Secondhand Smoke by Karen E. Olson

Author:Karen E. Olson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2006-09-26T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Vinny grilled me about who might have my home phone number. I always gave out my cell phone number.

“My parents and Tom have my home number. So do you, as a matter of fact.” I thought a second. “Oh, and Marty, but he doesn’t give it out to anyone, he knows better than that. Priscilla in New York has it, too, and Paula.” I paused for a minute, thinking about Paula. But the FBI wouldn’t have cause to threaten me. They might want to question me, but certainly not threaten me.

“So you’re fairly sure no one but those few people would have your number?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think anyone would give my number out.” But then I wasn’t so sure. My number was in the phone list at work, and even though it was flagged as being unlisted, that didn’t really mean much if an editor or reporter was on deadline and someone was bugging them to get in touch with me.

“Well, if no one spilled the beans, and that’s a big ‘if,’ you just named your closest family and friends as suspects. Me included,” Vinny said.

“But you were here.”

“No, I wasn’t.” Vinny paused. “You remember our conversation last night?”

I nodded.

“Normally the Mob doesn’t physically threaten people like you. But threatening phone calls are another matter.”

“So what are you trying to tell me?” I asked. “The guy last night might not be a mobster, but the phone call was?”

He shrugged. “Possibility.”

Way too much shit going on right now. And the worst was yet to come. “We’d better get going. I have to talk to Dick.” I cringed as I said it, but something had to go in the paper, and I wanted everything to be right.

The sky had a pinkish hue. I felt the flakes melting on my face, the cold biting into my cheeks.

“How are you doing?” My father approached us as we crossed the street and stepped onto the sidewalk. He put his arm around me.

I nodded. “I’m fine.”

I pulled away, and for a second thought I was going to slip, but I steadied myself. “I have to go talk to Dick,” I said, and I left my father with Vinny and made my way over to Dick, who was unfortunately talking to Tom.

“Did you forget something?” Tom asked, his eyes darting over to Vinny and back to me.

I sighed. “I have to talk to Dick.” I felt like a goddamn broken record. But I’m dating myself. Did CDs repeat themselves when they wore out? I think they just skipped. My thoughts were swirling around, making no sense, sort of how Dick’s story would end up.

Tom turned and walked away without another word. I was like fucking Typhoid Mary, bringing death and destruction to all I met.

Except Dick, whose eyes were bright with the fact that I was actually seeking him out. I should’ve stayed home, I shouldn’t lead him on like this. Marty needed to know better than to give Dick the illusion that I actually thought he was competent, because that’s what was going on in his head.

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