Page 24 of Near Miss

“Now am I safe from being accused of a crime?”

“No, but nobody can prove that you committed one—not with that pistol, anyway. Do you think that Trench is capable of using it to murder someone, then giving it to you?”

That stopped her. “I don’t know, but after his attitude in that conversation, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“Give me the receipt that Fred gave you, and I’ll put it in my safe.”

She dug it out of her handbag and handed it over, and he put it into an envelope, wrote her name on it, and put it into his safe. “There,” he said, “that problem solved.”

She sat down in his lap and snuggled. “Are you going to solve all my problems?”

“That depends on what problems you have. If you want to tell all, go ahead, and I’ll do what I can.”

“Let me think about it,” she said.

“That bitch.”

Trench wanted to throw his phone against the wall but didn’tgive in to the urge. That asshole attorney must have told Matilda to send the gun back.

He called Bozo.

“Hi, Trench.”

“Are you still interested in a little side work?”

“I am.”

“There’s a problem I’d like dealt with posthaste.”

“The lawyer you had me follow the other day? Barrington?”

“One and the same.”

“You want me to finish what Huff fucked up.”

“Very much. But not just Barrington. Matilda Martin, too.”

“Are we talking about a don’t-mess-with-me message?”

“No. Something more permanent, if you get my drift.”

“I do. Give me a day or two to set things up.”

“The sooner the better. And, Bozo, one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“I want to be there when it happens.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“It is if you want to get paid.”

“On second thought, I’d love to have you along.”

Chapter 16

Matilda went upstairs, and Joan buzzed Stone. “Carly Riggs on one for you.”

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