Read Online The Filthy Few: A Steve Nastos Mystery by Richard Cain - Free Book Online

the screen. He held the phone to Nastos. “Look what Tara sent. It’s from a few weeks ago.”
    Nastos took the phone. It was a picture of Josie in the restaurant. The owner, Viktor Kalmakov, was sitting with her at the bar with his arm around her the same way he would with one of his “flavour of the day” girlfriends.
    Nastos chuckled. “She thinks he’s the most handsome prince in the world.”
    Carscadden took the phone back. “Girls love the guys with accents.”
    Nastos remained silent until Carscadden asked, “What’s up your ass?”
    â€œKaren. She knew right from the beginning that Falconer was a bullet magnet and she never said anything to us. She did it to make sure I’d take the case.”
    Carscadden made a noncommittal noise then continued, “Well, for what it’s worth, she seemed nice enough to me. A tight little package, if you like that sorta thing.”
    â€œYeah, you mentioned that part before.” Nastos closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. “That’s all I need.”
    Two people left the Thai restaurant, a young couple holding hands.
    Carscadden said,
“That’s
what you need,” pointing to them. “A companion. Someone to —”
    â€œDo
not
even finish the sentence.”
    â€œOkay, maybe not Grant, maybe someone stupider, less attractive. Maybe hit up some three-hundred-pound lesbian daughter of Russian beet farmers. Maybe that’s the new hotness. There’s probably a website that —”
    Nastos turned to him. “How long would Tara have to be gone before you could even consider dating?”
    Carscadden paused, giving it some thought. “I guess it depends on how it ended. “If she left me, sooner. If she died, I don’t know. Maybe a long time.”
    â€œExactly. And besides Grant and I have . . . It could never happen.”
    Carscadden asked, “Why, because you were partners?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen what?”
    â€œBecause we tried and it didn’t feel right. You fucking happy? There. I made a mistake, a big mistake. Karen and I started — you know what? It was stupid, I figured it out, but not as fast as I should have. End of story.”
    â€œNo shit?”
    â€œYeah. No shit. If you ever embarrass me by telling Tara I’ll kill you.”
    â€œIn the vault, man, don’t worry about it.”
    Carscadden scrolled through a few messages on his phone. “Did Maddy ever know about you and Karen?”
    â€œNo, she never did. It wasn’t easy hiding it because Karen sent me a crazy number of texts — I mean really, a not normal number. But it was only one night, I was drunk, I never had any feelings for Karen and I ended it as soon as I sobered up. I got rid of her as a partner, I did everything I could to make up for it. I took time from work. I cooked Maddy’s favourite meals, I cleaned the house more. That was the year I adopted the diet she told me to start. I did everything to prove to her that it was all about her and Josie. And I carried the burden of it alone. If I’d had cancer I wouldn’t share. I didn’t share this either.”
    Carscadden watched the young couple as they disappeared from view. Eventually he asked, “Have time for a late lunch with Viktor?”
    Nastos checked his watch. “You know, Josie and I were going to have a barbecue tonight. She’s done school just after three today and I’d have to leave to get her right now.”
    â€œI’ll send Tara a text. She can pick her up and we can meet at your place for dinner.”
    Nastos mulled that over. They used to do that all of the time. Josie would love it.
    Before he pulled away from the curb something on the motel balcony caught his eye. He thought he saw one of the men point a smart phone in their direction, taking a picture. “You know, I’m beginning to think there’s a lot more going on