Page 108 of Executing Malice

Too late to turn back, I reach them and incline my head.

“Morning ladies.”

Five heads pivot in my direction. Maybe they were waiting for someone else, because none look happy to see me.

“You again,” the leader snips, long fingers folding together on the table. “We were just discussing you.”

I doubt it was anything good, but I don’t ask.

I don’t care.

“I feel we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot,” I try, doing my best to keep my tone even. “I’m hoping we can try again.”

“And why would we do something like that after the atrocious way you’ve treated our town?”

I don’t think telling busybodies prodding for personal information to fuck off is atrocious, but I let them have it.

“Because I’m not going anywhere and I would like to coexist in a civilized manner with the people of Jefferson.”

I may as well have spewed profanities for the way the group recoils at myannouncement.

“Move here?” Dolores cries, extra loud so the people in the back can hear. “To our quaint little town? Why on earth would you do such a thing?”

“My decision is my own. The only reason I’m here offering you an olive branch is because we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other and one day, you might find yourself in a situation you can’t talk your way out of, and you’ll need someone like me to be there for you.”

Skeletorhuffs. “I have plenty of people I would call upon before I ever—”

“Not for this, Mrs. Winslow,” I cut in, tone even and heavy with warning. “You see, I know you’ve been trying to dig up information on me. The person you hired,” I reach for my phone and pull up the files I unearthed on my walk over, “Richard Parks.” I meet her wide gaze. “He’s your grandson, isn’t he? Twenty-one. Pretty smart. Graduated top of his class. He used to work in Mayfield as an analyst at a startup. But he was let go for getting pulled over for drinking and driving ... three times.” I tuck my phone back into my pocket. “Hasn’t been able to find work since, isn’t that right?”

Dolores stares at me like she’d swallowed a bug. “How...? That’s a lie. Richard would never—”

“You had Sheriff Brewer sweep it under the rug the first time, but the officers in Mayfield who pulled him over thefollowing times had no loyalties to you, so they did their job by writing the reports which were filed and, well...” I give a shrug, “are public record.”

“Dolores?” one of the women squeaks, horror etched in her big eyes.

I don’t recognize her.

Truthfully, I don’t recognize any of them. I did look over each of their files, but my main target was Dolores. The rest aren’t a threat on their own.

“It’s a lie,” Dolores huffs, face the color of a ripe plum. “Absolutely slanderous. I should have you—”

“You won’t,” I cut her off. “You see, Mrs. Winslow, my talents are very unique. Some might call it a superpower. In minutes, I can unearth every dark, dirty secret you’re trying to hide, and I will use them to their fullest if it means getting through to you that I am staying. I will be part of your town. I will attend events and BBQs. You don’t have to say hi to me, but if you try to run me off, or hurt me, or God help you, if you so much as pull a hair on Leila’s head, I will ruin you. I will destroy your entire world and piss on the ashes.” I pause to make sure my words are sinking home before adding, “Do we understand each other?”

I don’t look at the others but keep my focus level on the woman gaping at me like I smacked her. I don’t expect her to answer, but I take her silence as submission and incline my head.

“Excellent. It’s been a pleasure having this talk with you, ladies. I’m glad we’ve come to an agreement. Breakfast is on me.” I reach into my pocket, pull out a handful of bills and set it on the table. “Enjoy your day.”

I ignore the multitude of eyes boring into me as I turn on my heels and start in the direction of the door. The bell overhead tinkles with my exit and I let myself smile slightly once I’m outside.

That wasn’t so hard.

I thought making friends would be more challenging, but so far, so good. Now, Leila doesn’t have to worry about me anymore.

Feeling pretty good about myself, I start back in the direction of the bank. I tuck my hands into my pockets and keep my strides slow and unthreatening. I tell myself I’ll smile at the next person who smiles at me first.

But I don’t get that far.

“Now, that was fascinating to watch.”