They took a few steps away from me and whispered amongst themselves. When I saw the nodding, I knew they'd decided. Bobby took the lead again. “Gallon of scotch, brand of our choice, every week for a year.”
I'd expected chocolate or rides to amusement park, maybe accompaniment to an R rated movie. “I can't buy you scotch. You're kids!”
“Collectively, we're over a thousand years old. Who you calling kid?” Buddy added.
They had such little angelic faces it was hard to remember their true age. “Fine.”
“First delivery within the next couple of days,” Bobby added, and looked like he was jotting it into his phone calendar.
“Fine! Now go. And remember, one word of this to anyone and you're cut off.” I pointed an arm away from the restaurant, not caring where they went, just desperately wanting them gone.
Buddy, the quietest of the three looked at me quite somberly. “Don't worry. This isn't our first extortion. We’re consummate professionals. Once we’re paid, you won’t hear anything from our lips.”
They left then, carrying their boards under their arms, while high fiving each other on their negotiations. As soon as they hit solid pavement, they hopped on their skateboards, grabbed a passing truck's bumper and hitched a ride
Luke stood waiting in his expensive suit, platinum watch and shiny shoes. The Jinxes were right; still a loser.
“Sorry about that,” I said, as I imagined delivering a kick to his face.
“Here.” He shoved an envelope into my hand. “These are the details of your next assignment.”
He turned to walk into the restaurant and I went to follow him.
He stopped walking. “What are you doing?”
“Coming with you. I thought we were going to discuss them?” I said holding up the envelope.
“Are you illiterate?”
“No,” I replied, not understanding where he was going with this yet.
“Then I have dinner plans.” He turned and walked away.
What a dick.
Chapter 18
Take a Hint
The brown envelope rested on the dashboard. I'd been staring at it for a good ten minutes while I sat in the parking lot.
It was ridiculous. It's not like it would magically disappear if I didn't look. I ripped the seal open and pulled out the beautiful ivory sheet inside.
At eleven pm tomorrow evening, the blonde girl must die.
There was a local address included.
I was right. I wish I hadn't looked. I couldn’t do it. I wanted to save Kitty but not at the expense of some other innocent woman. They’d need to understand that even with my back against the wall, there were limits. I dug out my second phone and dialed the number I had for Malokin. No answer. I dialed Luke next, and again, no answer. I was positive they weren’t answering on purpose. They didn’t want to hear it. I punched the dashboard a second later.
I got out of the Honda and looked upward. “Paddy! Where the hell are you?” I screamed not caring who heard. I spun around in the parking lot, keeping my eyes upward and raising my hands as well. “Anybody?”
It took another hour of me sitting in my condo for it to sink in that Paddy wasn't going to show up this time. If I called Fate, Kitty would be dead anyway. I’d already been warned once of that so he wasn't an option and Harold had never been. This was all me.
I needed to figure out some way to get to Kitty. That was proving near impossible and had zero percent odds of happening before this assignment tomorrow night. Since I couldn't even make a step without them knowing, my options were very limited. I'd have to figure out a way not to kill the un-named blonde but still perform the task given to me.
I am a smart woman. I can handle this. They might know every move I made, but they couldn't read my mind. I could figure a way out of this.
If I killed her, I’d have fulfilled my obligation. Nobody said she had to stay dead, though. It was risky but possible.
I reached under the kitchen counter for the butcher block with the scribbled face on it, grabbed the new pair of knives I'd bought this afternoon and started throwing them.
I didn't stop until I had one in each eye.
***
Today could go very badly. It wasn’t a great plan to begin with. No matter how long I’d thought it over, I hadn’t come up with a better idea.
Fate’s car wasn’t in the office’s parking lot. Strike one.
I grabbed my purse, which I’d placed on the dashboard when I got in the car, along with the instructions and information underneath. Malokin and Luke were both men, they’d have no idea how unusual it was to place your purse on the dash.
I shut the car, the paper in plain view now and headed into the office.
A long-sleeved shirt hid the address and time I’d scribbled in pen on my skin. I had all the red flags lined up. Now I just needed the opportunity to wave them.
I pulled out my manual and flipped to my page to distract myself as I waited.
Karma
The page was still blank. It should’ve been the easiest one to write but every time I started, the words that came out made me cringe.
Karma - in charge of equalizing the balance of people’s actions.
I tore it out, crinkled it and shot it into the garbage.
Karma - a complete fuck up, who can’t even save herself, let alone fix anyone else.
Nope, that wasn’t good.
Karma.
Duties: equalize people’s actions and sometimes throw the Universe into even worse shape, just because you don’t know what else to do.
That was fairly accurate, but I couldn’t leave it in. Another paper ball hit the trash as I shut the notebook, giving up on being productive to simply wait it out.
I watched people come in and out all afternoon but still no Fate. When the clock struck four, I was starting to believe he wasn’t coming in today. What if I needed a stand in?
Crow stood next to the water cooler with a bird perched on his shoulder. He’d be useless. Even if he did notice the address and time scribbled on my skin, he’d never figure out it was a clue. Plus, he didn’t go out into the field.
Bernie was flitting around. He was always looking down, and unless I could promise him a yard full of clovers, he was another waste of time.
Luck was perched on the corner of her desk. She’d been quiet since Kitty disappeared. Murphy was pretty sure she’d only slept with one new guy in the last couple of days. Definitely in a depression, and too unreliable.
If I managed to get Murphy, the girl might end up worse off than dead. Saving wasn’t his forte. His natural inclination was to compound a problem. I didn’t want him anywhere near me tonight.
Jockey strolled in through the door. Nah, not him either. The Jinxes skated in a few minutes after. Bobby tilted an imaginary bottle to his lip and threw me a wink. Billy and Buddy high fived. Definitely not them.
Finally, just when I’d about given up hope, Fate arrived.
His eyes scanned the room and moved right over me. Then he walked over to Harold’s office. Today, of all days, he was giving me peace? This had to be some kind of karmic joke. Except I was Karma and I wasn’t laughing.
I fiddled with the book in front of me until I saw Fate stepping out of Harold’s office again.
Time to make a nuisance of myself. I wasn’t sure what actions of mine tipped off Malokin and his people, but they couldn’t read my mind. If I did this just right, I could pull it off.
Fate walked in a straight line, heading for the door, and I did the same. His eyes narrowed as I edged in front of him, entering the hall first. The second I reached the hallway in front of him, I slowed down to a snail’s pace.
His eyes narrowed. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing.” I squatted down to tie my sneakers, the ones I’d worn on purpose and just for this occasion. He’d have to step over me to get out of the hallway.
“You’re acting stranger than usual.”
Red flags shot off in my brain. I couldn’t have his words tipping them off. Those bastards heard everything.
“Because I had to tie my shoe?” I stood, raising my arm to tighten my ponytail which flashed the time and address.