Page 76 of Black Sheep
My mortality, something I didn’t think about too often before this investigation, is now at the forefront of my mind.I may not live to see the weekend.My stomach churns, and with each flop, the knot that takes up residence there grows bigger and more heinous.
Why did I think I was smart enough to take on the mob?I’m not. At all. And this cagey old man gesturing for me to enter the elevator ahead of him is going to be the end of life as I know it.
The foreboding feeling follows me all the way up to the club as he makes small talk, but I’m so distracted, I couldn’t tell you what he asked or what I answered. If there’s a quiz later, I’m fucked.
Actually, skip the quiz. I’m just fucked. All around.
When Grice opens the door to the club, there’s a kind smile on his craggy face.
“Good morning, Mr. Casso. Ms. Carson.”
“Grice,” the older man replies with a nod. “Where’s Cannon?”
Grice reaches for the interior door and swings it open for us, but my feet stick to the carpet like they’ve been glued down.
“Not here at present, sir. He was in this morning and then left to run an errand. Said he’d be back as soon as he could.”
I shuffle ahead, trying to at least pretend I’m not eavesdropping like it’s my job as Dom replies.
“He’s not answering his cell, and I have a matter I need to discuss with him. Urgently.”
When Grice glances at me, I know I need to move along before I attract more attention. I take another step forward, wondering why Dom didn’t just call the club to ask if Cannon was here instead of showing up in person.
Probably because he doesn’t want to discuss it on the phone. Then why would he call Cannon’s cell?I succeed in moving into the main area of the club and don’t overhear any more of the conversation that wasn’t meant for my ears.
Letty waves at me from the bar, and I take a few steps toward her.
“What’s up, Letty?”
With a laugh, she shoots me a wink. “Nothing. Just wondering how I could get the boss to run errands for me. You must have him wrapped around your finger, girl.”
I stare at her in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“Cannon going to pick your mom up at the airport. He hurried out of here ...”
As she trails off at what must be a look of horror on my face, my blood goes from running cold to frozen completely solid, and static fills my ears.
She didn’t say what I think she said. It’s not possible. That’s impossible. No. No. No.
“I guess you didn’t know?” Letty adds, her eyes widening as footsteps come to a halt just behind me.
Dominic Casso’s gruff voice interrupts the heart failure I’m currently undergoing. “Say that again, Letty. You know where Cannon’s at?”
45
Cannon
Isee absolutely no similarity between Drew Carson and her mother. None at all, at least, not the real Drew.
Except, there is noreal Drew.
“I can’t believe Memphis ignored my callsanddidn’t bother to tell me she had such a handsome man in her life. I really appreciate the ride. My daughter always arranges a car service for me because she knows that I don’t have the slightest clue how to do any of that. I wasn’t meant for work. I’m purely here as ornamentation, as I’m sure you can tell.” The woman’s hand skims along my arm, and I move farther onto my side of the car.
“But this car. Good gracious. It makes me think of all those crazy parties we used to have back in the day.” She shakes her blond hair, its color straight out of a bottle, and not a wig.
As much as I wish I could shut her up because every word out of her mouth is a stab to my gut, I can’t. There’s no shutting up Mrs. Leander Lockwood.
Leander Lockwood. Memphis Lockwood’s father.The most recognizable news anchor in the history of broadcasting, who fathered a tenacious investigative journalist who has blown open case after case and helped put dozens of people in jail.
