Chapter 39

Zane pressed his silver-framed glasses against his nose bridge and lit a cigarette. “You can beat it.” “That’s not what buddies do. I took care of your business. The least you could do is offer me a drink instead of kicking me out. I’m not going anywhere tonight,” Sam rested his back against the sofa. Zane uttered, “Mrs. Cook, pour Mr. Lambert a glass of water.” “Do you want water, Mr. Lambert? You don’t look thirsty to me.” Mrs. Cook answered in an unfriendly tone. Sam replied, “Are you walking all over me too, Mrs. Cook?” Mrs. Cook was an old lady in her fifties who practically raised Zane. Zane and Zane’s friends never saw Mrs. Cook as the domestic help. She was more like a friendly grandmother to the youngsters, nagging and giving them advice every now and then. The old lady handed Sam a bottle of water. “Why are you indulging Mr. Zane with his antics? What do you mean by halfway there? You’re giving Old Mrs. Atlas an excuse to come at you.” A year and a half ago, Mrs