The Accidental Assassin (10 page)

“Sure he is. They’re romping…through a field having a great time.” I looked at the sign. “It’s like pig and chicken heaven. They’re running through the Elysian Fields. Avoiding meat cleavers.”

“So, you’re saying that the pig and chicken were gladiators and now ride each other around the Greek version of heaven for fun.” She took my hand and let me pull her out of the car.

“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.” I raised my eyebrows and gave her my best innocent expression.

“Right.” Her nose furrowed. “Are you going to tell me why we’re at a meat market? If we’re here to get dinner, I don’t think it’ll keep well in the car while we shop for other stuff.”

“We’re not here for steak, I just need to see an old friend.”

She stopped walking.

“Is this old friend really someone that you have an iffy business arrangement with, who might kill you rather than talk to you?”

“There goes that imagination again.” I shook my head and kept walking. “No, Mrs. Abernathy inherited the butcher shop from her dead husband and has been running it with her sons for as long as I’ve been alive. As far as I know she has no kind of under the table dealings.” And I would know. I’d researched everyone from my past.

“Uh huh.” She wasn’t convinced, but she followed me inside.

“Just stick with the same routine we used yesterday.”

“You mean where I’m a love sick girl hanging onto you like I can’t use my own legs?” She cocked an eyebrow at me.

“I know, sticking close to the truth is safer.” I winked at her. “If you feel the need to swoon to sell it, go right ahead.”

She opened her mouth but stopped when the bell above the door rang softly to announce our presence.

“Just a moment!” Mrs. Abernathy’s voice floated from the back of the shop.

Ava gave me an aggravated look before stalking past me into the store.

The building had the same dank, raw meat smell that most butcher shops contained. The white tile floor and counters seemed to enjoy showing the leftover blood droplets in deep contrast. Everything was mostly clean, but it would be impossible to catch everything. A shelf sat against the far wall, advertising marinades and special sauces.

Ava walked around the small room inspecting the shelves and baskets of vegetables. She clasped her hands in front of her like a child scared to touch anything. Maybe she was worried about getting her fingerprints on anything.

There was a small refrigerator next to the register that housed different cool drinks. The quiet hum filled the shop as we waited. Mrs. Abernathy appeared from a back room wiping her hands on a rag.

“Owen Walker, it’s been too long!” She came around the counter and kissed my cheeks.

“Indeed.” I kissed her cheek and then pointed to Ava. “This is my friend, Ava. Ava, this is Mrs. Abernathy.”

“Nice to meet you.” Ava held her hand out and smiled at the older woman.

“And you, dear.” Mrs. Abernathy took in Ava’s appearance with a critical eye. To her credit, Ava didn’t blush, but instead stood there with her hand still in Mrs. Abernathy’s.

The shop owner looked back over at me and frowned. “You’re in trouble?”

“I’m not sure I would call it trouble, more of an interesting situation.” I shrugged.

“Come to the back and I’ll make tea.” She headed for the door through which she had just entered. “Then you can tell me all about this situation.”

While Ava didn’t say a word, her expression spoke volumes. Intrigue, suspicion, and amusement battled for dominance.

I waved my hand ahead of me and followed her through the doorway. The back room was mostly used for meat preparation, but there was a small office off to the side with comfortable chairs, a table, and an old desktop computer. Mrs. Abernathy set a kettle on the portable stove top and turned the dials.

“I hope you don’t mind powdered creamer. Johnny used the last of the milk yesterday.”

“Powdered would be fine.” Ava offered a smile, but it was a little thin around the edges.

At first look, Mrs. Abernathy seemed like a helpless old woman, bent with age. But here, in the back, you could see the intelligence that shined through her eyes. She was confident and radiated power. When I was younger I’d been convinced that she was a Russian spy or at least someone important hiding from bad guys.

Now here I was, the bad guy, sitting across from her, knowing that the strength in her voice, the steel in her eyes, all came from living a hard life. Despite any troubles she had encountered, she had managed to carve out a slice of something good for herself and her family. That wasn’t something most people managed to do.

Mrs. Abernathy was a survivor.

That was probably why I felt such a deep kinship with the woman. I’d been dealt difficult cards in life as well, but unlike her, I couldn’t see how to carve out my own piece of happiness, so I settled for a life where I could simply feel satisfaction over a job well done.

“It’s been a while since we had tea, you and I.” Mrs. Abernathy smiled. “I remember when you would come in here with your mum before you moved to the city. Big eyes, big ears, but always so quiet. You’re still too quiet.”

I could feel Ava’s eyes on me, but I paid her no attention.

“My mother thought a great deal of you.” I picked up my tea and sipped. “She also told me that when children misbehaved in your shop you made them clean the floors in the back with their toothbrushes.”

“Once. I did that once and it will follow me to my grave.” She laughed. “And yet, you always came back to see me.”

“You’d sneak me crisps when mum wasn’t looking.”

I was hyperaware of Ava’s presence. It was difficult to open up about my life in front of anyone, much less someone I’d only known for a little over a day. But she didn’t speak, didn’t judge.

“You needed to be fattened up.” She leaned forward and cupped her tea in both hands. “But I don’t think you’re here for crisps this time.”

“No, I’m not.” I leaned back in my chair and sat the tea back on the table. “I need to know if you’ve noticed anything odd in town. If any of my old friends are still running around. If anyone has been talking about me.”

“Aye. Johnny said Edgar Herndon was in here asking for you yesterday. I was out for an appointment.” She frowned. “Never cared for Edgar. Even as a boy, you could tell there was something missing in his eyes. Some part of his humanity was gone.”

“Did Johnny say anything else?” I fought my urge to lean forward. I didn’t want to telegraph my unease.

Edgar Herndon was a name from my past I’d rather forget. His mother had ‘worked’ with my mother and we’d moved to the city at the same time. When I’d run with the local crowd he’d hated me. I was his biggest rival in his eyes, but he knew that in a fight I would win. That meant I’d spent years looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to stab me in the back. If he was back in town asking for me, it meant bad things; I just wasn’t sure what those bad things were yet. The last I’d heard of him, he was locked up for assault and petty theft.

“He asked if you’d been in recently.” She looked past my shoulder as she thought. “He had some excuse about wanting to see old friends, but Johnny said he was acting shifty. If he’s looking for you then you don’t want to find him.”

I wasn’t worried about Edgar Herndon himself. I was much more concerned about the fact that he was tangled up in this confusing web. And if he came to this shop looking for answers, it meant that I wouldn’t be visiting again for a while. I couldn’t jeopardize the Abernathy family. They’d been a shining example of normalcy during my childhood and for that I’d do whatever it took to keep them safe.

“Anyone else back in town?” I ran my fingers along the chipped handle of the cup in front of me.

“Marilynn Jones is back in town. Well, I suppose it’s Marilynn White now. She’s married with a little one on the way.” She narrowed her eyes. “But I’m sure that’s not the kind of gossip you’re looking for.”

I wasn’t thinking about Marilynn. Marilynn had ceased to exist years ago for me. It was likely I would pass her in the street and not realize it. “If I asked you for a favor, Mrs. Abernathy, would you help me?”

“Of course, Owen.” She reached across the table and touched my hand. “I’ve always thought of you as one of my own. I won’t speak ill of your mother, but there were many times I wished I could just keep you with me.”

I swallowed to get rid of the lump in my throat before speaking. “Close the shop for the rest of the week. Get out of town and take a break. Holiday somewhere pretty and just relax for a while. I can help you pay for it.”

“Why would you want me to do that? People need their meat. Besides, I just took a long weekend last month.”

“I don’t like that Edgar Herndon came here—to see you—about me. You’re right about him. He’s dangerous and you can’t trust anything that he says.”

“And what about you? Are you leaving town as well?” Her eyes narrowed.

“Don’t worry about me.” I shook my head.

“Then what about your lady?” She looked at Ava who had remained so quiet through the entire conversation I’d almost forgotten she was there. “I’d hate to think of Edgar running into her in town.”

“That won’t happen.” The crisp words exited my mouth in a harsh whisper. If he tried to harm one hair on Ava’s head I would beat him until he couldn’t get up.

“If Edgar is as dangerous as you say—”

“I’m not worried about Herndon.” I let my disguise slip and the beast—the murderer—I kept chained tightly in the back of my mind peered out of my eyes.

“I see.” Her eyes turned sad and she leaned back in my chair. “I wanted so much more for you. After that nasty business with your mother, I’d hoped you would stay on the straight path. Find something that would make you happy. Avenging angels are forever lonely, walking the world with no chance of heaven.”

“I’ll be happy if I know you are safe.” She opened her mouth to say something, but Ava broke her silence.

“Mrs. Abernathy, if Owen is telling you to go I’m sure he has a very good reason for doing so. If he knows you’re safe, then he’ll be able to concentrate on the problem at hand.”

Huh. I looked at Ava and then back to Mrs. Abernathy. Was I really that transparent? No. Just to Ava. She seemed to see so much more than I wanted to show.

“If it means that much to you, I’ll go stay at the family cottage by the coast. I’ll take walks along the beach every morning and tell people the doctor suggested it.”

“That sounds like a great idea.” Ava smiled.

“Are you going to give me any more information? Or do I just tell my boys to take the week off?” She stood up and I followed suit.

“If I had more information I would gladly offer it, but that’s the problem.” I held my palms up to show my hands were empty. “I have nothing that makes sense.”

“It’s settled then. I’ll close the shop for the week and take my grandchildren to the coast. Johnny just had a new one, you know. A little girl. This will give him a chance to spend some quiet time with his wife and wee one.”

“Congratulations.” Ava smiled at Mrs. Abernathy.

“Thank you, dear. There’s nothing quite as wonderful as grandchildren.” She laughed. “I’d love to see Owen’s children someday. I wonder if they would have his big ears.”

“I think I’ve grown into my ears.” I lifted an eyebrow. Children. That was something I would never live to see.

“Turned into a handsome devil, that’s for sure.” She led us back to the front of the store. “You need someone to keep you in check.”

“You aren’t lying, lady,” Ava muttered.

“I’m accepting applications,” I whispered back. Her cheeks flushed but she rolled her eyes.

Mrs. Abernathy chuckled. “He’s trouble, Ava, but I think you could handle him.”

Her blush deepened and she looked around the store front for a distraction.

“Would you mind if I buy a soda before we leave?” She walked over to the small refrigerator and picked out a bottle. “I could use the caffeine.”

“It’s on the house, dear.” Mrs. Abernathy patted her shoulder.

“I’ll take care of it.” I stepped forward and set an envelope down on the counter. “That should cover the drink.”

“That’s more than change for a drink. By the looks of it, that would fund our shop for a year.” Mrs. Abernathy picked up the envelope and weighed it in her hand before giving it back to me. “I make my own money. I don’t need any handouts.”

“You are leaving because of me. That means I have a responsibility for you.” I stared down at the small woman that was like family. “If you don’t take it, I’ll find another way to make sure you get it.”

“Stubborn man.” Mrs. Abernathy stood on her toes and kissed my cheek. “Get out of here and get this woman some clothes that fit.”

Ava looked down at her clothes and shrugged. I hadn’t noticed but she was wearing the high heels from the day before. With the tight jeans, my old sweater, and her bare face she looked like something out of a lingerie magazine. Or a pornographic movie.

I liked it.

“I’ll add that to the list.” Without thinking I held my hand out to Ava and to my surprise she accepted it. “We’re leaving. You turn the closed sign on as soon as we’re out the door.”

“Bossy git.” Mrs. Abernathy waved her hands at us. “Get out of here, Owen Walker. Or I’ll find a toothbrush for you to use on my floors.”