Chapter 13

CHAPTER

THIRTEEN

EDMUND

“Fuck!” I angrily shout, tossing my gin and tonic across the room. It hits the wall, causing the glass to shatter. Ice clatters against the floor as the remains of my beverage drip down the navy blue wall.

My request with the city council to expand The Preserves beyond the current zoned area was denied yet again. Something about Mr. Marshall wanting to protect the wetlands at the tail edge of the area I’m looking to begin construction on.

When I purchased it six months ago, I had been not so subtly informed by other members of the council that there would be ways to ensure my request would go through without a hitch.

They apparently had not spoken with Mr. Marshall.

Three requests now. All of them have been stalemated for fear of “disrupting the animal habitats and possible shoreline erosion.”

Unlike his cohorts, Mr. Marshall isn’t open to persuasion . He has been unwilling to discuss the matters with me. Or my bank account. And the asshole is as clean as a fucking whistle. The worst I could blackmail him with would be parking too far from the curb when he stopped at Latte Da yesterday morning on his way to the office.

Since he’s too good for bribes and way too fucking clean for blackmail, there seems to be only one other solution to my problem.

On the plus side, he’s so squeaky fucking clean that I know exactly where to find him this evening. The Adelaide Cove Food Pantry. As the director, I’m banking on the fact that he’ll be the last to leave and lock up as everyone else starts filing out for the night.

He steps through the door with one other volunteer. They make their quick goodbyes, and he’s at the door alone as she slips into an awaiting car.

People can be so fucking predictable.

Silently slipping from my car, I make my way across the street and begin walking toward him.

“Mr. Parker?” A look of confusion washes over his face when he sees me.

“Mr. Marshall.” I nod. “I’d like a minute of your time.”

“I’ve made it very clear that I am not interested in discussing this matter with you.” He begins to pick up his pace in an attempt to walk away from me.

“Yes, your assistant has made that more than clear.” I keep his pace with ease. “Unfortunately, I’m a fucking stubborn man who’s very used to getting exactly what he wants.”

“I’m sorry,” he shakes his head, “but you aren’t getting what you want. I will not concede on this matter. I’ll protect those wetlands with my life.”

“I thought that’s what you’d say.” I shake my head.

Reaching his car, he fumbles with the key fob, desperately trying to unlock the door. As he struggles, I take a brief look around to ensure we are alone as I pull a folding knife from my pocket.

He pulls at the car door as I flip the blade open. Gripping the shirt at the center of his back, I throw him into the door with a thud and slam it shut before plunging the knife into his back. He opens his mouth to scream but only gurgles blood as I shove the knife into his chest for a second time. The two will be more than enough to be fatal, but I jam the knife into him one more time simply for being a pain in my ass.

Holding him upright as he gasps for air unsuccessfully, I reach into his pants pockets for his wallet. He crumbles to the ground, eyes wide as he watches me rummage through to see what I can take.

Sixty-four dollars.

I shove the money into my pocket and drop the leather wallet on the ground beside him. Squatting down, I wipe the bloody blade across his shirt to clean it. With a sense of satisfaction, I watch the light quickly diminish from his eyes, I tuck the knife back into my pocket.

“You probably should’ve taken the fucking money.” Condescendingly, I pat his cheek as he struggles to take his last breath.

Rising to my feet, I pull off my gloves and make my way back to my car. The streetlight hits the face of my watch, and I glance at it. Done much sooner than expected.

Plenty of time to get across town for my Chinese takeout.