He didn’t move.
I held the phone to my ear and waited.
He still didn’t move.
It was Mitch who lost patience, leaned in and rapped on the glass with his knuckles. Then he jerked two fingers toward the phone.
Bill scowled at him then snatched up the phone.
The instant he had it at his ear, I spoke.
“Don’t be nasty, hang up and walk away,” I said swiftly. “What I have to say is important and you need to hear it.”
“Not sure anything you have to say is important, Mara, not anymore,” Bill replied, his eyes filled with hate, his mouth and nose creased into a sneer.
“It’s about Billy and Billie so if you think that’s true that means what I’ve decided to do is definitely what needs to be done,” I returned then went on, “Though, I knew that anyway.”
Bill glared at me then his eyes flicked up to Mitch before coming back to me.
“Say what you gotta say so I can get you outta my face. I’d rather be in lockdown with a bunch of psycho slimeballs than sittin’ here with you so I think you get where I’m comin’ from when it comes to you,” Bill retorted.
“Oh,” I whispered, “I got that when you sent my Mom and your Mom after me. And if I didn’t get it then, I got it when you set them to finding Jez in order to use her to threaten me, Billy and Billie.”
Bill’s face didn’t change; he kept up the glare and the sneer. He felt no remorse, not even knowing how him doing that would affect me and not even thinking that it might also affect his children.
I kept talking.
“When Billy saw Jez, he remembered her and he freaked out, Bill.”
Bill just continued glaring at me.
“So bad, he was shaking.”
Bill uttered not a word.
“Just in case you care, Billie was asleep and didn’t see her.”
Nothing from Bill.
I sighed thinking I shouldn’t be surprised considering he was an assclown.
I got down to the matter at hand.
“Mitch and I met with an attorney yesterday and we hired him. We’re moving forward with getting permanent custody of the children.”
“And I care about this because…?” Bill asked and I blinked.
Then I asked back, “Pardon?”
“I got a lotta shit to worry about, Mara. I don’t need more. Because of you, I got a twenty-four, seven job of watchin’ my back. Don’t need to spend my time thinkin’ ‘bout whatever the f**k you’re up to. You’re all fired up to show your pig boyfriend you’re a good person by takin’ my kids, have at it. I end this gig breathin’ then I’ll worry about you.”
“And Billy and Billie,” I put in.
“What?” he clipped.
“You end this breathing, you’ll worry about me and Billy and Billie,” I stated.
“Whatever,” he muttered.