In the kitchen, I grabbed the rest of the six we had started and threw its plastic holder into the trash. That’s when I saw where John had spit. And, more importantly, what he’d spit. Spattered against an old carton of milk was a sizeable wad of grayish phlegm. That wasn’t strange in itself, but what was mixed in with the slime was: thick black hair, and lots of it.

It seemed John had a hairball.

With suspicions flying like machine gun shells, I walked back to the main room where John and Myra were discussing the rent, something about who owed what. John had produced some Jim Beam (a welcome sight) and offered the bottle to me before my ass had even hit the couch. I took a huge swig that made both of them whistle. I was a little embarrassed, but the whiskey washed it away in seconds.

“So, did Jerry ever show his sorry ass?” John asked, taking a timid swig.

Myra cracked her second beer. “Not unless he came in while we were out.”

John shook his head, looking right at me without losing that smile for a single second. “Shitty thing to do. I mean, inviting you, then disappearing.”

His grin widened as he finished speaking. There was a black hair stuck in his teeth.

I decided to play it. His cocky attitude was pissing me off.

“You’ve got something in your teeth,” I said.

He didn’t react at all. He just plucked the hair from his teeth and flicked it away. “You visiting long?”

Before I could answer, a crash and a quick yell came from downstairs. John and I both jumped to our feet simultaneously. I don’t think he knew he was doing it, but he had his hand against my chest to prevent me from moving. When he did realize, he removed his hand. The smile returned instantly.

“Sean is such a klutz. I better go see what he broke.”

He moved fast to the service elevator, and then he was gone, into the basement. I needed to get down there. I knew I’d find all the proof I needed to figure out exactly what the hell they were up to and nail these fuckers.

I turned and looked at Myra.

“I think it might be a good idea for you to get out of here,” I warned.

She shook her head. “I’m staying right here.”

“I thought you had a date.”

“I lost interest.” She smirked just enough to turn my beaten old face red, then came up to me and put her hand on my cheek.

She started to lean toward me, eyes beginning to close slightly. All of a sudden there was a buzz in the air. She had been flirting with me the whole time and I hadn’t even noticed. Now, as she moved toward me, all I could do was stand there like a lug and stare. But before we could connect, the elevator started coming back up. I was shaking, and it had nothing to do with danger.