“Pretty good.” I released her from our hug as I told her, “It’s been a crazy few weeks, but I have a feeling things are about to settle down.”
“I hope they don’t settle down too much.” She smiled. “A young girl like you needs the crazy to keep you from getting bored.”
“Being a little bored actually sounds really nice right about now.” I looked back over at the disheveled mound of brick and mortar that used to be Crockett’s and said, “The reporter said something about a possible gas leak.”
“I heard that. Find it awful hard to believe.” She shook her head. “I never had any problems with the gas lines, but I guess I got lucky. Could’ve been one of us in that pile of rubbish.”
“Very true.” I turned my attention to the woman next to her. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Marlowe.”
“The name’s Ada. Nice to meet ya.”
Gladys leaned towards her as she whispered, “This is the girl Country was telling you about the other day. She’s the one who’s dating Rafe.”
“Is that right?” A smirk crossed her face as she told me, “That boy sure is a handsome fella. Got himself some good manners too. Um-hmm. Always thought a lot of that young man.”
“Yeah, he is pretty great.” I took another quick glance around as I told them, “I’m actually surprised he isn’t here. Country, too, for that matter.”
“You know how things are at that club of theirs. I’m sure they will be by when they can.” Gladys took one last mournful look at Crockett’s, then said, “I guess we best be getting back to the house. Ada’s got a roast in the crockpot, and I need to get the beans on.”
“Sounds like you two are getting along pretty well.”
“We are indeed. I couldn’t have asked for a better roommate.”
Ada smiled as she added, “I couldn’t agree more.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it. You guys be careful getting home.”
“We will, and you and Rafe come by for a visit soon. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“That we do.” I gave her another hug and said, “I’ll see you soon.”
I watched them both walk over and get in Gladys’ car. Once they pulled away, I searched once more for any sign of Rafe or Country. I was looking at the front of the building when I spotted the coroner pushing a gurney with a black body bag. The sight sent a cold chill down my spine. It was at that moment I decided it was time for me to get the hell out of there. Without stopping for another glance, I got in my car and drove back to my apartment.
I was almost home when I remembered the necklace Eric, or make that Joseph Stark, had forced me to wear. He’d threatened to hurt Kate or Rafe if I removed it, but he was no longer around to make good on that threat. Unable to stand it a second longer, I reached up and yanked it from my neck. I wadded it up in my hand, then rolled down my window and tossed it out onto the street. As soon as I got home, I rushed into the kitchen and grabbed the camera he’d planted on my shelf. I dropped it on the ground and stomped it with the heel of my shoe, shattering it into a million little pieces. I then went into the living room and bedroom, doing the same with both of those cameras as well. Even though I knew he wasn’t watching me, I had an uneasy feeling being in my apartment alone, and I was relieved when I heard a knock at my door.
Thinking it might be Rafe, I rushed over and opened it, only to find it was Kate. She was a sobbing, blubbering mess with red swollen eyes and a snotty nose. With her hair a mess and her wrinkled pajamas, she was almost unrecognizable as she lunged at me. Tears were streaming down her face as she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me. She stood there clinging to me for what seemed like hours, sobbing, then finally pulled herself together long enough to say, “He’s gone, Marlie. I lost him. I’ve lost everything. What am I going to do?”
I knew she would be upset about Eric’s death, but I never expected her to be this distraught. The girl could barely hold herself up. I patted her on the back as I whispered, “I’m so sorry, Kate. I know this has to be really hard for you.”
“Did you see the news?” She pulled back, looking at me with horror in her eyes as she shrieked, “He was murdered!”
“Murdered?” I’d watched the news. At no point had anyone mentioned any sort of foul play. They certainly hadn’t said anything about the suspicion of murder. “Who do you think murdered him?”
“Those people who sold him that stupid bar! There was a gas leak, and they didn’t even have the decency to tell him about it!” She stormed past me and into the kitchen as she wailed, “Oh God, Marlie! I don’t know what I’m going to do!”
“You’ll be okay. You’ll get through this,” I replied sounding less than enthused. She dropped her head into her hands and started sobbing once again. A part of me wanted to tell her what a creep Eric was, how he’d threatened her life, but she wouldn’t have believed me. She had it in her head he was some wonderful guy who was going to love her until the end of time, and who was I to tell her she was wrong. It wasn’t like she would listen anyway. Eager to get her gone, I asked, “Have you talked to Mom and Dad?”
“Yes. I called them on my way over here.” She went to lay down on the sofa, curling into one of my pillows as she muttered, “They’re picking me up here tomorrow morning.”
“Here?”
“Um-hmm.” She looked over at me with her best pouting face as she said, “I couldn’t bear the thought of being alone, so I told them I’d be staying here tonight.”
Well, damn. After the way she’d treated me over the years, I was tempted to give her the boot, but as I looked at her balled up on my sofa, I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her and didn’t have it in me to force her to leave. I walked over and grabbed the blanket off the back of the chair. After I covered her up, I went to the kitchen and fixed us both a cup of coffee. By the time I made it back into the living room, Kate had cried herself to sleep. Relieved by the momentary silence, I placed her cup of coffee on the table closest to her, then went to my room and lay across the bed. As I stared up at the ceiling, I thought about everything that had transpired over the past twenty-four hours, and the more I thought it about it all, I found it less and less of a coincidence that a gas leak caused the explosion that killed Eric.
While I had no idea how, I felt certain Rafe and his brothers were somehow involved. It was a realization that should’ve bothered me, at least a little, but it didn’t. They’d done what needed to be done to protect not only me but the brothers. A smile crossed my face as I remembered how Country had referred to the brothers as a pack of wolves. He’d been very matter of fact when he said, “There’s a reason why wolves are at the top of the food chain. Live together, hunt together, and protect their own—to the fucking death.” Turned out, he was right. The Ruthless Sinners were on the top of the food chain, and I had a feeling they would remain there for years to come.
The more I lay there thinking about Rafe and his brothers, the more I found myself missing him. As much as I hated to bother him, I needed to know if he was okay, so I took out my phone and sent him a message.