“Lots of people are angry—at you. No one was upset with Andy or Jason. Besides, Jason wasn’t part of it. He just tried to help. But you turned in the rest of us to advance your own career. You knew you’d never move upotherwise.”
“All I did was tell the truth.” Mia fought to keep her voice down. She was in public. She didn’t want to make a scene. “You were our leader. You lied to command. You led those guys into breaking the law. It’s your faultthat—”
“You know what your problem is? No man wants you. You never get laid, so all of your natural womanly goodness has dried up, died. Your cunt is probably full of cobwebs. You’re acold—”
“Go to hell, you limp-dick loser.” Mia ended the call, hands shaking, to find people at nearby tables staring at her. “Sorry.”
* * *
“I feel what I feel,man. Am Iloco?” Joaquin took another drink of his Knockers’ Glacier Stout, his stocking feet on Matt’s coffeetable.
He and Matt had gone out for Thai food after work and ended up here, waiting with the TV on mute for the Big 12 basketball game to start onESPN.
“I’m fifty and divorced and look like Howdy Doody, and you’re thirty-four, good-looking, and hip, and you’re askingmefor relationship advice? You must be desperate.” Matt shook his head, laughed. “But I gotta say—it does sound a little strange. You two meet at a crime scene. She knows Elena. She gets you dragged in for questioning. She could be real trouble. Couldn’t you feel connected to a woman with fewer problems, maybe someone with millions in the bank and an older sister who’ssingle?”
Joaquin gave Matt a look of feigned disgust. “And end up with you as my brother-in-law or someshit?”
“The chicas love you. They love your physique. They love your dancing. They love your Pulitzer. Hell,Ilove your Pulitzer, but not enough to sleep withyou.”
“No woman has slept with me because of my Pulitzer.” Not as far as heknew.
“The point is that you could be getting laidtwiceevery night of the week if that’s what you wanted. Why get involved with this Miaperson?”
“I’m notinvolvedwith her—not really. Besides, hookups feel so empty, man. It’s like jacking off using another person’s body instead of yourhand.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Matt took a drink of his beer. “Right now, I’d be happyto—”
Joaquin’s cell phone buzzed somewhere. He got to his feet, found the damned thing in his coat pocket. “It’s her. It’sMia.”
Matt frowned. “Why am I notsurprised?”
Joaquin answered. “Hey,Mia.”
“Joaquin? I can barely hear you.” The sound of loud music and voices came from the background. “I’m going to stepoutside.”
“Where areyou?”
“A nightclub on Pearl Street.” The music and voices faded. “Sorry aboutthat.”
“Are youokay?”
She seemed to hesitate. “Yes, I’m fine. I’ve spent the whole day in coffee shops, restaurants, and bars where they have surveillance cameras. I’m afraid to be alone. I’m afraid to gohome.”
There was genuine fear in hervoice.
“Has somethinghappened?”
Matt looked pointedly at Joaquin. “No, you’re not involved with her atall.”
Joaquin ignoredhim.
“No, nothing. I … I just … Sorry. I shouldn’t be bothering you, not after everything I put you through lastnight.”
“Mia, it’s okay. What’s goingon?”
Her words came out in a rush. “I’m afraid, Joaquin. It’s probably all in my head, but I can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching me. I’m afraid that this isn’t over, that Andy and Jason are just the beginning. You probably think I’m crazy, but I’mnot.”
Maybe it was her fear, or maybe it was just instinct, but Joaquin knew at that moment that there was something Mia hadn’t told him or the police. Whatever it was, it scared the hell out ofher.