Page 86 of Cash

“Very well,” Brick confirmed with a sly little smile.

“Well, fuck you.” Trixie laughed again. “I’m glad someone is having a good time at least.”

Brick chuckled. “An extremely good time, if you must know.”

“Rub it in, jerk.” Trixie rolled her eyes.

“Sorry not sorry,” Brick teased. He heard Jules shift behind him, and he remembered the other reason they were here. “So, uh, the cops say anything about catching whoever did this? They have any leads?”

“No. Just ask the same stupid questions over and over again. They asked me a lot of stuff about Finch III.”

“Your murder guy, right?”

“Yup. Not that any of them want to listen to me.” She narrowed her eyes. “Okay, it might be the morphine kicking in, but I swear some of them are in on it. It’s gotta be at least half the staff at the ME’s office, okay? And they’re not alone. The cops have gotta be helping them, giving them a head’s up on what’s going on with the cases before they visit the scene.”

Brick was dying to tell her she was right, but he didn’t think now was the best time to do that. Before he could say anything else, there was a knock at the door.

“Hey, Miss Gertern,” the ever delightful voice of Detective Cutter greeted. “I heard you talking, so I…” He froze when he saw Jules and Brick. “What the fuck are you two doing here?”

“Hello, detective,” Trixie said glumly. “Back again?”

“Hi,” Brick said with a sweet smile. “We’re just here visiting my friend.”

“You two are friends?” Cutter did not look like he believed them.

“Yeah?” Trixie scowled. “You got a problem with me having friends? I’ve known Brick for years.” She shook her head and groaned. “God, you’re so grouchy. Do you need a hug? An enema?”

“We just met, but I already feel like we’re friends,” Jules said with a cheerful grin.

“I’m going to pretend that’s the drugs talking,” Cutter said to Trixie, cutting his eyes back to Jules. “Can we have a little chat outside, Mr. Price?”

“Right now?”

“Right now.”

“I’m a lil’ busy—”

“Mr. Price,” Cutter warned, his tone indicating he was not in the mood for any argument.

“Fuck. Fine.” Jules kissed the top of Brick’s head. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go nowhere.”

“Have fun.” Brick watched Jules leave with Cutter, and then he looked back at Trixie. “Isn’t he just delightful.”

“Detective Cutter? No, he’s a dick.” Trixie snorted. “I’ve worked with him on removals. He’s permanently got his balls twisted in a knot. How do you know him?”

“Uh, well.” Brick hesitated to answer. “There was a burglar. At my house. Uh, somebody tried to break in. Well, they didn’t try, they actually did break in—”

“Fuck! Are you okay?” Trixie gasped.

“No! Yeah! I’m fine! But there was, uh, an accident, with the… burglar…” Brick struggled between how much he should say.

Before he could decide on a really good lie, Trixie suddenly bolted up.

“Wait, wait!” Trixie winced in obvious pain, but she braced herself on the side of the bed to remain in a sitting position. “I just remembered something! Something really, really important!”

“What? What is it?” Brick asked worriedly.

“In my desk. There’s something in my desk.”

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