Page 74 of Shadow's Surrender
Shadow put the empty beer bottle on the table, then leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs to meet the badge’s eyes. “What’re you doing here?”
“Do you know Florence Karas?” McCue asked.
A slight pause—Shadow wasn’t expectingthatquestion. “Yeah … why?”
“How do you know her?” The fuckin’ badge scribbled something in his damn notebook.
“She lived in our shithole trailer park. What’s this all about?”Someone offed her. McCue wouldn’t be asking me these shit questions if he knew who. Fuck, these damn badges are incompetent.
“How well did your mom know her?”
“What the fuck is this all about? Quit playing this damn cat-and-mouse game. She worked at the same strip joint as my mom. They were friends. End of fuckin’ story.” Shadow straightened up and pushed the chair over.
Ibuado’s hand flew inside his jacket, and McCue sat motionless, staring at the biker.
“Just spit it out. Fuck!”
“When’s the last time you saw Florence Karas?” McCue asked in an even tone.
“I haven’t seen her in years. Not since the murder.”This fucker found something that links me to that greedy bitch.“She called me up out of the fuckin’ blue a couple of weeks ago and said she wanted to see me. We made plans to meet at her condo, but she never showed up. Are you gonna tell me why she didn’t keep the appointment, or am I supposed to guess?” His eyes narrowed.
“She’s been murdered.”
“It’s time you left,” Hawk said as he slipped beside Shadow. “This shit’s over. Now.”
Shadow shook his head. “It’s cool, bro.”
“You accusing him?” Hawk’s voice dripped ice.
The badge slowly stood up. “Just asking questions, that’s all.”
Ibuado cleared his throat. “We got a dead woman and we need to talk to everyone who knew her. Basic investigating—the same shit you’d do if you were in our place.”
Tension crackled in the air, and both McCue and Ibuado, one hand resting on their side holsters, stepped back from Hawk and Shadow.
“Did she tell you why she wanted to meet up with you?” McCue asked.
Shadow could feel the anger emanating from Hawk. “No.”
“You didn’t ask?” Ibuado said.
“No.”
“So, a friend of your mom’s who you haven’t spoken to in fifteen years calls you out of the blue, and you don’t even ask her why she wants to get together with you?”
“That’s right.” Shadow stood with his feet planted wide, arms crossed over his chest, and his brow furrowed.
“You’re done,” Hawk growled to the two badges.
McCue nodded and snapped shut that damn notebook. Shadow didn’t break eye contact with him. “You know,” the detective said, “Florence Karas’ murder may be linked to your mother’s death. Whether you believe it or not, I want to bring your mother’s killer to justice.” He slipped the notepad and pen inside his jacket. “We’re on the same side with this one, Shadow … We always have been.”
The two badges walked backward until they hit the front door, then they turned around and left the room.
Hawk clasped his hand on Shadow’s shoulder. “Did that woman know something about your mom’s murder?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.
“Yeah, but she wouldn’t tell me shit. I found a ledger in her place, showing years of deposits into her bank account. The bitch made money off my mom’s murder.” A streak of white-hot anger shot through him.
“Fuck, dude. That’s tough. Sounds like the bitch got what she deserved,” Hawk said.
