“You did good,” I said to Thom.
“Yeah, you think so?”
“Definitely. Do you know what these mean?”
He shook his head. “Someone owns the Blue, I guess. Seems weird, right?”
“Very weird.” I almost started laughing as it dawned on me. “You know why gangsters would own a diner?”
“No fucking clue, man. Maybe they really like fucking burgers and fries?”
“Do you know what money laundering is?”
He shrugged. “Heard it before on TV. Not really sure how it works, though.”
“It’s what people that sell drugs or shit like that have to do with all their cash. See, they can’t just start spending it or else the government is going to notice. What they need to do is somehow make it legal and taxable so they can start spending it again, all legit and whatnot.”
“What’s that have to do with the Blue?”
“Money laundering works by taking a legit revenue stream, like a fucking shitty diner, and slipping that illegal money into it.”
Thom looked at me blankly. “How’s that happen?”
“Basically they put the cash into the registers and cook the books to make it all look legit.”
“How does this help us?”
“We know where their money is. We have some leverage now.”
He nodded. “If we know where the money is, we know where to hurt them.”
“Exactly.”
“Shit, Climber. You’re one devious motherfucker.”
“I know that. But listen, you might want to lay low for a little while.”
“Shit, you think?”
“If they notice this stuff is missing, they’ll blame you.”
“They won’t notice. That place was a fucking pigsty.”
I patted his shoulder, shaking my head. One second he thought he was fucked, and the next he was totally fine. “Whatever you say, man. Just be careful.”
“Shit, Climber. I’m careful as fuck.”
He laughed, and I could tell that whatever he took earlier was still working in his bloodstream. He was bouncing between paranoid and invincibility. I guessed he was on at least coke, probably a few other things, too.
“You good to drive home?” I asked.
“Sure am. I’m glad we talked. I was feeling pretty nervous there.”
“Don’t be. You did good.” I walked back toward my car. “If you find anything else, call me.” I reached my car and couldn’t believe my fucking luck. I figured Thom would get a little freaked out, but I never imagined he would actually actively try to help me so soon.
“Climber?” he called out.
I paused. “What’s up?”
“I need something more from you.”
“What are you talking about?”
He took a step closer to me. “I can’t keep risking my shit just for you. I need something else.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you want?”
“The next shipment you get? I want you to steal half of it.”
I gaped at him. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“That or ten thousand dollars cash. Your call.”
“I can’t do either of those things.”
He grinned at me. “You fucking better, Climber. Otherwise I’ll rat, and you’re dead.”
I clenched my jaw. “You piece of shit.”
He shrugged. “Sorry, man. It’s just business.”
I reached back and gripped the gun in my waistband. I wanted so badly to pull it out and shoot the bitch right in the face, watch him die right there, but that was crazy. I was angry, not insane.
Instead, I just nodded. As much as I hated it, I needed him. He was my inside guy.
“Fine. I’ll figure it out.”
“See you soon then.”
I got into my car, started the engine, and pulled out.
Thom called me devious, but he was clearly the fucking crafty one. He was probably playing me from the start, getting my hopes up, getting my brain going, sucking me in. Then he dropped the bomb he was planning on dropping all along.
I couldn’t steal those drugs. They’d know it was me, and they knew where I lived. And I didn’t have anywhere near ten grand.
As I sped back home, back toward Becca and her sweet fucking pussy, my head was abuzz with plans and more plans, trying to work my way out of the fucked-up situation I was in.
I parked the car and quietly crept back inside, making sure I didn’t wake up my mom and Jack. I moved up the stairs and slowly pushed open Becca’s bedroom door.
The sound of her deep, slow breathing filled the space.
I smiled to myself. She really had fallen asleep. Part of me figured she’d wait up.
As I moved to leave, she rolled over. “Reid?” she asked.
I stepped back inside. “Yeah, it’s me.”