Page 36 of The Last One to Let You Down

“Don’t you dare.” Tom laughed, walking out of the viewing room. He waited for Aaron to leave before closing the doors. “She would probably have a heart attack.”

“Who are you giving a heart attack?” Miss Wheel called up from the front desk.

“Miss Edie!” Tom called back.

“For what?” she gasped.

“Because Scott told me she used to be a bank robber and moonshiner,” Aaron explained matter-of-factly.

Miss Wheel leaned over the side of her desk, her eyes sparkling. “I heard she used to fancy Mr. Crosby, and she tried to kill his wife when he wouldn’t leave her.”

Stunned, Tom hissed, “Oh, come on! Miss Edie is the sweetest woman ever. She is pure sunshine.”

“I’m only telling you what I heard,” Miss Wheel said innocently.

“Dude, our hairdresser is a freakin’ gangster.” Aaron cackled.

“You’re both crazy,” Tom groaned, heading into the back and shaking his head.

“Hey, where are you going?” Aaron protested.

“I’m going to the break room.” Tom decided it was time for that light snack he had promised himself. He chuckled softly, amused that his co-workers thought Miss Edie used to be some sort of hardened criminal.

As he picked out a pack of crackers from the employee pantry, he decided the idea wasn’t completely impossible. Miss Edie being a kind-hearted old hairdresser didn’t mean she wasn’t a bank robber or moonshine runner at some point in her life.

People were more than their appearances.

After all, Tom looked like a shy, awkward undertaker. No one would ever suspect how much he liked to be spanked.

The mere thought gave him a private thrill, and he didn’t realize he was smiling until he heard Junior’s voice.

“Awww, somebody is having a really good morning,” Junior teased, leaning in the open doorway and grinning. He was wearing a pale gray suit and had another flashy watch on.

Tom’s smile vanished, the very sight of Junior making his skin crawl.

“You must have known I was coming to see you,” Junior went on, charming as ever. “Miss me?”

“Here.” Tom reached into his pocket, shoving the wad of cash in Junior’s hand. His heart was starting to pound and adrenaline was making his ears ring.

This was it.

“Thanks, Tommy,” Junior said, tucking the cash into his inside jacket pocket. “Always a pleasure doing business with you. Maybe next time I’ll even give you—”

“No.”

“What?”

“No next time.” Tom took a deep breath, tightening his grip on the pack of crackers. “I’m done.”

Junior’s sweet smile morphed into a nasty leer, growling, “Yeah, I don’t fuckin’ think so. I warned you—”

“That you’ll what?” Tom suddenly barked, an unexpected surge of anger fueling his voice as he lunged forward. “Rat me out to Gerald and Mr. Crosby? Go ahead. The first thing they’ll do is call the cops, and the cops are gonna ask where all the money is.”

Junior backed away, his mouth gaping.

“And do you know what I’ll tell them?” Tom snapped. “I’ll tell them to go ahead and talk to Gerald Benjamin Ayers Junior because he’s the one who took all the cash. You wanna take me down? Fine. Maybe you will. But you’re coming with me.

“And we both know what you’re using the money for. It’s been going straight up your fuckin’ nose. Gerald’s been covering for you when you’re too messed up to come in for work, but we all know why you’re not there. Maybe I should talk to Mr. Crosby about drug testing all of us. I know I’ll pass. Will you?”