Duty (Ghost Squad Book 2) by Lilith Saintcrow

Author:Lilith Saintcrow [Saintcrow, Lilith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ImaJinn Books
Published: 2022-10-21T00:00:00+00:00

Make It Simple

FOR THE FIRST morning of her criminal career, it wasn’t bad at all. No phone alarm, no immediate thump of guilt under her breastbone, no snap of Joe’s belt if he thought she was being lazy, no scrambling to make breakfast, no uncomfortable conversations or false, necessary cheerfulness.

There wasn’t any coffee until she left the motel room, but that was a small price to pay.

It was sheer luxury to lie in bed with the television on and not have to smile at anyone. She didn’t have to apologize or refuse well-meaning charity, and she especially didn’t have to watch her mouth.

For once in her life, Beck Sommers could say what she damn well pleased, and she liked the feeling. The fact that it was because she was completely alone was pleasant, too.

The water seemed a little hotter this morning, and she took her time in the shower. She also waited until the parking lot was empty, about an hour before official check-out. A simple drop of the room key into a slot, hearing the clatter as it landed, and she was free to go wherever the hell the Jetta could take her.

Joe must be out of his mind by now. If he came home at all last night, that is.

How many nights had she lain awake, hoping he’d be busy with Amy or whatever else kept him out until he had to get to the gym before work? It was impossible to relax when any moment might bring the rattle of the garage door and his footsteps on the stairs. If she was lucky he’d just visit the bathroom and then get into bed.

If she wasn’t, if someone had ignored or disrespected him during the day, goodbye to any chance of sleep the rest of the night. He was so affable outside the house, but he kept a running log of every slight. And eventually, every tally-mark was taken out on Beck in private.

And with interest.

It probably ran in the family. Yolanda Halston wasn’t local, and she rarely said boo outside of church. She was nice enough, Beck had always thought, but wishy-washy.

Now she wondered. Joe Senior always had a little gleam in his blue eyes when he looked at his wife, and Beck now knew the look intimately.

In any case, there was a pay phone in the parking lot of last night’s Wendy’s, and she’d written down all essential numbers in her old address book yesterday since her phone was going to be out of commission. God, how the world had changed since she was a kid.

I sound like Helena. The thought gave her a smile, and there were quarters in the Jetta’s ashtray—innocent of any cigarette fallout and thus a repository for hair clips, loose coins, and pocket lint. The tiny grin died as she dialed, plugging her other ear against the parking lot’s noise. He’d be able to tell she was at a pay phone, but she might be able to get a burner today.

If she was lucky.

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