Saving Grace

31

Like a solider, Godric stood with his hands laced and his feet shoulder-width apart, staring at the front of Jack Russo's empty house.

"Where have you been?" He grumbled, voice low and accent thick.

"Walking here," I said. "Not all of us have goons to drive us around."

"Where is your girlfriend?"

"On her way. Fair warning, she's not very happy about the deal we made."

"They never are, and yet they are always the ones who benefit the most."

The distant, quiet rumble of Grace's limo hummed through the streets as it turned the corner, the sunlight glistening on the tinted sunroof. It pulled to an elegant stop and Grace glared at us through the black window.

"Oh God," I mumbled. "This is going to be bad."

"So this is him?" She said, sauntering out of the car in her ripped jeans and red Converses. "This is Godric?"

"Indeed," he grinned. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Save it for someone who cares, buddy."

Godric's smile widened as he stared down at her, a full head taller and a hundred pounds heavier.

"Here's the deal," she went on, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'll give you the key to this place if you – " she pointed at Godric – "promise not to kill Jack."

Godric scoffed, fumbled into an amused laugh.

"Oh, my," he said. "I must say Richard, she is just delightful."

"You think I'm having a laugh?" She snapped.

"Okay, okay," I interrupted. "Can we please not do this?"

"I do not need key anyway," Godric shrugged. "I been picking locks since before you were born."

Grace frowned.

"Then why did you even want me here?"

"Just because I can pick lock, doesn't mean I want to. There may be something inside we can use to find him, and it may be damaged if we force our way in. It's also time and effort and we're already playing catch up. Now give it here."

"No, not until you promise not to kill Jack."

Godric's eyes hardened, closing into near-slits and Grace, with all the defiance and wildness she kept barely contained in her soul, stared right back at him, as if going toe to toe with the devil himself. I, being caught somewhere in the middle, opened my mouth to break the silence, but then the sirens did it for me. Godric raised an eyebrow, offered an upwards glance.

"You," he said.

"Me," Grace smiled. "You find Jack, make sure he doesn't come back, and you don't kill him. In return, I give you this key and say nothing to the police about who you are or why you're here. Or I could start screaming."

"Who do you think I am, little girl? I own the police. I own the judges. I own everybody. And once these police arrive, all they will do is look at me and turn their little cars around and go right on home, never saying a word. And then, if and when you disappear just as thoroughly at your little ex-lover has, they won't look for you, because they'll know who's done it, and they'll know that it's better to let sleeping dogs lie."

Grace, lips pursed and eyes twitching, bit her lip.

"But what about Richie?"

"What about Richard?"

"You love him. He'd never forgive you if anything happened to me."

Godric, with a small twisted little grin toying with his hard mouth, cocked his head.

"Well, you are right about one thing. I do love my nephew, which is why I'm here. But don't think for one second that this has anything to do with you. This is merely a measurement of my generosity and kindness towards my family, not to you. And I will revert, young Grace, to my ordinary, psychopathic self and leave you to die at the hands of this madman if you continue to disrespect me. And if you don't believe me," his smile twisted up near his hard eyes, "then try me."

The defeat swirled in Grace's eyes, and she hated it.

"Now," Godric said. "Give me the key so I can find this Jack Russo and put an end to all this. Or don't, and I will break in and find him anyway." He smirked. "Maybe I'll even give him the key to your house instead. The choice is yours."

Grace bit her lip. Blood pooled around her gums. She threw the key in his face.

"Thank you," he said. "Now go tell those gentlemen that there's nothing to see here."

Grace's scowl deepened. She stormed up to the curb, and he watched her from the front yard, standing beside me silently.

"Watch out, Richard," he said once she was out of earshot. "That one is going to either be the best thing or worst thing that ever happens to you."

I sighed, watched her lean down and talk to the policeman through the window.

"Oh, I know," I said. "I know."

© A.G. Travers 2018