This actually wasn’t the first time she had been asked; it was like the fiftieth time. Apparently, it was a thing for you to go to a place where a possible murder had taken place. Everyone wanted to know what had happened. It reminded Elle of high school. I don’t think I’ll ever get away from it.
Elle kept to the same story she had told everyone, including the cops. They, of course, had asked her a few questions since she’d closed the diner the night before.
“Yes, I found out when I got into work today.”
She saw the man take a sip from his coffee as she went to fill up the other man’s cup.
The brown-haired one asked her, “I hope you weren’t here last night while it happened?” His face showed he was asking a question, not that he was concerned. Elle started to get small chills on her arms, but she made sure to stay cool.
“I was working last night, actually. I closed the diner for the night. The cops told me I must have just missed the whole thing.” Elle made sure she said cops. Now they know I didn’t open my mouth.
The two men looked at each other for a split second, confirming what Elle had feared. They work for the boss.
He smiled. “You are one lucky girl. That would have been horrible to see something like that at your age.”
The luckiest. Elle smiled back. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I would have lost my marbles seeing something like that. Do you need anything else?”
The only reason Elle could keep calm was because they had no idea she had witnessed the whole thing. Clearly, they don’t have a problem with killing; otherwise, I would have been dead already.
“No, thanks.” They both stood up before one of them threw a couple of bills down on the table. “You be careful out there.”
Elle smiled and nodded then watched them walk out the door, letting her finally breathe again. Thank God.
Elle believed she was in the clear. For now, anyway.
* * *
He could hear the sound of his phone buzzing on his wooden desk. He picked it up without having to look at the caller ID.
“She’s smart. Came into work like nothing happened, claiming she must have missed the whole thing. Cops spoke to her already. She made it seem like they got nothing from her.”
“Yeah, Sal called about an hour ago. She played dumb to the cops. You’re my consigliere, Vinny; what do you think?” He took a cigar out of his box then snapped the lid closed.
“I’m advising you to figure this shit out on your own. It will be good for you. Just keep me updated.”
“Okay, I’ve got it handled for now.” With that, he ended the call and lit his cigar. His consigliere was right; she was fucking smart. He knew she wasn’t opening her mouth in the near future. The only thing he didn’t know was if she had actually seen him and his crew do it or just heard what had occurred. That, he needed to find out. She might not be saying shit now, but you never knew if a person would down the road. Besides, if his enemies found out he had left a witness alive, it could bring down his whole operation, everything he had done to be the one calling the shots.
Elle had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. That I know all too well.
He pushed the bad memory back. He couldn’t feel sorry for the girl. His son had been there, as well as Sal; he had to protect them both. He had made an oath long ago to protect the family.
He leaned back in his expensive, leather chair, taking a hit of his cigar. Exhaling, he watched the smoke fill the room.
It was time to check in and see if any progress had been made.
* * *
Nero lay in bed, looking up at the ceiling. Something had been bothering him ever since Elle had run out on him in art class. No girl had ever run away from him, and they sure as hell wouldn’t after what he had pulled on her in the closet. Any other girl would have begged me to fuck them right there.
Playing with Elle had built tension inside of him. He needed to get it out, and when Stephanie and Stacy had been waiting for him at his car, he had known exactly how. He had chosen Stacy because she had been exactly what he needed; nothing was off-limits with her. At least, that had been what he’d thought he needed, but his dick was still hard. For the first time in years, Nero was sexually frustrated. Fuck, would she hurry?
Nero’s phone rang. “Yeah?”
“Tell me how it went.”
Nero got out of the bed and opened the door leading to his balcony. Walking out, he shut the doors.
“Well, she showed up to school. I gotta say, I was kind of shocked she actually did. Should have known, though, she wouldn’t let her friend go to school without her. First class, she was a little out of it. Looked mostly tired but snapped back pretty fast.”