Page 45 of Maverick
“Rhonda?” Bear asked.
I cleared my throat. “Uh yeah, that’s my mom. Dad doesn’t want her to find out because she’s been threatening to leave him.”
Mav nodded once and wiped his hand over his mouth. “Alright, here’s what we’re going to do.” He walked over to the pantry and came back with a trash bag. “Larry, go take a shower and put your clothes in here.”
Dad looked down, noticing the spots of blood for the first time. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Thanks.” He grabbed thetrash bag and walked to his room. When he was out of earshot, Mav nodded at Stitch. “Check the body.” Then he turned to me. “What happened after you left the club?”
A tear slipped from my eye. “Dad walked and I drove, so he arrived about five minutes before me. I was hanging up my jacket when I heard the gunshot. And after that, well, you know as much as I do.”
His eyes narrowed. “Why not call the police? Or an ambulance?”
I snorted. “I don’t have to be a doctor to know dead when I see it. As far as the police… Well, you heard him. He thinks my mom is coming home.” I threw my hands into the air. “Even if this guy had been in the middle of robbing us, I don’t know how self-defense works if the guy shooting doesn’t know he’s been divorced for twenty years.” I sighed. “Plus, I was worried that guy’s family might try pressing charges for wrongful death or something. They probably have a whole law firm on retainer that could take Dad for everything.”
Mav’s face pinched. “That’s quite the imagination you have, but you did the right thing calling us regardless.”
“What do you mean, imagination? Please tell me what part of this isn’t real. Seriously, that would make me feel so much better.”
Mav walked over to me and pulled me up from the chair. He wrapped his arms around me and the tension eased from my body. “I wish I could, but it’s going to be okay, Kat. I just meant the part about the rich family.”
I leaned back and took a calming breath. “Oh, he definitely came from money. Which, come to think of it, makes it unlikely he was a burglar.” Or the meter reader. So who was he?
“You went through his wallet? I have to say, Kitty Kat. I am impressed.”
I rolled my eyes and pointed to his feet. “He’s wearing Pradas.”
Bear sucked in a breath. “Oh yeah. Good point.”
Stitch turned his head from the body to look at Bear. “‘Good point?’ What the fuck do know about Pradas?”
Bear huffed. “I know that they’re at least $900 a pair.” He cocked his head toward the man’s feet. “Those were probably $1250.”
I nodded, agreeing with his assessment.
Mav turned to Bear. “And how the hell would you know that?”
Bear shrugged. “Pixie likes shoes. I’m learning.”
Well damn, if that wasn’t the sweetest thing I’d ever heard. If I weren’t in the middle of a crime scene, I’d melt into a puddle on the floor.
Stitch turned back to his examination. “Well, he’s definitely dead, most likely within a few minutes of impact. And I’d say he’s connected to what we spoke about earlier.” He lifted the man’s arm to display several tattoos.
“Fuck,” Mav swore.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It means…” His jaw tightened and he let a slow exhale. “It means, that guy is affiliated with something you want no part of. Your dad did good, probably saved both of your lives. But there will be fallout, making you and Larry a target. You did the right thing, calling us instead of the police. We’ll handle it.”
“Larry can go to Tracker’s,” Bear said. “He’s been holed up in his house too long and needs to feel useful.”
Mav nodded. “Good thinking. If anybody asks, we can say Larry needed a place to stay with Kat leaving town and Tracker needed some help around the house.”
“Kat leaving town?” I asked. “Since when?”
“Since an hour ago.” Mav cocked an eyebrow. “Didn’t you tell me you were headed back to Maryland?”
“Well, yeah, but—“ I hadn’t decided yet, not really.
“So pack a bag and leave. Tonight.”
