Page 33 of Below The Surface
“Don’t remember her much, to be honest. She gave me up to a cult when I was like two.”
“What?” Tony stops and just looks at me.
“Come at me.” I fake towards him and he holds his ground.
“What the fuck do you want, kid?”
“Not a kid!” It takes everything in me not to physically lash out.
“You’re acting like one. We should call the cops.”
I stop from executing my next move. “Wait. What is going on here? Drugs? Trafficking? Something more sinister?”
Tony snorts. Doug and the other guys grunt as they bring in wagons full of flowers.
“You’re still dealing with this punk?” One of them says.
I scratch my head. “Hold up. Holdthe fuckup.” I’m tempted to remove my balaclava, but don’t want them seeing my face. “I have on good authority you’ve been bugging a few people around here. That you’re up to something nefarious.”
“Nefarious? Bugging them?” Tony says. “I asked a few guys if they were interested in summer work and they blew me off. Once they said no, we didn’t ask again.”
I blink back. “Then why do you have anentirefridge full dedicated to some guy named Dallas?”
Doug shrugs and looks at the other guys. “Someone ordered it? We run a legit flower shop. Grams was passionate about flowers and taught us everything we know. When she passed, we decided to open our own flower shop. Been pretty good business, actually.”
The other guys grunt in response.
“Well, damn. I came here to take you out.” I stand straighter. “Prove you’re legit, and I’ll grab my phone from your truck and leave you be.”
One of the nameless to me ones opens his mouth, but Tony holds up a hand. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Someone said you were being shady, and I said I’d look into it. Seems there was a misunderstanding. But I need proof and my phone.”
Tony tips his head, just looking me over.
I bounce on my toes and examine them each. “Also, which one of you is Steve? And why didn’t you name the shop after Grams?”
Three of them go red and one raises their hand. “I’m Steve. It was my idea, so I named it.”
“I mean, I get it, but weird. I do like the whole macho sexy man look, though. And I’m gonna need to know the deets for the person sending all the flowers to Dallas. They’re stalking him.”
Steve shakes his head and steps closer. “I’m not giving out client information. There’s a certain confidentiality between us and I don’t wanna break that.”
“This isn’t a confessional. You can give me the info I’m looking for or I’ll hack your weak ass system. Your choice.”
“Or we can call the damn cops.” Tony says as he pulls his phone from his pocket.
“That issounnecessary.” I roll my eyes and turn on my heel. “I’ll leave, but I’m grabbing my phone first.”
“Why the fuck do you think we’ll let you go?”
“Your freezer is dead and stinks. Get that fixed before you ever call the cops, otherwise they might think you killed someone and dumped the body inside.”
Doug’s eyes go wide. “I swear it was working!”
“Do y’allnotsmell that?” I hold my nose and wave my hand in front of my face. “It’s nasty.”
“Allergies,” Doug says as he wipes his nose. All of their eyes are a bit watery.
