Silver Linings

directly.
    Hugh turned the glass of wine between his palms. “It depends.”
    “On what?”
    “Lots of things. You want me to do anything?”
    Mattie sighed. She wasn't going to get any answers tonight. “You can rinse the broccoli.”
    “Sure.”
    The phone rang just as Hugh dumped the broccoli into a colander, and Mattie went across the room to answer it. The sultry voice on the other end of the line took her by surprise.
    “Evangeline? Is that you? I can't believe it. Where are you?”
    “Right where I was when you left Brimstone. Look, Mattie, this isn't exactly what you'd call a social call.”
    “Is something wrong?” Mattie glanced over at the kitchen and saw that Hugh was watching her curiously from the sink.
    “No, not exactly. At least I don't think so. But I'm not real sure. Does the name Rainbird mean anything to you?”
    “No.” Mattie frowned. “Nothing at all. Why?”
    “'Cause I had a trick last night who was stoned out of his gourd, and he kept talking about this guy named Rainbird. Said he was looking for someone who had slipped off Purgatory during the coup. A man. Said it was worth a lot of money to find him. I remembered that man you had with you.”
    Mattie's eyes widened in shock. “Good grief.”
    “You sure the name doesn't ring any bells?”
    “No. But I'll ask Hugh.”
    “He's still around, then?”
    “Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I still see a lot of him.”
    “I was afraid of that. Look, I know it's none of my business, but isn't that kind of risky, honey? I mean, you know how it is. Get close to a John, and the first thing you know, he wants a cut of the profits. Then he starts telling you that you need him for protection. Then he starts giving orders. Next thing you know, you've got a lousy pimp.”
    “I'll keep that in mind,” Mattie promised.
    “You do that. Besides, if this jerk Rainbird is after him, you don't want to be standing nearby. Innocent bystanders have a way of getting hurt, if you know what I mean. What do you want with a man, anyway?”
    “Well…”
    “Face it, honey. Men aren't any good for women like us. We're too independent by nature. Look, I've got to run. I can hear someone coming down the hall. Probably a customer. You take care of yourself, now, you hear? And watch out for this guy named Rainbird.”
    “I will. Oh, and Evangeline?”
    “Yeah, honey?”
    “Thanks for calling. It was good to talk to you again.” Mattie slowly replaced the phone and looked thoughtfully at Hugh.
    “Evangeline Dangerfield? What the hell did she want?”
    “For one thing, she was rather alarmed that I'm still seeing you. She says men aren't any good for a working woman such as myself.”
    Hugh swore. “This is why a man has to keep tabs on his woman's friends. You start hanging out with females like Evangeline, and you pick up idiotic notions. That the only reason she was calling?”
    “No. Hugh, does the name Rainbird mean anything to you?”
    “ Shit .” Hugh dropped the pan of broccoli into the sink as if it had suddenly become red hot. “Rainbird? Did you say Rainbird ?”
    “I think that was the name.” Mattie was alarmed by Hugh's reaction.
    Hugh came around the edge of the counter. He was across the room in a matter of seconds, reaching for her. His eyes had gone the color of cold crystal.
    Mattie instinctively tried to take a step backward, but she was too late. He seized her and held her still in front of him.
    “Where did you get that name?” Hugh demanded.
    “Evangeline.” Mattie swallowed.
    “Jesus Christ.”
    “She said one of her customers had gotten drunk and talked about a man named Rainbird looking for someone who had slipped off Purgatory during the coup. Do you think it was Rosey? Or Gibbs?”
    Hugh ignored that question. “Why did Evangeline call you?”
    “Because she knew I had just come off Purgatory with you, and she wondered if you were the person this Rainbird was after. But that's impossible, isn't it? Hugh, what is this all about? Why are you acting like this?”
    “Rainbird. So that's what Rosey was trying to say.”
    “Hugh?”
    “I asked him who had attacked him.” His mouth was a grim line. “He opened his eyes for a second, looked up, and said Rain . I thought he was talking about the rain that night. But he was trying to say Rainbird . He never finished the word.”
    Mattie took a deep breath, remembering Paul Cormier's last words. “Reign in hell.”
    Hugh stared down at her. “ Rainbird in