“I’ve got flight tickets to Rome ready for you and a fake passport. Bex’s coming to see me to sort out the annulment papers tomorrow. All you have to do is sign them when they’re ready, and that’s all done. How’s it going? Working out a way to record Brody and Ernesto talking? Any ideas?”
“I’ve already got something planned, don’t worry. Had half an idea for a while and been doing the set up ready for this.”
“Then we don’t need to do anything else, right?”
“Give Bex the two hundred thousand.”
His eyebrows go up, but he makes a note anyway. “Sure thing.”
I shake my head. “She’s willing to walk away from Alicia like that? I thought they were close.”
“I guess not.”
“So what happens now?”
“I need to go see Eddie. You got a car nearby?”
“Out back. Picked it up this morning so the cops won’t have the plate to chase after.”
“Good. You know that when this is over, you’ll have earned your pay raise?”
“Only reason I work for you.”
“You know what, I thought it might work for a while between Bex and me. Dumb fucking bastard I am, right?”
“I wouldn’t call you that.”
“Only because I pay you.”
“Because it’s not true. You gave it a shot. What more could you do?”
“I could have treated her better.”
“You want me to bring her in so you can talk her around?”
“No, if this goes south, she’s better off out of it. You can arrange for her boutique to be fitted out. She left the brochures at the office with the shit she wanted circled. Would you do that for her?” I pause. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“So she gets two hundred thousand, and her store fitted out for free, and you ask for nothing in return. You sure you don’t know what love is?”
50
Bex
* * *
Toby looks at me from across his desk. “You know, I’ve done a lot of work for the family, but I’ve never had to annul a marriage before.”
I lean back in my seat, rolling my eyes. “I know what’s going on here. Hunter doesn’t want you to end it, does he? Making you stall so he can come back and try to sort this out. I’m right, aren’t I?”
“If I was, do you think I’d have let you waltz in here without an appointment? I do have other clients to see, Bex.”
“That’s not a denial.”
“No, Mr. Lombardi has no problems with you seeking an annulment to the marriage if that’s what you wish.”
“So, how does it work?”
He types into his computer for a moment. I glance at the rest of the desk. Spotless except for a single pen next to a leather-bound notebook. “Good cleaners,” I say, motioning toward the desk. “Or are you just not in here that often?”