Free Bitter Black Kiss by Michelle Clay Page A

peered at the readout. “Unavailable.”
    “Answer for me?” she asked. They were almost at the apartment.
    “Who is this?” Molly demanded after a few seconds. “Don’t you call this number again, you psycho bastard.” She pressed the off button then flung the phone back into Nicole’s purse.
    “Aaron?”
    She made a disgusted face. “Yes.”
    Nicole went over a plan of action in her head. First she’d have to get another number. Of course, Aaron would find her new number in record time. He always did.
    “Anyway, I don’t trust him.” Molly picked up where she left off.
    Nicole gripped the wheel. “ I have no intention of trusting that asshole.”
    Molly groaned and rolled her eyes. “Duh, Nicky! I’m talking about Sean. The police asked the staff about him. They made some serious accusations.”
    “I know. It’s all a bunch of nonsense. She was more interested in nailing me for something than finding Amy’s killer.”
    “He’s a workaholic. He’d never have time for you,” Molly added with a lame shrug. “He’s in town for a week every month or so.”
    “It’s just a business dinner, not a date.”
    “Just be careful.” She looked out the window again, her eyes downcast. “Men like Sean Stone get what they want. If he crooks his finger, women come running, and it doesn’t matter if he treats them like trash, they just eat it up. Women are objects to cast aside once he’s done.”
    “Where is this coming from?” A gnat of worry buzzed at the back of Nicole’s brain. “Did something happen? You know you can tell me anything.”
    “He said I should lose some weight—that I’d get more tips. The customers don’t want a gross, fat slob behind the bar.” Her voice sounded watery, and she ducked her head. “I bet he’s trying to get me to quit so he won’t have to fire me. He’ll save on unemployment that way.”
    “Oh Molly, you are beautiful.” She meant every word.
    Molly sniffled and clutched her purse. “It doesn't matter."
    Nicole eased the compact car into their reserved parking slot. “Come on, what happened? Talk to me.”
    “Well, Sean didn’t say it himself. He sent his stupid guard dog to do it for him.” Molly stopped Nicole from speaking. “I just get a bad vibe off Sean. I can’t explain it. He’s bad news, okay?”
    The breath Nicole held leaked out of her lungs in a slow, steady stream. “I doubt he even knows about it, Molly. I’ll bet Tony came up with that bullshit all by himself. I’ll talk to Sean about it.”
    “What does he need a bodyguard for anyway?” Molly continued. “It’s not like he’s royalty or anyone famous. He’s just some guy who has extra money lying around for god’s sake.”
    “So what if he has a bodyguard?”
    “Hmm.” Molly slid out of the car and shut the door. She took a few steps then reconsidered. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but you should break the wolfsbane habit. They’re cracking down on street users.”
    “God, you make it sound like I’m addicted to cocaine or something.” There was a tone in Molly’s voice that Nicole didn’t care for. “Besides, it isn’t as easy as you think.”
    “At least go to a doctor and get a legit prescription. I know you think it’ll ruin your reputation, but you could go to an out of town doctor. What if you get busted for buying off the street? Think about what  that  would do to your career, Nicky. You’ve worked hard to get where you are. I don’t want to see you throw everything away.”

Chapter Six
     
    The pawn shop owner examined the keys dangling from his meaty fingers as he approached the metal, roll down door in front of the shop’s entrance. A bag of food speckled with grease spots almost met the sidewalk before he slid the key into the lock. The rattling of the door as he slid it open echoed against the surrounding shop fronts.
    It appeared that the short, portly man wanted to get inside fast. Brody didn’t blame him. This was a cruddy