Page 12 of Fool Me Twice
“No,” Hart said, interrupting as rudely as he could.
Ash rolled his eyes. “Hart—”
“No,” he said again. “I have made myself clear. I will have nothing to do with whatever mess you’ve gotten yourself into by being attached to that place unless your well-being is threatened.”
“But…”
“Is your well-being threatened?” he asked nicely.
Ash shifted. “Well, no, but…”
“Then no.”
“Hart,” Fix scolded him lightly. “Let him speak. And Ash, respect Hart’s wariness of that place.”
“I get it, but it’s not the usual shady shit, I promise. The warehouse is cursed,” Ash said, and Hart sucked in a breath. “Cane called me last night because weird things have been going on and after talking to him I agree it’s probably a curse. Now I know you don’t care about him or his…establishment…”
Hart snorted at the words in the most undignified way. ‘Establishment’ was a stretch. It was a cesspit of depravity and the man who owned it was no better.
“Why are you so sure it’s cursed?” Fix asked.
“Multiple things have happened in a very short span of time that have nothing to do with his place or the activities going on there. People who aren’t supposed to be getting along suddenly acting like best friends, Cane’s staff going against his rules. It’s not the norm and he’s worried.”
“But the law doesn’t worry him in the slightest?” Hart said. “How curious.”
“It does sound like a job for you, Hart,” Fix said, and Ash nodded.
“We ruled out Midas, Wren, Black, and myself right away,” Ash said. “So far it’s all just weird little things that shouldn’t have a lasting impact, so I didn’t write you off entirely, Fix.”
“Yeah, I can see why not.” Fix stroked through his beard. “Okay so…I guess we go check it out and see what we can find?”
“That would be the best, yeah,” Ash said.
Hart balked. “When did I agree to this?”
“It’s a job, Hart.” Ash frowned before a devilish smile appeared at the corner of his lips. “I know you’re more professional than letting your personal feelings cloud your judgment. Especially when you’re supposed to be setting a good example for us all.”
Hart scowled, almost feeling the banner he’d set up earlier flap above his head mockingly.
He’d walked himself right into this and he knew it. There would be no getting out now, and not just because of the blasted Set a Good Example Day. He was a professional. He was the best at what he did, and he’d be cursed if his personal dislike of a client impacted his work.
“Fine,” he said. “One inappropriate word from him, though, and I am going to walk out and request a formal refusal of a case.”
They all gasped, eyes wide and mouths agape. Black snored louder in his chair.
“You wouldn’t,” Ash said.
Hart tilted his chin up in defiance. “I would. And I will. Should it prove itself to be mine, I will work this case as diligently as I do all of them, but I will not be made to feel uncomfortable by that man or his business.”
“Okay, no need to get fussy about it,” Fix said. “How about we go check the place out together, and we’ll see what’s happening. If it’s mine, I’ll drive you right back before working on it so you don’t have to stick around.”
Hart stared at him for a moment, contemplating taking his own car. He wanted to have an escape plan readily available to him, but he didn’t get precious minutes alone with Fix often, and if they went separately he might miss out on being able to talk to him. The nagging feeling of anxiety in his chest at the sight of Fix this morning settled it for him. He needed to make sure he was okay.
“Fine,” he said finally, standing up and bunching his napkin in his fist.
“So I guess nobody cares what I have to say?” Taylor spoke up. “That’s fine. Not like I have a job to do or anything. Just go on your merry way.”
“We’re really sorry, Taylor,” Fix said, looking as guilty as someone who had told Wren he couldn’t keep an animal he’d found beside a road. Not that anyone had ever done that. There was a reason there was a jaguar stalking around their family home.