Always Room for Cupcakes (Cupcakes 1)

Done. Stop by and I’ll give you the cash and get the pictures. I need them yesterday… And, Lila, don’t get used to demanding shit.

I rolled my eyes at Moose’s reply, mentally telling him to Go fuck himself.

Then I opened Amy May’s: Sounds great. Followed by Bea’s reply: Set it up tonight. I’ll be there.

Finally, I opened the one from Cade.

Shit’s escalating. I don’t like him putting his hands on you. Talk to your ex about taking the kids until this shit gets wrapped up. I want you at my cabin.

My initial reaction was irritation at Cade’s bossiness, then I realized the merit of his demands. If Hector somehow found out where I lived and something happened to my kids, I’d never forgive myself, so sending them to their dad’s was a good idea. Even if I hated the thought of being away from them, their safety came first. And the fact that Cade wanted me at his place so that he could protect me didn’t suck either…

I texted everyone back, then decided I’d better call The Douche and tell him what was going on, rather than trying to tell him everything in a text. Then I needed to get to Moose’s, get my money, and unload these photos. Finally, I needed to to have a drink with my girl’s and talk all of this shit out.

Damn, I needed a vacation!

I walked up to Moose’s decaying house in the not so nice section of Greenswood, planning to make this as quick as possible. I didn’t like to be at Moose’s any longer than necessary. It wasn’t that he wasn’t nice to me, usually, and an okay boss, it’s just that something about his place gave me the creeps.

I walked up the cracked cement steps and pounded on the ripped screen door. I heard “Come in,” shouted between a fit of coughing and wheezing.

Oh goodie, I thought as I opened the door. Sounds like Moose is all phlegmy again.

“What the hell?” I muttered as I walked into the entryway, down the hall, and through the kitchen. Moose’s house was never neat and tidy, but it wasn’t usually as bad as this.

Trash thrown literally on the floor, dirty dishes everywhere, and a smell I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to identify assailed me as I hurried toward his back porch, where I knew he’d be stationed.

“What’s going on, Moose?” I asked as I entered his makeshift office.

He turned to me and I stopped, shocked at the state he was in.

Big and tall, Moose was six foot two, three hundred pounds on a good day, but he looked like he’d gained weight since the last time I saw him. And his hair, which was balding on top, but usually kept trim on the back and sides, was long and stringy. Greasy from not being washed. His clothes were filthy, with food stains and sweat rings, and his face was ragged, as if he hadn’t slept in days.

“You got the pictures?” he asked, not even looking my way.

“Yeah, but, Moose, are you okay?” I asked, pulling the card out of my camera and placing it in his offered hand.

He popped it in his computer without answering, then let out a relieved sigh when the pictures showed on his screen.

“Finally,” he bit out softly. “Maybe now he’ll have what he needs and move forward. Get off my back.”

“Who?”

“Carlos Chavez, head of a Columbian drug cartel and older brother to Hector Chavez. He’s our client.”

I let that information whirl around in my head, then I grabbed Moose’s meaty arm and screeched, “What? You took a drug lord as a client? Are you fucking crazy?”

“He’s pissed that his little brother is sneaking around behind his back, trying to start up his own business here, on the side. Carlos doesn’t take kindly to being played, especially by his brother, so he hired me to find out exactly what Hector is doing in town.”

“And you didn’t think to let me in on this little tidbit of information before you gave me the job? Shit, Moose … I have kids.”

“Look, Lila, shit just got out of hand. I thought he’d be happy with the initial shots of the women Hector was targeting, but he always wanted more. He wanted to be sure of his brother’s betrayal before he sends his guys up here to take care of the situation.”

“Take care of the situation? What does that mean? And there are more of them coming here? What the hell are you thinking, Moose? You’ve gotta tell the cops.”

Moose shook his head, then pulled out a canvas bag and threw it at me.

“Too late for that, Lila, the job is done. Once I send these pictures over to Carlos, he’ll have the final piece he was looking for. He’ll get Hector and the drugs out of Greenswood, and things will get back to normal.”

I opened the bag and looked inside. There were piles of cash rubber banded together. I threw it back at Moose like it was on fire and said, “I can’t take that. It’s drug money, Moose. You may have lost your mind, but I haven’t. I can’t believe you’d put me in danger like this.”