Page 166 of Collect the Pieces

Jigsaw tilts his head, considering. “I mean… yeah. Can’t blame you there.”

I swat his arm. “Not the time.”

The amusement slides from his expression, leaving something darker.

“How awful.” I swallow hard. “I thought he just had a vicious mouth. But…to kill your own grandmother?” I tip my head up and stare into Jigsaw’s eyes. “She was a nice woman. I only met her a few times, but she was very kind to me. How could anyone…how could he hurt her?”

Jigsaw stares at the ceiling. “Uh, because he’s a greedy fuck? Money makes some people do evil things.”

“I know. Believe me.” I wave my hand in the air. “I’ve seen enough fights break out over money or family heirlooms. But this? And then two more women? Friends of his grandmother, I suppose.”

Jigsaw presses his palms together like he’s praying to the Lord above. “Can I kill him now? Please?”

He’s so utterly sincere, I can’t help laughing. “No! You still want to do it for the wrong reasons.”

“Nope.” He leans forward, all serious expression and convincing eyes. “That’s an added bonus. Killing defenseless old ladies is fuckinglow. It’s not like they were suffering and he was trying to help ease their misery. He wanted to hurry them off the planet to steal their money. That’s absolutely death-worthy.”

He’s not wrong.

I sigh, rubbing my forehead. “Honestly, I’d rather see him arrested and disgraced first.”

“First?”

“Before he dies. Remember,mycriteria includes a failure of the justice system as well.”

He growls, low and frustrated. “All right. But if he gets acquitted or too light a sentence, it’s game fucking on for that motherfucker.”

I don’t argue, but the dark satisfaction that flickers in my chest is enough to tell me I won’t try to stop him.

I might even join him.

Jigsaw

The bombshellabout Margot’s ex lingers like a bad snowstorm. I definitely thought he was an asshole. But a killer—no. A piece of shit who murders old women deserves to die. Never mind that I already hated the guy. I’d feel the same way even if he hadn’t been so cruel to my woman.

Margot still seems so rattled.

“Come on. You need to eat something,” I pat her knee and stand, holding my hand out to her.

“I need to change.” She stares down at her all-black outfit. “I feel gross.”

“Go ahead. I’m going to order a pizza.”

“Ohhh,” she moans and closes her eyes. “That sounds perfect right now.”

“Good. Meet you in the kitchen.”

“Deal.” She leans up and kisses my cheek. “Thank you.”

I pull out my phone and place the same order I did last time. Then we’ll have leftovers for tomorrow.

Gretel scurries into the living room and hops up on Margot’s lounge chair.“Mroar.”

“You gonna eat some pizza with us, G-kitty?”

She plops her paws on my leg and stretches.

“Come here.” I pick her up and she rubs her head against my chest.

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