Page 99 of Cold Hard Cash

“Yeah, not so much.” Jimmy’s smile wavered for a moment. Right career, wrong goal. “I’ve been doing okay, though.”

“Well, not to be too forward,” Anna said in a voice that indicated she was going to be exactly that, “but Dad told me some pretty crazy stuff. Like, you’ve been shacking up with a gangster?”

“Uhhh, wow. Well. He is not wrong.”

“Jimmy!” Anna gasped, leaning close as if they were sharing a dirty secret, her hand resting on his arm. “You’re seriously dating Roderick Legrand? Boss Cold?”

“Dating is a strong word,” Jimmy admitted sheepishly. “But yes, we’ve been seeing each other, and uhm, it’s... it’s going well.”

“I saw them putting your name out on the marquis when I pulled up,” Anna squealed. “I’d say things are going really well. How did you guys meet?”

“It’s an interesting story,” Jimmy replied carefully.

“I’m a reporter, I love interesting stories!” Anna teased.

“Okay, well, this is off the record!”

“I’ve already been patted down for any recording devices or weapons,” Anna assured him, nodding back at Jerry. “Like seriously, he searched me. Little intense.”

“They’re very, uh, protective.”

“So, dish! How did you end up with big ol’ Boss Cold?”

“Well, I got into a little financial trouble,” Jimmy began, trying to find the nicest way to explain the unusual situation he had found himself in. “I owed a lot of money to Cold actually. We, eh, came up with a deal to pay it off. He helped me get this job, and uhm, so, I’m paying him back here and there.”

“But you’re sleeping together,” Anna asked bluntly.

“Yes,” Jimmy replied, wishing he could stop the flow of blood above his neck.

“Jimmy,” Anna said slowly, as if she was concerned he wouldn’t understand what she was about to say, “it sounds like you’re prostituting yourself out.”

“No,” Jimmy said quickly, “it’s not like that! Not at all! Well. At first, maybe sort of? But everything is okay now. I mean, see, he only came to me because he was trying to get to Augustus since he’s investigating him, but then Maury had told me that Cold might be willing to make a deal, and he’s not worried about Augustus anymore anyway, and—”

“Whoa, whoa! Slow down!” Anna looked horrified. “Wait, wait, wait. So this deal to pay off your debt came about because Cold thought he could use you to manipulate Dad?”

“No, well... it sounds really bad when you say it that way,” Jimmy said with a grimace.

“Yeah, it sounds pretty sick,” Anna said, not even bothering to hide her contempt. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“I was thinking that I had no job, no money, and no one else to fucking turn to,” Jimmy replied honestly. “Yeah, it’s not a perfect fairy tale or anything, but it’s worked out. I’m happy. I’m doing just fine now, thank you.”

“Getting shot at is just fine? Yeah, Dad told me about that, too.”

“That doesn’t normally happen?” Jimmy squeaked in protest. “I mean, there’s just a lot of stuff happening right now, and uh, you know. Gangster related... stuff.”

“Jimmy, you have your whole life ahead of you,” Anna chastised. “Why don’t you just get out of here and finish school? I still can’t believe you dropped out! I didn’t believe Dad when he told me. You were doing so great!”

Jimmy tried to pull away but Anna held onto his hand, prompting him to sigh in protest, “Look, things are just... complicated.”

“I’m worried about you,” Anna said sincerely.

“Yeah. So worried you waited until today to find me,” Jimmy said with a faint scowl.

“Jimmy,” she scolded. “I’ve thought about you all the time. I’m—”

“Didn’t you say you’ve been back for months?” Jimmy demanded, eyeing his old friend suspiciously. He was happy to see Anna, but the timing of her sudden visit was quite suspect.

“Yes, but Jimmy, I’ve been really busy!”