Read Online Art and Murder by Don Easton - Free Book Online Page B

rest of the stash hidden?”
    â€œYou got what we had left,” Anton said.
    â€œThat’s a lie.” Jack ground the side of Anton’s face into the cement floor with the sole of his shoe. “The brick I have was busted off a kilo. Where’s the rest?”
    â€œThat was all of it,” Anton protested. “I swear on my mother’s grave.”
    â€œOkay, I tried to be nice,” Jack said. “Looks like we have to do it the hard way.”
    Anton and Bojan glanced at each other in panic while Jack wrapped duct tape over their mouths. He then dragged Anton by the ankles into the room at the back of the shop.
    Once Jack had Anton out of Bojan’s view, he started the band saw and let it run for a moment, then shut it off. “Fuck it, too messy.”
    Anton’s body twitched when Jack fired a shot into a pile of wood near his head before walking back to talk to Bojan. As he did, he felt his phone vibrate. He had received two calls earlier, starting when he ducked behind the table saw. He decided to ignore this call, as well, so as not to lose the momentum of fear he’d induced in the two men. Instead, he ripped the tape off Bojan’s mouth. “I know the stash is here someplace. I’ll find it one way or another, so why not make it easy on yourself and tell me where it is?”
    â€œThere is no stash,” Bojan insisted. “Besides, you’re going to kill me, anyway, so even if there was a stash, why should I tell you where it is?”
    Jack’s phone vibrated again and he saw it was Laura’s number. He hesitated, then shoved the phone back in his pocket and put his gun to Bojan’s temple.
    Bojan shut his eyes tight and a few seconds ticked by, then Jack muttered, “Too easy for you. Messy or not, let’s see how the band saw works. If you don’t talk in the next ten seconds, I will use it.”
    He grabbed the tape around Bojan’s ankles and slowly dragged him toward the back room while counting down from ten. By the time he reached four, they heard Anton’s muffled voice through his gag. Jack silently cursed to himself, then dragged Bojan the rest of the way and laid him face down beside Anton. “I decided to give you guys one more chance to tell me where the stash is. Think about it while I make a call.” He speed-dialled Laura’s number.
    She answered right away. “Are you okay?”
    â€œYes. Sorry to take so long to get back to you.”
    Laura took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Damn you,” she muttered.
    â€œI know you’ve been calling, but I was too busy to pick up. The two guys here tried to kill us. I’m okay, but things didn’t turn out so well for Clive.”
    â€œIn what way?”
    â€œThe dead way. But everything’s under control now, so relax. Both guys are hog-tied and kissing the concrete.” He gave Bojan a nudge in the ribs with his foot. “Their stash is around here someplace. I’ve got a band saw, and if they don’t tell me where it is, I’m going to use it. Once I find out where I am, I’ll need you to come over here with some heavy duty garbage bags.”
    Laura understood that Jack was in earshot of the men who were trussed up, but her stress over the situation was still running high. A situation Jack knew nothing about.
    â€œWe’ll need to talk,” Jack continued.
    â€œNo shit we need to talk!”
    Jack realized how stressed she still was. “Did something happen there?”
    â€œNot here, but … I’m with Brandy and driving out of the hotel parking lot. I’ll drop her off in a moment and call you back.”
    â€œWhat’s going on, Laura?”
    Laura felt sick. “Oh, man … call Rose immediately, then call me back. I’ll be clear by then.”
    â€œRose?” Jack questioned. What the hell does she want at this hour?
    â€œShe called because of what you’re doing.