cassie. Me too, for that matter.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” Margot told her as she let her gun slide from her palm into her hand.
“Are you going to shoot me if I don’t do whatever it is you asked me to?”
“I might do it out of general principle.”
“I’m sorry, Margot, I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. Perhaps your pain meds don’t agree with you.”
“I know Dithers financed your husband’s business, among other things. The one that was a front for Harry Lee and is now a front for you. I’m not the best at forensic accounting by a long shot, but Shaw knows some people who are. You and Dithers aren’t the best at hiding things either. He did a lot of things for your deceased husband, and it seems he did even more for you.”
“I’m not sure how having a financial advisor is against the law.”
“It is when you send him to pay off a hitman.”
“I did that?”
“You did. The only thing I’m curious about is, did you kill your husband and his mistress with the idea of taking over his business and cutting Harry out? Or did you think of it after your husband got murdered by someone else?”
“You think I saw an opportunity?”
“I know you saw an opportunity. The question is when.”
“Does it really matter?”
“It does to me since I was the one who made sure you never were punished for the crime.”
“Then I shall delight in the fact that you’ll never know. I think I’ve had enough of this conversation.”
“I haven’t.”
“You just got out of the hospital. I don’t think this is the time for us to be fighting like a couple of schoolgirls.”
“You know, if you’d left Cassie out of it—and even better, if you’d left me out of it—and just concentrated on having Mal and your cartel buddies eliminate people in the business I would have never shown up at your door like this.”
“I still don’t know what you’re talking about, but hypothetically if I did, I’d have to call bullshit on that particular statement.”
“How so?”
“If I’m who you say I am, it was my man who shot Radcliff and killed Ames.”
“You didn’t target them though. You targeted Burke.”
“They still got shot.”
“Because Burke was feeding stuff to Cassie. Some of it about you.”
“She said vile things about me. If I remember correctly, she said vile things about you too, and you didn’t like it.”
“I didn’t try to kill her over it.”
“Only because you didn’t think you could get away with it.”
“Unlike you.”
“Well, hypothetically, yes.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I’m talking to you in the comfort of my own home instead of a homicide detective in the county jail, so yes. Hypothetically.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be so sure. You say I made a mistake coming after Cassie and then you, but the fact you’re here shows, if I was this person you think I am, of course I’d need to get you out of the way. Once Radcliff ended up in the line of fire, you weren’t going to stop.”
“So, it was all about practicality.”
“If it was me, yes. Of course, it wasn’t. Any other baseless accusations to hurl at me?”
“Was the idea to have Miss Dithers lure me into some kind of trap?”
“You mean so they could torture you until you gave up Cassie?”
“Yeah.”
“I have no idea since I’m just a grieving widow, but if I was who you think, I’d say that’s more or less on the money.”
“Do you really think you’re going to get away with this?”
“I haven’t done anything, but if I had? Yes. I’d been watching my husband be Harry Lee’s toady for years. I’d long ago figured out where I could do better. He foolishly did Harry’s bidding while I could see how Harry wasn’t necessary at all. It was the wonderful thing about being a front for a guy like Harry that my husband never realized. If you decide to cut Harry out, no one you're doing business with gives a damn. Of course, as I said before, this is all hypothetical. Just because I knew what to do, doesn’t mean I did it.”
“You’re awfully cocky.”
“Why not? It’s all hypothetical. Even if it wasn’t, I can find a new Mal, and I have enough money to get more men with guns. Given the situation, I’d say it’s you who are being cocky.”
“I know who you really are now. It’s only a matter of time.”
“I’ve known who you are for a while. I’d say it’s only a matter of time for both of us, and I’ve got a head start.”
Margot tapped the gun against her thigh.
“Don’t bother trying to scare me with that. You might be willing to pull the trigger in the heat of a battle, but you’re no killer—at least, not that kind of killer. Go tell your theories to your boyfriend, and see how far they get before somebody gets to you. Let’s be honest, if you really had anything, it’d be them instead of you I’d be talking to. You’ve got nothing but wrongheaded speculation.”
Margot nodded. “You’re right. I don’t have enough for them to arrest you.”
“Well, I guess we’re done.”
“I’ll see you later, Phoebe.”
“Not if I don’t see you first. By the way, I know you have a recording device in your purse. You used to work for me, remember?”
Margot pulled it out. “You mean this thing?”
“Yeah, go play it for the cops and see how that works out for you. “
Margot turned it off and said, “I wasn’t planning to play it for the police. That was never the plan.”
“Then why bother?”
Margot shrugged and walked out.
Chapter 13
“I should have known,” Harry said as he handed Margot back the digital recorder. “She’d be the logical choice to step into the void Masterson left, and it makes sense she’d want to do it without me. She’s always been ambitious. I should have done less thinking with my dick and noticed just how ambitious.”
“Are we even?” Shaw asked.
Harry sipped his drink. They were sitting at the back table at Layla’s West. One of the men that showed up with a machine gun at Ms. X’s place was at the bar, keeping an eye on the front and back door. Apparently, he was the new Tommy.
Harry put his drink down. “I saved your life.”
“I don’t see life as a mobster’s stooge to be much of a life at all.”
“You said you wanted who was behind Tommy’s death, and we brought it to you,”
Margot interjected.
“You’re right,” Harry conceded. “I asked you to do something, and you did it. I’m a fair man so I’d say our bargain is complete.�
��
“Remember you said that if you start thinking about asking for another favor,” Shaw told him.
“As long as you remember what I did for you, if we happen to cross paths again, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Shaw didn’t like that last part but knew that was about as much as he could expect.
“You should consider giving her to the police,” Margot told Harry.
“I should?”
“She’s already on their radar. It’s why Burke was having Cassie agitate her on the show.
They might not have enough right now, but they have the resources—Hell, they have the F.B.I.
wanting in on this. They’ll get her.”
“They’ve used those same resources to try and get me and yet, here I am. You and Mr.
Shaw did your part. What comes next is none of your concern.”
“Accessory to murder seems like something I should be concerned about.”
“Who said anything about murder? Besides, I won’t tell if you don’t.”
“Nothing in our deal said I couldn’t tell the police.”
“I said bring it to me.”
“And I did. You were first, they’ll be second. You won’t be mentioned.”
“It’s hard for them not to involve me when it comes to Phoebe. It’s my business she’s taking over, and it was my man she killed.”
“They won’t hear your name from me.”
“Are you trying to live up to your choir boy boyfriend’s standards here, Margot?”
“I’m trying to do the right thing.”
“That’s often a foolish endeavor, Margot, but tell them what you want. All I ask is you give me two days.”
“In that time, she’ll disappear.”
“Or we’ll work out an arrangement. After my action the other day, you might assume I’m only after vengeance, but I’m more a businessman than I am a soldier. The men that killed Tommy are dead. Perhaps that’s enough. Any deal I make will include you and Cassie being left alone.”
Margot wasn’t sure how to answer. She’d never expected that.
“So, Phoebe goes unpunished?”
“We’ll see,” Harry said as he finished his drink and left Shaw and Margot sitting there.
“Why do I think he’s going to make me regret not shooting her?”
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Books by Nora Kane
1. Secrets of Woodcrest Manor
2. Wolverine Harbor Novellas Series
Book 1 - The Veil of Deceit
Book 2 - The Veil of Envy
Book 3 - The Veil of Vengeance
3. Emmy Grimm Series
Book 1 - Lured
Book 2 - Chased
Book 3 - Blindsided
4. Margot Harris Series
Book 1 - Shadow of Greed
Book 2 - Shadow of Pretense
Book 3 - Shadow of Suspicion
Book 4 - Shadow of Betrayal
Book 5 - Shadow of Misgivings
Book 6 - Twisted Game
Book 7 - Twisted Interest
Book 8 - Twisted Hopes
Book 9 - Twisted Judgment
Book 10 - Twisted Redemption
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When the Patriarch of the Woodcrest Family was found dead in the flowerbed under his bedroom window, the local police department called it suicide. His son hired Private detective Emmy wanting to uncover the real truth behind his father's death. Surrounded by so many individuals who could benefit from his death, now the responsibility is on Emmy to figure out who was responsible. When Emmy starts to talk to the heirs the Woodcrest family's secrets begin to emerge.
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Review This Book
It Means the world to me that you bought my book. Writing is my passion and I look forward to YOUR feedback.
So if you liked this book, I’d like to ask for a small favor. Would you be so kind to leave a review on Amazon? It’d be very much appreciated!
From your friend, Nora Kane
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