by Kim Jewell
“He had two of our associates help him deal with a problem. The job went south and our buddies ended up dead.”
“Who killed them?”
“Dunno. No one said. But I heard rumors of some strangers involved.”
“Did you know them?” Leesha looked incredulous.
“Yep. I wouldn’t say we’re friends. But we ran in the same circle, if you know what I mean.”
“Oh, I know what you mean,” Leesha paced back and forth, eyeing both of them. “And you really don’t know who killed them?”
“Not a clue. I don’t know anything about the job. Just assumed it got ugly.”
“Oh, I can tell you who killed your friends,” Sam said, emphasizing the word friends with a hint of sarcasm. “I can tell you, ‘cause I watched it go down.”
“Who did it?”
Sam almost sneered. “The good doctor, that’s who. I saw it with my own eyes.”
“You couldn’t have.”
“He did,” Clint said. “Shot ‘em both in the back of the head.”
“How’d you guys get away?” The sweat was starting to pour down the temples of the pudgy, dark-haired intruder.
“He never saw us,” Clint answered. “Just like you never saw us until it was too late. Now look… You’ve got a couple of choices here. But my best advice, if you don’t want to end up like your buddies, is to disappear.”
The sound of clicking behind him made Clint turn around. Lexi had her phone in the air.
“If you don’t,” she smiled sweetly, “we’ll show him proof of how good you are at your job.”
Oh man, she’s good.
“So what’s it gonna be? Will you leave here, leave our families alone?” Clint prodded.
They were both silent for a minute, thinking. The blonde raised his head finally. “Yeah. We give. We’re out of here.”
“I don’t want to see your face again,” Clint pushed. He picked up the mangled Glock. “You take this, remember who you’re dealing with. You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us. Clear?”
“Yeah. Clear.”
“Who are you, anyway?” the pudgy one asked.
“That’s none of your business,” Leesha spat. “And frankly, the less you know, the better off you are.”
“So here’s what’s gonna happen,” Clint said. “I’m going to untie you, nice and easy. Any crap from either of you and I tie you back up and we call the doc.”
They nodded.
“You’re gonna walk out to your car and get the hell out of here. I don’t care where you go, but you better disappear. I’m not kidding. Completely gone. Got it?”
“Uh-huh. We’ll go. You won’t hear from us again. My word.”
Clint huffed slightly, but took his knife out and expertly released both men. Leesha stood guard, but both Lexi and Sam were right beside her. A unified front.
Once clear, the men quickly walked out the door. By the time they hit the sidewalk, they were in a full sprint.
Clint watched them drive off, took a deep breath and turned to face the rest of the group. “Um. Sorry about the door, Mrs. D.”
She looked up from her husband’s wound, which she was dabbing with a tissue. “Would someone please explain to me what just happened here?!”