Page 31 of Demise

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“We got him for murder,” Tony says. “We know about the two men he whacked in Atlanta.”

I look over at Sweep. His eyes jump to me, but then he looks ahead, stoic as ever.

I didn’t know which men they were referring to, but I didn’t want them to know that.

“Where’s your proof of these so-called murders?” I ask.

Tony smiles, leaning back as casually as I am, but he doesn’t speak. Instead, the kid does.

“You know a man named Simon?” Crossen asks.

I choose to keep quiet, knowing most of the time when you do, the other person keeps talking.

“He’s a narc. Works for us. He set you up, Johnny.”

Once again, Sweep looks at me. I’m clueless. I have no idea what Sweep has done for Simon. Sweep leans forward, places his elbows on his knees, and links his fingers, which tells me this is real.

I look to the floor, my eyes scanning the carpet.

“We know where Johnny and Carson buried the bodies,” Tony says. “We got them for first degree murder.”

Shit.

A knock sounds on the door.

“Come in,” Paul says, his voice low, calm.

Trig walks in, his eyes bouncing from me to Sweep.

“Glad you could join us,” Henry says.

“Yeah, well, had a little problem with the cuffs coming off. What’d I miss?” He pours himself a drink.

“It appears you and Sweep here are wanted for murder,” I say.

“No. Shit,” Trig replies, “I’ve never hurt a soul.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Bexley

“You work for Danny, do you not?” I ask the driver.

He looks over at me. “Yes.”

“Then why did you listen to that man back there?”

“That’s Trig.”

“I know who it is. I don’t feel safe around him. I’ll inform Danny to tell you if I must, but never, ever leave me by myself around that man again.”

He doesn’t say anything, looking slightly baffled by me appearing upset.

“Do you hear me?” I ask him.

“I’ll talk to Bones,” he says. “Because, as you just said, he is the one I answer to, not some woman.”

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