Page 25 of Ruthless Beast

“Hey, Si. It’s good to see you too.”

“Please, sit. Can I get you a drink?”

“Yes, thanks. A vodka cranberry will hit the spot.”

Simon gestures to the waiter, who comes over and takes the drinks order.

“How have you been, Emily? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. I’m okay. I'm still in shock, but I’m sleeping better. How about you?”

“”I’ve been better.”

Poor Simon looks so dejected. I feel for him. He and David were practically inseparable. This must be as hard for him as it is for me.

“So, what did you want to talk to me about, Emily?”

“I spoke to the detective on David’s case this morning.”

“Oh? Any news?”

“No, not exactly. He did tell me something alarming, though.”

“What is it?”

“Cox has a theory. The cop seems to think that David’s murder was an execution rather than a mugging gone awry.”

Simon’s face grows pale.

“What? What do you mean by execution?”

“He asked me if David had any ties to the mob.”

Simon just about chokes on his drink.

“What? What did you say?”

“I told him David would never be that stupid. But, then I started thinking about it. David was very secretive about who he worked for and he did lead a lifestyle that most guys his age would envy. Did I miss something, Simon?”

The look on his face alludes to the fact that my brother’s best friend knows something he’s not telling me.

“Please, Simon. David is dead. I need to know why. If you know anything, anything at all, I beg you to share it with me.”

Simon stares past me into the distance. He definitely knows something. I give him time to formulate his explanation. I reckon whatever he has to tell me won’t be easy to relay.

“David didn’t want you to know.”

His words send a chill down my spine.

“Didn’t want me to know what?”

“At first, after your parents died, David had to do what he did to ensure that you have a future. Money was tight before the estate was eventually settled. Then, I guess the money was so good that it made no sense to stop.”

“I don’t understand, Simon. What are you saying?”

“It’s true. David did work for the mob. But he was strictly an accountant. He never got involved in anything shady. The books he took care of were legitimate businesses. Your brother was a good man.”

My legs are lame again. Too many shocks in one lifetime will do that.

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