Page 56 of Below The Surface
“A couple different guys, a non-binary person, and a chick. We don’t discriminate around here. Manny’s gay as fuck.”
“Who are you telling my business to?” Manny says as he walks in. “You!” He reaches for my balaclava and I dance out of his way.
“It’s okay, Manny. He’s cool. He’s just trying to solve a mystery. We can help him.”
“Fucking hell, Tony. He’s still all covered up. How?—”
“I’m trusting you,” I say and lift my balaclava. “I just want answers, and I think you can help.”
They both blink back at me.
Tony points. “I know you.”
I shrug. “Probably. My face is all over the aquarium and I’m going to Influencer Con in a few weeks.”
“The merman guy,” Manny supplies.
“Yep. And I’d really love to find the person that’s scaring the shit out of my boyfriend and his bestie.”
We explain everything I told to Tony already and get Manny on board. “Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I agree that the other rose is coming from Lou.” He tips his head. “Unless it’s coming from Demi. She and Lou hate each other and Demi would try to steal Lou’s clients.”
“I thought,” I say. “Lou was trying to take your people?”
“No,” Tony says. “Lou’s trying to use our techniques, but not really, since she obviously failed.”
“Okay,” I hop back on the countertop. “Do you have socials for either of them? I can see if they’re following my guy. Maybe they made the order through the Buds For You site to throw off the scent of whoever investigates.”
“Ah, good idea.” Tony pulls out his phone and looks them both up.
I look up their Instagram accounts and start looking through Dallas’s to see if either of them have made comments or interacted with him. If I hadn’t of knocked him out, I could have just texted him to ask. But hindsight is 20/20 and all that jazz.
“Well, fuck,” I say.
“What’s wrong?” Manny asks as he looks over my shoulder.
“They both interact with Dallas, so now I have to investigate them both.” I throw my head back and sigh. But hey, I got information. Lots of information. I got a really good lead here. “Got addys for me?”
They hook me up with addresses for both Lou and Demi.
“Thanks, guys. I owe you a few. So hit me up if you need something security wise. Or to fuck someone up.” I chomp my teeth. “I’m feisty.”
That has Manny and Tony chuckling, a little uneasy.
“I also request that you don’t tell anyone about our little interaction. I’m trusting you to keep my identity a secret. But I’ll also deny the fuck out of it if you do say anything.”
“We’ll keep our traps shut,” Tony says and elbows Manny who agrees.
“Good. I’ll be sure to use you for the floral arrangements at my wedding.” If I ever get that far. Marriage is a little too much for me right now, or probably ever. “Or I’ll put in a good word for you with all the places I work at that might need flowers. I do a lot of gigs that use flowers.”
“Thanks and keep us updated,” Manny says. “Now I’m invested in how this ends.”
“Will do.” I hop down from the counter and stroll right out and to my car. There are a couple ladies that I need to interview now.
I yawn and my eyes droop. Okay, but actually, I probably should go to bed. I’m so damn tired. I don’t want to fuck this up. But a drive by wouldn’t be bad, right? Just a little looksee to see what I’m dealing with. Then I’ll go right home and snuggle in with my man.
17
DALLAS
