I rubbed my temples. “This is so weird. It’s the same exact amount that I withdrew from my savings and my retirement.”
“That’s because Phil researched you. Oh shit. I didn’t mean to say that.”
I felt my mouth hang open. “Wait, Phil was getting information on me?”
“Oh God, Merit, you have to promise you won’t say how you found out. Doug will kill me! He doesn’t even know I was there that day. His stupid receptionist came back in and she dictated a bunch of crap for him, and then he left to go to a meeting. By that time, the office was cleared out, and I was well past my turned-on phase. I went home.”
“Still too much information.”
She giggled. “Sorry.”
“Libby, do you know who hired Phil to look up information about me? I mean, you and my friend Trish back in New York are the only two people who know I took that money out. Besides my mom and brother, of course. You didn’t tell anyone, did you?”
“No! I would never betray your trust like that. Hell, I’m still trying to make up for gossiping about you on New Year’s Eve.”
I sighed. “Then who?”
“If you think about it for a hot minute, Merit, who has that kind of money, and who would be the type of guy to want to give it back to you? The type of guy who once upon a time would do anything for you.”
It only took two seconds for the answer to pop into my head.
“Dirk Littlewood.”
“Bingo. That’s my guess, mind you. I’m not a hundred percent sure.” She paused. “What are you going to do now?”
I smiled, but it wasn’t a happy one. It was the kind of smile a person wore before they killed someone. “I’m going to go get myself a beer at the Blue Moose.”
“Um, okay, well, drink one for me!”
“Will do, and thanks, Libby. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you were my source.”
“Good, I really do love my husband and enjoy being married. And I have a baby to think of.”
I laughed. “Talk soon, okay?”
“Good luck!”
After I hit End, I rushed back into the house and ran up the stairs to my bedroom. It was time to get to the bottom of why more than one-hundred-thousand dollars just showed up in my savings account.
I sat in my car and pulled in a deep, cleansing breath as I said over and over again, “Do not hit him over the head with a beer bottle, and all will be good.”
Opening the door, I slipped out of my car and marched my way over to the front entrance of the Blue Moose. I clenched my hands into fists numerous times before I reached for the door and yanked it open. I needed to keep calm and not make a scene. No matter how much I wanted to throat punch Dirk, I wouldn’t.
A few people turned to see who was coming in. I couldn’t help but notice a few guys looking a little longer than they should as I walked farther into the bar. I had changed quickly, throwing on a dress and my cowboy boots, rather than the sweatpants and t-shirt I had been wearing when Dirk last saw me.
I walked up to the bar and looked out over the dance floor.
“It’s about damn time you came in here, Merit Eden!”
Turning, I looked at the bartender on the other side of the bar and smiled brightly. Betty Jane wore a huge smile on her face as she stared at me.
“Betty Jane, it’s so good to see you!” I said, sliding onto a stool.
“Lord Almighty, sweetie, are you on the hunt for a man tonight?” she asked with a wink as she poured me a beer and slid it in front of me.
“Something like that. I need a shot. Anything strong, please.”
“You’ve got it,” Betty Jane said before she turned and walked away. Not a minute later, she set two shot glasses in front of me.
“If one shot is good, two is better,” she stated like that was common knowledge.
I nodded and drank one of them down. I had to force myself not to cough. “Holy shit, Betty Jane.”
“Sorry, darlin’, you asked for something strong.”
“You’d be right about that. Do you happen to know if Dirk and Brock came in?”
Her brows lifted some. “Yes. They’re both here and sitting over there in the back corner. Are you here to join them?”
I laughed, picked up the other shot and downed it. Then, I took a long pull from the beer as Betty Jane stared at me in disbelief. “Nope. I’m here to kill Dirk.”
She nodded as if my answer was the most normal response ever. “Well, you might want one more shot, then. Liquid courage and all.”
I nodded. “Two more. Bring me two more.”
And like magic, two more shots of strong whiskey were placed in front of me. By the time I got the fourth shot down, I felt pretty damn good. I quickly finished off the beer and smiled.