Snafu

Museum Pieces - Part 1

When they got back to the house, the two goons did not even get out of the car. They just pulled up to the house with a crunch of gravel and let Gideon and Cole climb out. Cole grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder, waiting as Gideon popped open the manilla folder and handed one of the marriage certificates to them as proof. Then, the car peeled out of the driveway.

The front door slammed shut after they stepped into the foyer, rattling a mirror on the wall. It hung next to a door to their left that had been closed earlier in the day but was now open to reveal a dining room. As Cole peered into it, he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror. He looked no different than normal, even though inside, he felt pale and shaky. Just another Tuesday, he supposed. His eyes flicked between the paintings, antique furniture, and crystal chandelier overhead while he tried to think of something to say.

Gideon cleared his throat. "Unfortunately, I have plans for the rest of the day, so figuring things out needs to wait until tomorrow. Are you okay with staying the night here again so we can talk in the morning?"

"Plans?" Cole asked.

"Yes. There are some things I need to take care of for my brother that cannot wait."

Ah, the things that needed to be taken care of were better left unsaid then. Cole squinted at the mid-afternoon sun shining through the windows on either side of the door, not sure how to respond. It was not as if there was anywhere else that he needed to go. He was completely jobless now, after all.

Gideon dug his phone out of his pocket and checked his notifications.

"And I need to go sort some things out at work since I unexpectedly took today off and need to do the same tomorrow because, "he paused and glanced up, gesturing between their chests with his phone, "this situation requires my undivided attention."

This situation. Cole could have laughed. But instead, he asked, "You have a day job?"

Gideon stretched his arm out to check his watch. "Yes, I work for my family's accounting firm. And I'm heading in now. It will just be a late day."

Right. Cole made eye contact with his reflection as though looking into a hidden reality TV camera. Gideon worked for his family's accounting firm, which was a front for extortion, drug running, human trafficking, and other nefarious things that made money that needed to be laundered. Then, at night, he moonlit as one of the brass-knuckled Barta boogeymen who were a legend on the streets of this city while taking part in those nefarious things. Cole watched Gideon huff in frustration at his phone and wondered how many of the rumors were true.

His knuckles were still a little swollen from punching Logan.

"There isn't much in the kitchen. You should order some food." Gideon fished in his pocket again, this time for his wallet. He slid a credit card out and slapped it in Cole's palm, where it sat heavier than a normal credit card, probably some type of platinum line with a trillion-dollar limit.

But they were already blasting past the initial part of the conversation when Gideon said he wanted Cole to stay the night.

"What if I have a cat that I need to go feed?"

Gideon looked up from shoving his wallet back into his pocket. "Do you?"

Not for the first time since meeting Gideon, Cole felt a thrill at being the center of his attention. There was something so highly intelligent in his eyes, like at any given time, he knew better what was going on inside Cole's head than he knew himself and was just waiting for Cole to get with the program. But not in a condescending way. He was open and patient. Even though his brows were raised in doubt, he did not scoff or call Cole's bluff. He just waited to see whether Cole would stick to his guns or admit defeat.