The Darkness - Jason Pinter [104]
have access to a large amount of money, or at least people
who can get it. I want to use my LexisNexis account, see
what we can find."
"Great, let's go to the office."
"No way," I said. "Like you said, trust no one. We're
doing this from my apartment."
"Your apartment? Won't your lady friend mind?"
"Her name is Amanda," I said, slightly annoyed.
"You've met her. You know that."
Jack nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry. You guys
doing well?"
"Just fine," I said.
"Glad to hear it."
I laughed. "Come on, Jack. We both know it wasn't too
long ago you told me to dump her in so many words. And
I stupidly listened to you, and it almost ruined my life to
do it. I trust your relationship advice as much as I trust
your recommendations on aftershave."
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Jason Pinter
"You do what you want," Jack said. "I'm in no position
to judge anyone. I do seem to remember you standing
over me in a puddle of my own puke."
"Glad you remember that," I said. "Not exactly either
of our finer moments."
"Not something I'll want brought up in my eulogy.
Come on, let's see what we can find out."
"You'll behave yourself?" I said.
"What do you think I am?" Jack said, finishing the last
of his coffee and dropping a few singles on the table. He
wiped at his shirt where a few drops of black liquid had
stained it. "Uncouth?"
42
I turned the key in the lock. Amanda was staying at my
place tonight. Odds were she was asleep and I didn't
want to wake her.
But when I turned the knob and opened the door,
Amanda was sitting on the couch, a beer in her hand,
staring at the door like she'd been patiently waiting for a
toaster to go off.
The room smelled like flowers, and I could tell she'd
been burning one of her scented candles. A copy of a Nora
Roberts book lay dog-eared on the table, and a spoon
covered in chocolate lay next to it.
She wasn't one of those girls who did that kind of thing
often. She didn't eat ice cream when she was depressed,
didn't have a weakness for chick flicks or romance
novels. At least not for the same reasons as most people.
Amanda only did those things when she was nervous,
when taking her mind far away from the real world. When
reality was too frightening a place to be in.
When she saw me, Amanda slowly stood up, came
over and threw her arms around me. I felt a cold splash
of beer drip down my back, but I didn't care. I closed my
eyes and hugged her back.
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Jason Pinter
"I'm going to have to install a GPS device on you," she
said. I laughed. Then she pulled her head from the crook
of my neck and kissed me hard. I pressed my lips against
her, held her tight.
I felt her hand travel down my lower back until she was
cupping my butt. It felt great, and for a moment I totally
forgot that I hadn't come home alone.
Then Amanda saw him and shrieked.
"Mr. O'Donnell?" Amanda said, her arms still around
me, but her hand jerking away like she'd touched a hot
stove.
"Sorry to intrude, Ms. Davies," he said. "Your boyfriend and I have been through a lot today, and we unfortunately have to take up a little more of your time."
"Henry?" she said. "What's going on?"
"We found something at the scene," I said. "A document
that we hope will connect the guy who killed Hollinsworth
to 718 Enterprises. We just need to find out who he is."
"And then what?" she said. "You're going to call the
cops?"
I looked at Jack. He shrugged, as if to say this is all yours.
I turned back to Amanda. Her arms had slipped from
my shoulders. I took her hand, held it, but she was reluctant to hold on.
"Not yet," I said.
"Why not?"
"Somebody knew we were meeting Hollinsworth. I
don't know how they found out, but until we know who
did it we're going to play this pretty close to the vest."
She nodded, understanding it though it was clear she
wasn't happy about it.
Then she looked at Jack, said, "How are you? Feeling better?"
The Darkness
301
Jack smiled. "I am. Thank you for asking."
"So get on with it," Amanda said. "If you don't mind,
I stopped reading in the middle of a really good sex