Page 93 of A Breath of Life
“What’s wrong?” Tallus asked.
“There are at least a dozen St. Michael’s around the city.”
“Can you figure out more specifically where the donation was made?”
“Maybe.”
We worked in silence for a while. A weight had lifted off my chest since telling Tallus everything. Regardless, I found myself unable to focus, worrying about Nana. I already knew these people were dangerous, but the level of danger had escalated. At least my concern over the card listening to us had lessened. If someone was on the other end, spying on our conversation, it wasn’t with regularity.
Tallus’s phone alarm sounded shortly after noon, and he cursed. “Shit. I have to run. I have that meeting at the CA’s office with Hill.”
“You’re not leaving.”
“Uh, yeah, I am. We can’t afford to put business on hold, Guns. Oliver Hill pays us well, and if I put him off, he’ll find someone else. The more we kiss his ass, the more work he brings us. I’m the ass-kisser of this relationship, and besides, you gave me this job. I plan to do it.”
“Then I’m going with you.”
“No, you’re not. Sit down and work on the Clarence thing. I won’t be long.” He snagged the Jeep keys from where I’d dropped them on the desk earlier. “I’m taking your Jeep since I wasn’t allowed to drive myself here this morning.”
I launched from my seat and caught his wrist before he reached the door. “Give me the fucking keys, Tallus.”
“Ugh. Here we go again. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“After everything we discussed, you think I’m letting you fuck off by yourself? Are you out of your mind?”
He wrenched his arm free and glared. “All they’re doing is watching right now, right? So what? Let them follow me. Let them watch me.I’m doing my job. They expect me to continue with my regular routine, or they will become suspicious. It would look better if I wasn’t glued to your hip. Besides, you can get more work done if you stay here. At this rate, we’ll never find Clarence on time, and that is priority number one.”
Tallus grabbed the notepad he’d been using off the desk and shoved it against my chest. “I don’t have much, but here’s what I found so far. Call Kitty. I didn’t get the chance. PS, Guns, she’s a huge asset. Consider bringing her in on this. All the way in. She has ways of discovering stuff that I will never understand.”
“I said to ask about Janessa’s murder. No one else can know about the rest of it, Tallus. No one.”
“Fine. Whatever. I’m leaving.”
He sauntered from the room without a care in the world, and I cursed so loud that I startled Echo awake. She barked and followed as I chased Tallus down the hall. I caught him on his way out the door and dragged him to a stop again.
“Give. Me. The keys.”
Determined, hotheaded Tallus worked his indignation to a solid level ten, but I was unaffected and held out my hand, waiting.
The stare-down lasted two minutes before Tallus rolled his eyes and threw the keys against my chest. They clattered to the ground. “Have your damn keys. I’ll walk. It’s not that far.”
“Tallus. Stop being difficult.”
“Stop smothering me. Take note, Guns, because I’m fairly certain I’ve said this before, but I’m not your damsel in distress. I’m not some princess who needs rescuing. I don’t need a knight in shining armor swooping in to save the day. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“You’re a target.”
“No, I’m the carrot they’re dangling in front of your nose to ensure you cooperate. They won’t hurt me unless you give them a reason.”
“They don’t need a reason. Have you listened to a single thing I’ve said over the last two hours? Look at my fucking face, Tallus. I’m twice your size, and they overpowered me without blinking. They could have killed me, but instead they fucking brutalized me. Is that what you want?”
He pouted and refused to meet my eyes, mumbling, “No.”
“Then stop giving me a hard time.” I didn’t care if he was pissed or hated me, but I was not letting him out of my sight.
It took another minute of cold indifference before Tallus squatted, picked up the keys, and offered them to me without a word.
“Thank you.”
