Chapter 2 - The Black Car Outside My Window
I kept the door locked.
“Why would I need you to keep me alive?”
Dominic answered through the wood.
“Because Tommy disappeared last night.”
My stomach dropped.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“You saw what he did.”
“I didn't see anything.”
“You warned me.”
“I spilled coffee.”
“Emma.”
“I’m very clumsy.”
Silence.
Then I heard something slide underneath the door.
A business card.
No company.
Just a phone number.
“I'm leaving,” Dominic said.
“That’s it?”
“You expected flowers?”
“I expected you not to know where I live.”
“Fair.”
His footsteps moved away.
I rushed to the window.
Dominic emerged from the building.
The man beside the sedan opened the rear door.
Before getting inside, Dominic looked up.
Our eyes met through the glass.
He pointed at the phone in his hand.
Then the sedan drove away.
I immediately called my manager.
“Frank?”
“Emma? You're supposed to be here tonight.”
“I need a couple days off.”
“You're joking.”
“No.”
“Then don't bother coming back.”
I closed my eyes.
“Frank—”
“You miss tonight, you're fired.”
The call ended.
Perfect.
I had eighty-three dollars in my checking account and rent due in six days.
My phone rang again.
Unknown number.
I answered cautiously.
“Hello?”
A man breathed on the other end.
Then said:
“You should've minded your own business.”
The line disconnected.
I stared at the phone.
Five seconds later, I called the number on Dominic’s card.
He answered immediately.
“Emma?”
“How did you know?”
“Because nobody else has this number.”
“Someone called me.”
His voice changed.
“What did they say?”
I repeated it.
“Lock your door.”
“It is locked.”
“Stay away from the windows.”
“What is happening?”
“I'll explain.”
“When?”
“Now.”
“I thought you left.”
“I did.”
“Then how—”
A car door slammed downstairs.
Thirty seconds later, Dominic knocked.
This time I opened the door.
He stood alone.
His eyes dropped to my wrist.
The bruises were darker now.
His jaw tightened.
“Tommy did that?”
“It’s nothing.”
“It doesn't look like nothing.”
“Who is Tommy?”
Dominic stepped inside.
“My oldest friend.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“No.”
He glanced around my apartment.
“You always interrogate armed strangers?”
“You always enter women's apartments without answering questions?”
He almost smiled.
“Fair.”
I crossed my arms.
“Talk.”
Dominic leaned against the wall.
“Tommy and I grew up together. Same block. Same schools. Same trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“The kind you shouldn't ask about.”
“So you’re a criminal.”
His eyes met mine.
“I didn't say that.”
“You didn't need to.”
He remained silent.
I continued.
“Why poison you?”
“That's what I'm trying to find out.”
“You said he disappeared.”
“He ran.”
“From you?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds sensible.”
This time Dominic actually smiled.
Briefly.
Then his phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
His expression hardened.
“What?”
“They found Tommy.”
“Where?”
“Frank's.”
My stomach tightened.
“My diner?”
Dominic looked at me.
“He wants to talk.”
“To you?”
Dominic shook his head.
May you like
“To you.”
---
