Suckers - J.A. Konrath

“Tho wmer mmmpt wooor—“
”Excuse me? I can’t understand you with that ice in your mouth.”
I spit out the ice. “She said you abuse her. That you’re insane.”
“The only thing insane about me is my upcoming promotion. Buy a box of chicken, get a
second box for half price.”
I wondered if I should tell him about the bruises she had, but chose to keep silent.
“What about divorce?”
“I love Marietta, Mr. McGlade. I know she’s too young for me. I know she’s a devious,
back-stabbing maneater. That just makes her more adorable.”
“She wants you dead.”
“All spouses have their quirks.”
I leaned forward, an effort because my butt was sunk so low in the chair.
“Happy Roy, I have no doubt that Marietta will kill you if she can. When this doesn’t pan
out, she’ll try something else. Eventually, she’ll hook up with a real assassin.”
Happy Roy’s eye became hooded, dark. “She’s my wife, Mr. McGlade. I’ll deal with her my
way.”
“By beating her?”
“This conversation is over. I’ll have my butler show you to the door.”
I pried myself out of the chair. “You’re disgustingly rich, powerful, and not a bad looking
guy for someone older than God. Let Marietta go and find some other bimbo to play with.”
“Good bye, Mr. McGlade. Feel free to keep working for my wife.”
“Are you trying to pay me off, so I drop this case?”
“No. Not at all.”
“If you were thinking about paying me off, how much money would we be talking?”
“I’m not trying to pay you off, Mr. McGlade.”
I got in the smaller man’s face. “You might be able to afford fat Degas and huge estates, but
I’m a person, Happy Roy. And no matter how rich you get, you’ll never be able to buy a human
being. Because it’s illegal, Happy Roy. Buying people is illegal.”
“I’m not trying to buy you!”
“I’ll find my own way out.”
I stormed out of the parlor, through the library, into the dining room, into another parlor, or
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