you, don’t you dare get self-righteous on me, you little prick!”
Ness felt his face burn. Goddamn bitch! “Apologize—”
“Mike—”
“Apologize!” he screamed.
“Easy, boy!” She strolled over to the bar and placed her hands on his shoulders. “I was just being my normal insulting self. Pour me a bourbon … please.”
Ness forced himself to breathe slowly. “You want me to brew some coffee for it?”
“Straight bourbon is fine.” She leaned against the wall. “What did the cops want?”
“You’re going to love this.” Ness handed her the drink and took a seat on the divan. “The police are asking for tissue samples—hair or fingernails—to match against the semen found on Lilah’s sheets. I gave them a few tresses.” He smiled. “I’m not exactly worried.”
She didn’t answer. She wasn’t paying any attention. As usual she was wrapped up in her own sordid shit. He took a slow sip of booze, enjoying the feel of it burning down his throat, while he studied Davida’s face.
“You’re panicked. You’re trying to hide it, but you’re freaked. What’d you screw up this time?”
“You’re very perceptive. Cheers.” Davida tilted her glass, then took a long drink of bourbon.
Ness let out a bitter laugh. “Man, I should have known something was wrong when you asked for straight bourbon.”
“It’s bad, Mike.”
“How bad?”
“I’m not sure, but I would think it’s very bad.”
Ness ran his finger over the rim of his glass. “What happened? Did Kingston screw up?”
“No, he’s just being obstinate.”
“More money?”
“No, he wants to see Lilah first—”
“Why didn’t you let me handle it in the first place?”
Davida hurled her glass against the wall. It shattered instantly, raining alcohol and crystal. “Are you going to rub my nose in shit or are you going to help me?”
Ness was silent. She was pouting! Why do all women pout?
Davida said, “You will clean that up for me, won’t you?”
“Christ!” Ness grabbed the arms of the chair and hurled his body upward. He took out a whisk broom and swept the broken pieces into a wastebasket, then held the receptacle in the air. “All done, Davida! All your garbage neatly swept away—”
“Michael—”
“If you want my help, stop power-tripping me!”
“Fair enough.” Davida tapped her foot. “I made an appointment to see him. Just to talk … try and reason …”
“And?”
“I don’t know and that’s the problem.” Davida began to pace. “I was waiting in the limo. I wasn’t there. I sent a delivery boy—”
“Who?”
“It’s not important.” She covered her mouth with a liver-spotted hand, then dropped it to her side. “The whole thing was taking too long, so I left. I called you as soon as I got back.”
“Christ! Why didn’t you come to me in the first place?”
“Believe it or not, it was out of concern for you. I didn’t want to involve—”
“A little late for that.”
“Michael, after the screwup with Lilah, I was trying to protect you! If something broke out, I didn’t want you around. I happen to care about you. If I were a different person, I might even love you.” She crushed out her cigarette. “But I’m way too selfish for that.”
Ness ran his hands over his face and wondered why his life sucked. “Has anyone tried to contact you?”
“No.”
“No, no one called? Or no, you didn’t pick up the phone or check for messages?”
“No calls, no one left me any messages. That’s why I think it’s very bad. Either he decided to shaft me … or something really bad happened.”
“When did this take place?”
“About two hours ago. Please handle it for me, Michael. Get help if you want. Just make sure I get what I want and I’m clear. Do whatever you have to do.”
Ness stared at the lone ice cube in his tumbler. Now she was getting all desperate on him. “I have limits.”
“Michael, I’m not asking you to commit murder … just …”
Ness waited.
“If there’s a … problem … clean up for me, please?”
“I love your euphemisms.”
“I don’t even know if there is a problem. Just handle what needs to be handled.”
“I thought you didn’t want to get me involved.”
“Things change, dammit! I suggest if you want to keep your job here—”
“And here comes the mean old threats.” Ness laughed softly. “Be my guest, Davida. Expose me. I don’t care anymore.”
But he did care! He hoped Davida wouldn’t see through his bluff.
Davida said, “Kelley might—”
“Oh, fuck you, Davida! You want a favor, don’t throw my past or my sister in my face.” He stood, slowly walking over to her. Man, she was a terror, but the bitch did have her good points. And he was about to exploit one of them right this f-ing minute. He slipped his arms around her waist. “You want my help?”
“You know I do.”
“Then beg me, Davida.”
“Michael—”
“Fucking beg me!”
There was a moment of silence.
Davida whispered, “Please, Michael.” She placed her hands on his chest and gently pushed him onto the divan. “Please help me.”
Ness felt his breathing quicken. “Show me how much you want my help.”
Davida let her kimono fall open as she dropped to her knees before him. “Please, please help me.” She wrapped her fingers around the waistband of his gym shorts and pulled the
