Page 51 of Cold Hard Cash

Jimmy struggled to finish his last few bites of eggs with Rowena already dragging him toward the front door. On the way to the pawn shop, he spilled his guts, told Rowena about all the fights, about Augustus trying to keep him from seeing his father, and his staunch refusal to believe that David might actually be innocent.

“And you saw it?” Rowena said quietly when Jimmy had finished, still a few blocks from their destination.

“Yeah,” Jimmy said with a sad smile.

“And Augustus thinks, what? You imagined it?” Rowena looked angry for a second, visibly trying to calm herself down. She was clearly not a big fan of Augustus, and this only solidified her already unfavorable opinion.

“I guess,” Jimmy replied. “He would never say why he was so convinced, he just said he knew my dad did it. He kept saying that there was never anyone else there. But I know I saw the Man in White. I saw what he did.”

Emptying the last of the pitcher into her glass and sucking down a big gulp, Rowena quirked her eyebrow at the name.

“He was wearing a white coat,” Jimmy explained. “That’s all I can remember now. I think maybe I used to be able to see his face? But not anymore. I guess it’s been too long.”

“I’m really sorry,” Rowena said, reaching out to gingerly touch Jimmy’s knee. “Augustus Duplin is a fuckin’ dick.”

“Yeah,” Jimmy mused quietly. “I think he thought he was helping? I just wish he believed me. Maury is the only one who does.” He couldn’t help but smile now, his cheeks warming up. “Well, and your brother.”

Rowena grinned at that, teasing, “Oh, I bet he does! And hey, I believe you, too.” She squeezed Jimmy’s knee, saying, “I hope you know I still want to be friends.”

“You’re not mad about the whole ‘my adopted dad is a cop trying to arrest your brother’ thing?” Jimmy asked dubiously.

“Why would I be? It’s not your fault he’s a prick,” Rowena snorted. “I mean, I wish you had said something, but—”

“I tried telling your brother!” Jimmy pouted.

“Hey, hey,” Rowena soothed, taking another sip of her drink and shaking her head. “It’s okay. We all have dirty little secrets, Jimmy. Me, you, Roddy, even that bastard Augustus Duplin.”

It was hard to imagine Augustus with any dirty secrets, but Jimmy nodded all the same. He smiled as the limo pulled up in front of the pawn shop, exclaiming, “Hey! We’re here!”

Rowena exited the limo gracefully with Jerry’s assistance. She still moved effortlessly despite having downed an entire pitcher of mimosas nearly by herself, heels clicking against the sidewalk as she approached the door of the shop.

Jimmy followed, opening the door for her and hurrying inside. “Hey, Maury! It’s me! I got somebody—”

“You fuckin’ dumbass! I shoulda never told you none of that fuckin’ shit!” Maury was raging from somewhere in the back. “I told you, I fuckin’ told yous not to get all mixed up, and what d’ya do? You go and try to fall in love with a fuckin’ gangster!”

“Maury!” Jimmy protested, blushing immediately.

Rowena grinned savagely as she leaned across the counter, not saying a word, clearly pleased that she was privy to this conversation.

“And not just any gangster, but fuckin’ Boss Cold! Fuckin’ Roderick Legrand! Come on, kid. This was about you gettin’ your shit handled and not endin’ up in a damn coffin!” Maury continued to shout, starting to shuffle toward the counter. “You fuckin’ stupid, scrawny...”

Maury finally appeared, trailing off when he saw that Jimmy wasn’t alone.

“You must be Maury the Mouth,” Rowena greeted cheerfully. “A living legend, here in the flesh.”

“You’re Rowena fuckin’ Legrand,” Maury said, gawking stupidly. He took off his hat, smoothing his hair back and actually smiling like a shy little boy. “Ma’am, can I just say your mugshots don’t do no fuckin’ favors, ‘cause you are a stone cold fox.”

Rowena giggled, completely charmed. “Aren’t you just a doll,” she cooed, reaching out and stroking her hand across Maury’s cheek.

Maury blushed.

Maury the Mouth was blushing and stammered, trying to reply, “Eh, wow, yeah.”

Amazed at the ridiculous sight of seeing his friend so clearly smitten, Jimmy grinned.

“Maurice Martine,” Maury said, eagerly taking Rowena’s hand and pressing a gentle kiss upon it. “An absolute pleasure.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” she said, chuckling lightly. “Mmm, now, what was that you were saying about Jimmy falling in love with a gangster? And how stupid that was?”