Page 49 of Splintered Security
“Yeah, but like I told you the other night, she’ll get over it.”
“That’s callous,” she says quietly. “And you’re not callous.”
“That’s factual. She doesn’t control me and she doesn’t control you. Our decisions are ours alone. Her approval isn’t required for any of them. I love her. I honor her. But I don’t make decisions based on her whims.”
“You make that sound easy.”
“It is if you think about yourself. Or you think about me. You’ll never please everyone, Anni, and you’ll tie yourself in painful knots trying.”
She nods and takes a deep pull of her wine.
“I’m trying to figure something out and I need your help brainstorming.”
“Okay.”
“Tell me what you know about David Rosen. He was a member of the Lost Mountain Rebels apparently.”
She scrunches her brow. “How do you know Rose?”
“Rose?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll tell you, but first give me the lay of the land.”
She tilts her head like she’s thinking and takes another sip, draining her wine.
“More?” I ask.
She shakes her head, and I take the glass, setting it on the counter and returning to the tub, propping myself again on the ledge.
“I don’t want to get him in trouble. He’s a decent guy.”
“Nothing you can say will change his situation.” It’s the understatement of the day.
“Rose is a good enough guy. He fits in, but he doesn’t. I mean, he isn’t cut from the same cloth, but he manages to make it work. He’s not a poser, but he’s not a guy who would naturally be a part of the Rebels. Does that make sense?”
I nod, but only so I don’t interrupt and keep her talking.
“I think they used to be suspicious of him, like he was a narc. But they have enough on him that he couldn’t be, or there was evidence that won’t let him go back to his old life. There’s photo and video evidence on everyone. No one backs out once they’re in… Too much to be exposed if you try.” She swishes water in the tub, breaking eyesight, perhaps considering what they have on her.
“Anyway, he’s never been as angry or as violent. He’s not happy exactly, but he doesn’t have a bone to pick with life in general. The lieutenants were suspicious, but never could pin anything on him. And then one day, he vanished. That was it. He was there and then he was gone. There are rumors he’s in Denver.”
“Know of any dealings in particular he had with Conyers, Smith, or Giltenhouse?”
“Not really. I am not anyone’s confidant, nor do I want to be. Club business didn’t leak out much, unless it was planted.”
“Did you have any dealings with him?”
“No.” Her eyes slice to slits. “Why?”
“None?”
“He was nice to me. More so than just because of Heath. I can’t explain the distinction, except to say it wasn’t because he feared Heath—it was despite that. But he doesn’t know me any more than I know him. Now that you mention it, I haven’t heard anyone mention him in a while. Maybe a year and a half. Nothing.”
“And they called him Rose?”
“Yeah. He was never Dave, always David or Rose. You said you’d tell me how you know him if I told you what I know. What’s going on, Ren?”
