Page 127 of A Quick Buck

“I’m not sure if Junior would mind.” Alistair chuckled. “I’m afraid he is not using the right ‘brain’ for this situation.”

“Whoever does when you’re in love?” Roger cackled, slapping Mickey’s thigh as if that was hilarious.

“In lust, more like,” Mickey corrected.

“He needs to be careful.” Crybaby made another face.

“Why?” Roger asked. “Heartbreak is great for developing a personality.”

“It’s not just that.”

“Pffft. What is it?”

“Because lil ol’ Odie punctured one of his boyfriend’s testicles with his Louis Vuittons when they broke up.”

“Rowena would love him.”

“Undoubtedly,” Alistair agreed with a chuckle. There was a faint ringing, and he reached into his jacket to retrieve his phone. “Ah, excuse me.”

“Yeah, sure.” Noah watched him step over to the bar for some privacy, straining to hear him over the loud conversation about all the violent things that could be done with shoes. While that was fascinating, he was much more interested in what Alistair was saying.

Alistair couldn’t have been on the phone for more than a minute before he hung up and walked back over, his hand raised for silence. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to cut our evening’s festivities a little short.”

“Time to go to work, Mr. Star?” Crybaby asked knowingly.

“Yes.”

“You need some extra hands?” Roger grinned.

“No, but thank you.” Alistair smiled, reaching out to shake Mickey’s hand and endure a big hug from Roger. “Stay, enjoy the club. Whatever you want is on the house. It was good to see you both again. Give Boss Cold my best.”

“That serious, huh?” Roger’s smile twisted into something unreadable. “Okie dokie then. Thanks, Alistair.” He winked at Noah. “And thank you,dearNoah.”

“Thank you both for everything. Take care of yourselves and each other.”

Crybaby and Scout got up to exchange hugs and well wishes, and the air was tense now.

Noah was immediately uncomfortable. It was like everyone else knew something was wrong, and he had no idea what was going on. He pulled on Alistair’s arm impatiently. “Who was that on the phone?”

“It was Erasmus,” Alistair replied quietly.

“Oh, great. Mr. Never Freakin’ Blinks.” Noah frowned at Alistair’s grim expression. He tried to laugh. “What is it? Did he suddenly remember how to blink and now he can’t stop?”

“No.”

“Well, what?”

“We found your uncle.”

Chapter 18

Noah’s soul briefly left his body, and it took several minutes for it to return. He couldn’t even bring himself to speak while everyone else exchanged farewells. Mickey and Roger were going to stay to enjoy Alistair’s hospitality, and Scout was going to hang back with them. Everyone else would head back to Noah’s house.

Because that’s where Uncle Patrick was going to be.

That was where they were taking Uncle Patrick to interrogate him and decide if he was a murderer.

Noah didn’t even know who ‘they’ were, and he was worried he was going to puke on the sidewalk.