“Maybe that’s in our favor. Maybe we learned from our mistakes.”
“Maybe, or maybe it’s like…those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.”
“Maybe, but think about it, especially now when we both need someone to watch our backs. We might never make a nice married couple, but I can’t think of anyone I’d want by my side when the shit goes down.”
When Margot didn’t answer right away, Mal added, “Would you really rather have Radcliff in a gunfight?”
“I’d rather not get in a gunfight at all. It’s not a competition between you two anyway. You're still my friend and partner, Radcliff just asked me to dinner once.”
“And you accepted.”
“Yeah, I like dinner. It didn’t work out anyway.”
“So, next time he asks you’re going to say no?”
“I didn’t say that. It doesn’t really matter to you or it shouldn’t.”
“Because we’re just friends.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“Because I’ve been thinking we should go back to being more.”
“Sorry Mal, but I haven’t been thinking that.”
“Okay, but promise me you’ll think about it? Or at least think about one of us moving in with the other until we know no one is trying to kill us, even if we’re just roommates with some history?”
“I’ll think about it.”
After Mal hung up Margot spent the rest of the drive trying not to think about her and Mal’s past or future relationship and instead concentrated on trying to spot a tail.
Chapter 11
When she pulled up to the address Ms. Caldwell gave her, a broad-shouldered man in a stained white wife-beater t-shirt was waiting for her on his small but immaculate lawn.
“I take it from the car and my exes description you’re Margot the detective,” he said to her as she got out of her car.
“Private detective.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“Ms. Caldwell called you?”
“No, she called our daughter. I overheard some stuff and got her to fill me in on the rest.”
“Then you know I’m not here to cause either of you any trouble.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve found that people who want to cause me trouble say the same damn thing.”
“I just want to know about her friend Chrissie.”
“Well, lucky for you, I already asked. Danielle doesn’t know shit. Sorry you made the drive for nothing.”
“If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to ask her myself.”
“I’m sure you would, but that ain’t going to happen.”
“I know you don’t trust me…”