Page 116 of Cash

“Hey! Detective?” Brick spoke up. “Are they gonna press charges? I mean, is Ramp? What’s gonna happen to me?”

“Wouldn’t you know it? No charges. Miraculously, there has now been two cases of self-defense in the same week at the same fuckin’ address.” Cutter snorted. “Isn’t that amazing?”

“Thank you,” Brick said earnestly. “Really.”

Cutter’s hard face softened. “Yeah, yeah. You’re welcome.” He narrowed his eyes. “Keep in mind that I’m not always gonna be this friendly.”

“Sure you are.” Jules winked. “You just wait. I got you a real nice present all lined up to show you the Gentlemen’s appreciation for all your hard work.”

“Oh?”

“Tomorrow, you’re gonna get some very sexy evidence against the Finch family. Maybe a very specific warehouse where they like to store things. You know, illegal things.”

“Uh-huh.” Cutter didn’t seem convinced, and he nodded slowly. “Okay, yeah. Sure. I’m going now. You gentlemen have a great night. I’m gonna go step out into traffic just to do something relaxing, all right? Good night.”

“Good night, Detective,” Erasmus said from where he’d snuck right behind Cutter without his knowledge.

“Fuck!” Cutter cursed, jumping in surprise. He glared at Erasmus, and then glared back at Jules. “When you go, please be sure to take your charming friends with you.”

“What? No hug? No kiss goodbye, Detective?” Junior sneered. “And after I was so damn cooperative?”

“Mr. Martine, please allow me the pleasure of informing you that my aim is much better than Mr. Ramp’s.”

“Hey, is that a threat?” Junior whirled on Erasmus for confirmation. “Was that a fuckin’ threat?”

“Good night all,” Cutter said as he headed to the door.

“Hey, hey! That cop is threatening me!” Junior shouted. “Hello, nice officers of the law!” he hollered out the door when Cutter opened it. “That pig is in here threatening to shoot an unarmed gorgeous man!”

Cutter slammed the door behind him.

Junior huffed. “Fuckin’ asshole.”

“You know,” Erasmus said, “I think he likes you.”

“Get fucked, Raz.”

Brick curled against Jules’s chest, relief washing over him as he mumbled, “Everyone is gone now, right?”

“Yeah, baby.” Jules kissed his forehead. “Just us now.”

“Hey, when we get back to Moultrie, you’re gonna help me talk to Odie, right?” Junior was asking Erasmus. “Tell him what a big fuckin’ hero I was, huh?”

“My mother told me it’s not nice to lie,” Erasmus replied sweetly.

“Suck my fuckin’ ballsack, Raz! Come on! Help a motherfucker out!”

“And them,” Jules amended, snorting as the pair continued to bicker on their way to the kitchen. He called after them, “Hey! Bring us some booze!”

“On it!” Junior shouted back.

“What happens now?” Brick asked glumly. “Is it really over now? Like, for real this time?”

“Yeah,” Jules replied. “It is.”

“What was your meeting about? Huh? What exactly are you giving Detective Cutter?”

“Just information to remove the Finch family from a certain industry.”

---