Page 88 of Always Salty

When he got closer to me, he slipped his t-shirt on over his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “What are you doing here?”

“Why are you stalking my woman?” I asked bluntly. “She told me last night that you showed up at her job and tried to corner her multiple times. And then yesterday you were following her at the pet store to the point where she felt threatened and had to call me because she was so scared. Oh, and let’s not forget you watched us have sex while you half-assed cleaned her apartment windows. And what’s your real name, anyway? I can’t keep calling you Jack/Cornelius in my head.”

“Oh, I thought you weren’t actually cleaning windows?” helpful Jim cut in. “Your partner told me last week that y’all were investigating an organized crime family. And, just for your information, it’s Jack right now. His wife’s name is Natasha.”

Oh, shit.

Mic drop.

I could see that ol’ Jack wanted to curse.

“But your partner got really mad and left you because you got rid of all her cats,” he drawled. “I saw her leaving two nights ago angry as hell. She threw you under the bus, partner.”

My lips twitched.

Obviously, Jack hadn’t made any friends, while the partner, Natasha Leo, did.

“How about you tell me what it is you’re investigating,” I suggested.

Instead of doing that, Jack left, heading toward his house.

Jim came up to me as soon as Jack was all the way inside.

“Natasha’s been an FBI agent for as long as I can remember her living here. That’s why her house is so bare. She lives here, but she’s gone a lot. The neighbors all take turns mowing her lawn in the summer. She’s a good neighbor to have, always makes sure to take care of us. And those cats that she had, they’re all really well taken care of. Her friend takes care of them when she’s gone, practically lives there. Not saying that I agree with breeding cats or anything when there are so many cats at the animal shelters, but I can’t really comment on someone’s way of making money, you know?” Helpful Jim supplied as he came to stand next to me. “She was so mad. Those cats were her livelihood. She said that she didn’t want to be in the FBI anymore and wanted to permanently take care of the cats. I don’t blame her. World’s a pretty bad place.”

“What else do you know, Jim?” I asked, amused.

“I know that when she left, it was a spectacle. She was threatening her new ‘husband,’ which really isn’t a husband. Apparently they were working a job together here, and Jack, whose real name is Chester Brown, needed a cover. They came up with Jack Leo,” he said. “Natasha’s real name is Natasha Leo. Jack’s real name is Chester Brown. Though, he has about a hundred aliases that he uses.”

I nodded, hoping he’d keep going.

“They were coming here to help with an organized crime case that local agents couldn’t crack. Chester Brown moved into Natasha Leo’s place, and everything went south. They fought loudly every day about those cats. Apparently, Chester is allergic to them. Then one day Natasha gets home and they’re all just gone. That’s when World War Three happened. She went off. Threatened to kick him out and do all kinds of things. Then more official looking people showed up, and Natasha marched out with a packed bag and a mean scowl on her face. She looked so damn mad. Haven’t seen her since,” Jim supplied.

Goddamn, I’d be pissed as hell, too.

Natasha had a real good reason to be mad.

“How’d the news article come out?” I wondered.

“Our neighbor down the street,” he pointed two houses down. “Works for the Dallas Mirror. She heard everything and wrote it, leaving out the bit about them being FBI agents so she couldn’t be sued.”

“Well, I officially think that he’s an asshole,” I admitted.

And I did.

But I also found that I felt a whole lot more.

Why was Keely being targeted, though?

Were other agents following around Brecken, and my sisters?

My mind was reeling when I said, “Hey, Jim. I have to make a few phone calls. I’ll be right back.”

Jim went back to watering his plants, and I walked a little farther down the road to stand near a couple of trees that were offering up shade.

My call went to Shasha first, and to say that he was pissed would be an understatement.

“Everyone else has bodyguards,” he said. “Keely is the only one that doesn’t.”

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