The Witness

upset.” She’d meant to soothe and had accomplished the opposite. “Of course he didn’t. I just noticed the line of his suit, and then his body language when Bert growled.”
    Brooks took a long pull of beer. “Why don’t you tell me what was said and done?”
    “You are upset,” she murmured. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
    “Yes, you should have.”
    “It wasn’t anything important, really. He said he’d come to apologize, then was clearly put out when I refused to invite them in. He termed what happened a misunderstanding, and indicated it was of your doing. I disabused him of that, as I was a witness. He implied I didn’t understand his position in the community, and that my relationship with you made my standing as witness suspicious. Not in those words, but that was the meaning. Do you want me to relay the exact conversation?”
    “Not just yet. The gist is fine.”
    “The gist. All right. He was displeased and angry as I told him to leave—and warned him and his assistant that if the assistant drew hisweapon on Bert, I would release Bert, who would disarm the assistant handily. And reminded them I was also armed.”
    “Jesus Christ.”
    “I was—clearly. It seemed best to point out the obvious. Mr. Blake reiterated he’d come to apologize, and added he’d come to offer compensation. In the amount of ten thousand dollars if I accepted it and agreed that what had happened was a misunderstanding. It annoyed me.”
    “How many times did you ask them to leave?”
    “Three. I didn’t bother to ask again, simply said good-bye and closed the door. He did bang on the door for nearly two minutes after that. He’s very rude. Then his assistant convinced him to get back in the car.”
    Brooks pushed back from the counter, paced the kitchen. “Why didn’t you call me?”
    “There wasn’t any need. It was relatively simple to deal with. Irritating, but simple. I—”
    She broke off because when he turned to her, the controlled rage on his face snapped her throat closed.
    “Listen to me. Two men you don’t know come to your door, one of them’s armed. They refuse to leave when you tell them to, multiple times. What’s the logical thing to do?”
    “Close the door. I did.”
    “No, Abigail. The logical thing to do is close the door, then call the police.”
    “I don’t agree. I’m sorry if that makes you angry, but I don’t. They left.” She decided to avoid more anger by not mentioning she’d intended to go back out, weapon drawn, at the two-minute mark.
    Later, she’d wonder if the avoidance equaled one of those interpersonal relationship tangles.
    “I was armed, Brooks, and Bert was on alert. I wasn’t in any danger. In fact, Blake became so agitated, I would have called both you and medical assistance if he hadn’t left when he did.”
    “Do you want to press charges?”
    “No. You’re angry with me. I don’t want you to be angry with me. I did exactly as I felt best at that time, under those circumstances. If your ego’s threatened because I didn’t call for help—”
    “Maybe some. Yeah, I’ll own that. And I’m not going to say it’s not a relief to me knowing I’m with a woman who can handle herself. But I know Blake. He tried to bully and intimidate you.”
    “Yes, he tried. He failed.”
    “Trying’s enough. And he attempted to bribe you.”
    “I told him his attempt to bribe a witness in a criminal matter was illegal.”
    “I bet you did.” Brooks shoved a hand through his hair, sat again. “You don’t know him. You don’t know the kind of enemy you made today, and believe me, you made one.”
    “I think I do know,” she said quietly. “I think I know very well. But making him an enemy isn’t my fault, or yours.”
    “Maybe not. But it’s what it is.”
    “You’re going to confront him over it.”
    “You’re damn right I am.”
    “Won’t that just increase the level of animosity?”
    “Maybe. But if I don’t deal with it, he’ll see it as a weak spot. He could come back, try again, figuring you didn’t mention it, are just angling for a bigger payoff.”
    “I made my position very clear.”
    “If you understand the kind of person you’re dealing with, you’ll realize that it doesn’t matter a damn.”
    Twelve years of running, she thought. Yes, she understood. “You’re right, but it mattered to me on a very personal level that I made my position clear.”
    “Okay, that’s done. Now I’m telling you, if he comes