Heads You Lose - Lisa Lutz [80]
I could go on, but let me keep my criticism constructive and objective. Please don’t make up phony argot. AVD? Not a real term, if Google counts for anything.
Lisa
P.S. If you must know, I asked a few established authors before contacting you.
CHAPTER 25
Lacey stifled a chuckle. Exhaustion, stress, and nerves tore through her system and suddenly that muffled chuckle transformed into hysterical laughter. About a minute later, under Paul’s impatient scowl, she was able to speak. Barely.
The words came out in hiccups. “Glo-glo-bal war-ming? Real-ly?”
“Is it so impossible to believe?”
Lacey responded with more laughter. She held up the piece of paper with five zeros on it as if to make a point. Paul realized then that he should have consulted his genius girlfriend before bringing the news to his sister.
“So,” Lacey said, still choking with mirth, “you think Big Marv wants to pay us six hundred thousand dollars for a property that might be worth something in thirty years? Look at the man! He won’t be around another fifteen.”
“He said it was his final offer,” Paul said.
“It’s not,” Lacey replied. “You know what you should do, since the Babalato brothers clearly prefer negotiating with you over me? You should call Jay and thank him for the offer and tell him you’re thinking it over.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Paul said.
“I didn’t,” Lacey replied. “I was merely making a suggestion.”
As soon as Lacey departed, Paul called Jay Babalato and left a message.
Lacey had quite a to-do list for the day and she wasted no time getting started. She drove directly to Doc Egan’s office and got straight to the point.
“Why did you tell me you got a divorce when your wife died?”
“I didn’t want to talk about it.”
“That’s suspicious behavior, don’t you think?”
“I suppose so. But I never thought it would come up.”
“What happened?” Lacey asked.
“She was hit by a bus,” Egan replied.
“My condolences.”
“Thank you.”
“Were you with her at the time?”
“Excuse me?” Egan replied.
“Were you with your wife when it happened?”
“No.”
“So, it’s not like you could have pushed her in front of the bus, right?”
“Right,” Egan replied, clearly startled by Lacey’s lack of delicacy.
“And it’s not like you could have paid off a bus driver to do it. That would be almost impossible to arrange. Especially since they’re never on time and stuff.”
“What are you getting at, Lacey?”
“I’m just thinking out loud. With all the murders happening around me, I want to make sure that I can dispense with some vague suspicions and get on with the real business.”
“I see.”
“Shit happens, right?”
“I guess so,” said Egan. “Do you need something?”
“Yes,” Lacey quickly replied. “You need to make a face-to-face appointment with Doc Holland.”
She departed without saying another word.
On each of the three days since he’d been expelled from Mapleshade, Sook had made a habit of pickling himself at the Timberline. Lacey decided an afternoon excursion would be good for his health.
“You’re coming with me,” she said.
Sook was tanked enough to be agreeable. He finished his well whiskey and followed Lacey out of the bar.
Twenty minutes later, Lacey parked just down the road from We Care Gardens. “Here’s the plan,” Lacey said. “You play drunk.”
“I am drunk,” Sook replied.
“Then it should be a piece of cake. I need you to keep Big Marv busy while I search his office.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know yet. He wants to buy our property. Bad. I just have to figure out why. It’s a long shot, but I need to see if there’s anything he’s keeping in his paperwork that would help me negotiate.”40
“What should we talk about?”
“I don’t know, Sook. Tell him what it was like during the Civil War. No, tell him your days are numbered at Mapleshade and you’re thinking about a move to We Care.”
“Bite your tongue.”
Lacey ignored his protest. “Keep him occupied and out of his office as long as you can. Try to get him to give you an official tour. Can you