Snow Blind - Lori G. Armstrong [105]
“What rumors?”
“His mysterious granddaughter is planning to sue this place?”
I nodded again.
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“I’m confused. You said you needed to talk to Luella. What does Luella have to do with this mess?”
“I don’t know, Reva. That’s why I have to ask her a few questions.”
“She hasn’t been around here much. I had to lay on the loneliness factor super thick or else she wouldn’t be coming to see me today.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Humor me while we’re waiting.” She bit into a cookie and crumbs dusted her chest. “Tell me something exciting that’s happened in your PI life recently.”
“Hmm. You mean like when I was stuck doing
surveillance during the middle of the night on a methhead woman after a drug buy? And I took her down at gunpoint and returned her to my client trussed up like a Christmas goose?”
Reva’s big eyes blinked rapidly behind her lenses, making her appear even more fishlike. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Was it fun?”
“Sitting in the cold wasn’t fun.” Wasn’t fun hiding information from my lover either. “Once I knew the suspect wasn’t armed, tackling her to the carpet was pretty fun.” Right then, I remembered I hadn’t read Nyla’s notebook. Hell, I’d forgotten I even had it. Also right then, an ache spread when I thought of Martinez. I missed him. We’d been playing phone tag, and I suspected Big Mike was doing his level best 374
to keep us apart.
Enough. I smiled at Reva. “Excuse me for a second.”
“Sure, honey.”
I rounded the corner to the bathroom and shut the door. Powdery blue paint coated the walls. A wallpaper border comprised of wispy clouds circled the ceiling. Even though the space seemed fussy, it was surprisingly soothing. I flipped the fan on and flopped on the matching sky blue fluffy rug on the floor. I dialed Martinez’s main cell number. It kicked over to voice mail. I tried his private number. No answer. On a whim I dug out the prepaid phone Big Mike gave me and dialed the number in the directory.
Big Mike answered, “What’s up?”
“I want to talk to him.”
“He’s busy. And you know you ain’t supposed to be calling me on this phone unless it pertains to—”
“—it pertains to the fact I haven’t seen him in two days.”
“Julie, he’s been busy trying to catch up.”
“That’s a bullshit excuse and you know it. Where is he right now?”
“Physical therapy.”
“How much longer?”
“Twenty minutes, but he’s exhausted when it’s done and he usually rests.”
Made my gut clench to think of him in pain.
“Look. I’ll tell him you called.”
“When do you think I might expect a call back?”
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“I don’t know. Later tonight probably.”
“Fuck that. I want to talk to him right fucking now. You don’t get to decide—”
“Actually, as head of his security team I do get to decide and if you push the issue—”
I hung up. I’d made a huge mistake in keeping the situation with Nyla from Tony. Just to be spiteful, I programmed Martinez’s private number into Big Mike’s secret phone. Oops, what would happen if I got confused and accidentally used the wrong phone? The gig would definitely be up, since Martinez’s private number was so private only ten people had it. Hah. Then Big Mike’s ass would be in a sling, not mine. An option I wouldn’t discount. I called Tony back from my phone and left a rambling message, complete with I miss you, baby on both his numbers. If that didn’t get his attention nothing would.
I washed my hands and returned to the living room.
Luella’s appearance shocked me as much as mine shocked her. She glared at me. “What is she doing here?”
“I want to talk to you.”
“I have nothing to say.”
“Too bad.”
Luella gave Reva a hurt look. “I can’t believe you tricked me.”
“Don’t blame Reva. She didn’t trick you. I threatened her. Now I’m threatening you.”
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“Don’t try to run,” Reva mock-whispered. “She has a gun in her purse.”
I managed to keep a straight face. “Reva? Can you give us a few minutes?”
“Sure. I’ll check out the action in the common room. Help yourself to tea and cookies, Lu.”
When Reva was out of earshot, Luella snapped,
“What’s so important you had to threaten