Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

It was all over the news by the following afternoon. ‘Local businessman found dead in his home office with a gunshot wound to head and another to the chest. Detectives suspect a business deal gone wrong or an armed robbery’

Anthony couldn't think. Ever since he'd turned on the TV, his heart rate hadn't dropped. Every news channel across Malibu was carrying the news story.

He poured himself another shot of the sharp alcohol and chugged it down, still it wasn't working.

What if the cops somehow linked it back to him? But it couldn't possibly happen, after all Chris had pulled the trigger, not him.

Even with that logic, he was still scared, worried too.

His phone rang and he jumped in fright. Shit, he was losing it. Exhaling shakily, he reached for his phone and seeing that it was his mother, he answered.

“Honey, how are you?” His mother, Tina, asked. “Are you okay?”

He nodded, swallowing a thick ball of saliva in his throat. “Yeah, I'm fine. Just busy with work, that's all.”

“Your father and I thought we'd check in on you. We heard about what happened down in Malibu— the man who was shot dead. We wanted to know what was happening,” she asked, worry laced tightly in her tone.

“I heard too. It's really tragic. I can't believe someone would do that,” he replied, feigning sympathy and disbelief.

“Maybe it's best you come down here to stay with us for some time. I'm not comfortable with you being there all alone with this happening on the news.”

“I'm fine mum, you have nothing to be worried about.” It took him a while to assure her that he would be okay, even though he wasn't so sure himself.

“Alright then. We'll be expecting you at the gala this Saturday. Do you need us tovook you a flight?” She asked.

“No, I'll do that myself. I've got business to handle down here. Once I'm done I'll book a flight.” That seemed to do it for Tina. She relaxed.

“Alright, I'll see you then. I'll let your father know you're alright,” she said and bid him goodbye.

He hung up.

Exhaling wearily, he rose to his feet, pacing around. The alcohol wasn't working and the uncomfortable feeling brewing in his stomach was getting worse.

Bile rose up his throat but he pushed it down. Sweat broke out across his forehead.

He was in big trouble if this didn't die down soon. His parents were in Ohio, far from Malibu but somehow even they'd seen the news too.

Shaking, Anthony collapsed into his seat, did his best to calm his nerves down and reached for his phone. He hit Chris’s number on speed dial.

“Hey, did you hear about the news?” He asked immediately the call connected.

“Yeah. It's everywhere,” Chris chuckled but Anthony didn't find any of this amusing. “I can't believe we made the headlines.”

Anthony frowned. “This isn't a joke. What if the cops find out it was you who did it?” He asked, a subtle way of reminding Chris that he was the one who had in fact pulled the trigger on Riverson.

As expected, Chris’s chuckle died down. “They won't. I made sure they wouldn't link it to me or anyone at all. They already think it was an armed robbery. Riverson's stashed with money, anyone who's dealt with him should know that. There's no way they'd tag it to you.”

That seemed convincing enough for Anthony. He felt his nerves relax just enough for him to feel somewhat light.

“Thanks mehn. I really needed to hear that.”

“Anytime. Don't worry, I've got you covered,” Chris said. “I'll talk to you later. I gotta go.”

Now that Anthony had spoken to Chris and he’d gotten the reassurance he had been desperately itching to hear, he could finally breathe again.

He scanned the kitchen that he had turned into his temporary workspace. It was messy. He'd clean up, take a shower, go for a drive and maybe get a couple drinks at a bar.

_____

The night air was cold and the atmosphere, serene. By evening, Anthony was much more relaxed and his mind was clear. He'd just concluded on a deal with a client— a good way to end the week— and was now settled at a bar.

His phone chimed and he checked. It was Abby. He stared at her text. ‘Busy tonight?’

He had a lot more going on and didn't need any distractions. His time for fun would come later. So, he ignored her text for the second time that day and ordered a double shot of martini.

Smooth jazz music played over the stereos mounted on the walls. The dancers worked against the poles but that wasn't enough to distract him.

On his third shot of martini, hopefully his last for the evening, two men approached the bar and placed their orders.

It wasn't their ugly matching clothes that caught his attention, it was their conversation that kept him planted to his seat.

“Everyone keeps talking about it,” green vest said. “It's the first time in over a year since we've had a murder case like this one.”

They had to be talking about Riverson. Shit. His nerves spiked again but he kept still, pretending to enjoy his drink.

“Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if someone robbed him. I've known the guy for a short while, we did some business and that was it but he's something else.” Tight cardigan said.

“I heard he's got a lot of problems with people. Too many people keep coming to borrow money from him and somehow this dude keeps getting richer and richer.”

Suddenly the martini shot in his hand didn't taste so good. He felt uncomfortable and was ready to leave already.

As he fumbled through his pockets for his wallet, one of them said something that tore through the little cloud of peace that floated above him.

“One of my buddy works down at the station and he's working with a bunch of detectives on this case. They said they found security cameras in the fellas house so it shouldn't take long before they find out who did it.”

His blood ran cold.