Page 77 of The Reaper

I dialed a set of numbers I’d memorized. “Marilyn, it’s Archer. You’re on speaker phone.”

“Do you have the list?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“Good. We need to do this fast.”

“What do you mean?” I looked around the car; everyone’s attention was on my phone.

“I think someone has been watching me. I’ve seen this same black car for the past two days. It’s everywhere I go. The office, the store, my house.”

“Fuck. Are you in your house right now?” I asked. I wouldn’t lose another innocent life because of my plan if I could help it.

“Yes, and the car is across the street.” Marilyn’s voice was laced with concern.

“Can you see the plate?” I asked.

“Yes. Do you want it?”

“Tobias, call Zero.”

Tobias complied and, seconds later, Zero’s voice came through his cell speaker. “Can you run a plate for us?” Tobias asked.

“Hit me with it,” Zero said.

“It’s a Massachusetts plate. 897 RTA,” Marilyn said.

“Gimme a minute.” Everyone remained silent while we waited, the only sound was a faint clicking of Zero’s keyboard through the phone. “I’m in,” she said. “Oh shit.”

“Talk to us, Zero,” I said.

“How bad is it?” Marilyn chimed in.

“It belongs to Bayview Holdings.”

“Fuck.” I leaned back in my seat and rubbed my forehead. My pulse gushed in my ears. I saw red.

“What’s Bayview Holdings?” Marilyn asked.

“One of The Firm’s dummy corporations,” Tobias answered. “Marilyn, this is Tobias. I will call my connection with the FBI and send him your way.”

“Is he with The Firm?” she asked hesitantly. I couldn’t blame her. The Firm was a whole different level of fucked-up beast.

“No, but he has been monitoring The Firm for years.”

“Okay …” Marilyn said.

“He’ll protect you. We’ll send him to take you somewhere safe,” Tobias assured her.

Marilyn didn’t respond right away. We were asking her to risk her life for people she hardly knew. I would understand if she wanted nothing to do with this. “Only if you want,” I said. “You can back out any time.”

A long exhalation came down the line. “I’m all in.”

“Thank you. Stay where you are,” I said.

“Do not let anyone in, Marilyn,” Tobias added.

“They’re welcome to try. I have the shotgun my dad gave me.”

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