“You and Viko are evenly matched. This is just a dick-measuring contest between the two of you. Why do you want him out of the country and if so, what does Xavier’s sister have to do with this?”
“I don’t have to give you my reasons.”
“Look, I hate to break it to you, but seeing as the drugs and the sister brought Viko to town, not to mention the mounting list of dead people, I’ve got to know. Were you aware that Scarlett was on this trail as well?”
Scarlett was Bain’s wife, a reporter, and a good source to gather information. He hadn’t had a chance to use her for any of this.
“What do you mean?” Boss looked toward Killian. He liked to be the first to know about everything, so this news didn’t sit well with him.
“She got wind of the story about a week ago. Bain told me something about drug users going crazy in the emergency room, begging for help, holding their heads, banging them together. She’s been tracing it all.”
“Why wasn’t I made aware of this?” Boss asked. “I want you to go to Bain and Scarlett’s house, now. I need to talk to her.”
Everything was going to shit. There was so much happening, one thing after the other, and he was struggling to keep up. Graciella distracted him and he wasn’t going to pretend otherwise.
“What are you thinking?” Killian asked.
“I want to know what she knows.”
“You think there’s a chance she could know more than you?”
“If my memory serves me right, Scarlett has her means of getting what she wants. She managed to get under Bain’s skin and that says a lot. Why wasn’t I told of this before?” he asked.
“I believe Bain emailed you, or he may have left you a memo.”
“Don’t get fucking smart with me.”
Killian had been born in an Irish whorehouse and his life had never been easy. Now he was happily married with kids. A family looked good on him.
“What’s going on, Boss?” Killian asked. “This isn’
t like you and I don’t like it.”
Boss opened his mouth but went silent as his cell phone rang. He saw Maurice was calling. He answered. “I can’t talk now, Maurice.”
“Bain’s in the hospital,” Maurice said.
“What the fuck do you mean?” This wasn’t good. This wasn’t the kind of news he wanted to hear.
“Scarlett called the office. She needs you. Something’s going on. She said she made a mistake and now she’s terrified.”
“We’ll be there. Give me the address.” In a large city, there were several major hospitals.
“What’s going on?” Killian asked the moment he hung up.
“Bain’s in the hospital and Scarlett needs help.” He patted his knee, quickly putting the pieces together. “Bain took the drugs.”
“What? That’s not fucking possible. How could he have taken the drugs? The guy won’t even take a painkiller. No, man, you’ve got that wrong.”
“Something was bothering him this morning. He was … different today in the office. Sick. Fuck!” He slammed his fist against the front of the car. He’d gotten into this habit and with how strong he was, there were a few times he’d deployed the airbag. He had them all removed from the passenger side of the cars. He hated being hit in the face with it.
He gave Killian the address for the hospital.
Ignoring all the questions, as he didn’t have any answers, he arrived at the hospital to find Scarlett in the waiting room. Her face was blanched and it was evident she’d been crying.
“Tell me what the fuck you know,” Boss said.
“They’re coming in disguised as mints,” she said. “I was given this by a contact. It was completely sealed.” She handed him the bag. “I think Bain took one, thinking they were mine.” Tears were in her eyes. “What have I done? I let them out. I’m a fucking idiot. I think I just killed my husband.”