Take the Leap (New Halliday Book 3) by Ripper Kris

Author:Ripper, Kris [Ripper, Kris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-02-15T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Rog had been taking all of his shifts as opening shifts, which only left two days a week when Clem had to be at Nan’s before nine. Still, he found himself going in early one Wednesday in a probably pointless attempt to square away paperwork once and for all. Nan’s before open was serene, peaceful. The perfect environment in which to get work done.

He’d expected to be the only one there, but Rog’s car was already in the lot. If Clem had called hello as he walked in, the whole thing would have turned out differently, but as he was opening his mouth, he heard voices. Or a voice. Or something.

It sounded like a television. Nan’s didn’t have a television. And even if it did, Henry wasn’t likely to be on it.

“—Thought I’d mention it again, since you haven’t retuned my messages. Anyway, maybe I made it up, but I’m still thinking about it, so. Hell, I don’t know. Maybe I’m just a rambling madman at your voicemail. I’m not making it up. Bye, Clem.”

Making what up? And what messages? He was too far away to grab the phone, but it wouldn’t have mattered; a long beep indicated the message was over, and another beep indicated a button had been pressed.

“Your message has been erased.”

Clem stopped walking.

“Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck! Fucking meddling prick.” Something crashed and Rog cursed again. Sounds from the office.

It was definitely Rog. Clem knew his voice. And his car. And he was the only one with keys.

Rog walked out into the main area of Nan’s, face creased in anger, and made it all the way across to the first register before he noticed Clem. Then he froze and both of them stood there for a long moment, staring at each other.

“You listening to messages?” Clem asked, every instinct in his body now on high alert.

“Oh. Uh. Yeah, I—” The transformation was incredible. Rog shifted from angry to defensive in seconds. Then his eyes narrowed. “You heard, didn’t you?”

“I heard you delete a message from a friend of mine. Want to tell me why?”

“Because he’s insane, that’s why. Because he’s off his fucking rocker.”

The pieces came together too late, and Clem realized he’d been had. Possibly for months. This is how Rog had looked the night he’d gotten in a fight with Landon: defensive and outraged, like an animal in a trap.

“What’s going on, Rog?”

“Your friend Henry fucking Hofstadter thinks I’m stealing, which is an insult, a fucking insult!”

“An insult.” Clem’s heart began to beat faster and he recognized the stirrings of adrenaline. “You stealing from me, Rog?”

Rog took a step forward and held up a hand. “I’m the best thing that ever happened to you, Clem. We both know you can’t keep running this place by yourself. I’m a fucking blessing to you, okay? Yeah, sometimes I take a little extra, when the math is easy, but what do you care? You have enough money. I’ve done the fucking deposit so I know how much you’re pulling in here.

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