Page 89 of Play Dirty

“So what’d you want?”

“Oh, well. Ironically, I was calling about the house. So… Evangeline told me what happened to that family.”

“Yeah, that sucks, right? So sad.”

“Yeah. Sad.”

“Uh… and?” Law says. “What about it?”

“I dunno. It’s just weird.”

“I can’t say I disagree, but… I can’t say why I feel that way, either.”

“Find out who owns that shell, can you do that?”

“Probably not.” He laughs. “I mean, they have a shell for a reason, right? Better get one of your guys on that if you need that kind of digging.” And then he pauses. “Everything OK with you?”

“Yup,” I say. “Thanks.” And then I end the call.

But something is not OK. I just can’t figure out what it is.

Everything seems just a little out of whack. Like the world has tilted. Shifted while I wasn’t looking.

Augustine and Alexander came back this year. Right after that game I set up with Evangeline and Ixion.

So really… Augustine and Alexander came back at the same time as Ixion.

Yeah. Didn’t really put those two things together before now. I was avoiding Augustine last winter. Didn’t want anything to do with her. With them.

But how did they get here? I mean, I get it. Sort of. They were having trouble, they said. Thought I was their answer.

But why now? After all these years? Because they were having trouble long before now. They separated years ago. Got back together years ago. So what’s been going on between then and now? That’s something they never shared with me.

I call Law back and when he picks up and says, “What now?” I say, “Get that contract ready for the sale of the old Turning Point. I’m buying it in about…” I check my calendar to see when my three-week deal with Augustine is up. “Ten days.”

Law laughs. “Uh… well. I don’t know what to say to that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s not for sale.”

“Yeah, but you said Augustine and Alexander own the shell. And we’ve got a deal in place. So in ten days they’re selling it to me. No questions asked.”

“OK,” Law says, still hesitating. “Do they have an agent?”

“Shit. I dunno. Just be prepared. I want that deal done the second I’m eligible. I’ve got cash saved so it should go quick.”

“What are you gonna do with it?”

“Open it back up.” I laugh. “What the fuck else would I do with it?”

We say goodbye and hang up and then I just sit there for a second.

Because… am I going to open it back up?

Suddenly I’m not so sure.

So I just sit there in my office thinking. Nothing to do today except think.