Page 36 of Soothsayer

He was also impatient. “I want to go innow.”

“You can wait until I get you a phone.” I’d driven through the parking lot three times now and still hadn’t found the rainbow beater with the mustang decal.

“No, look.” He thrust the pamphlet in my face again. “The park closes at six, and it’s already two! If we don’t go in soon, we won’t have time to do anything.” I hadn’t seen a face that pouty since I was looking in the mirror at age fifteen.

Well, I could keep driving in circles and hope that Phin’s friend showed up soon, or I could let Sören head off into the park and trust that he wouldn’t run away or do something dangerous. The memory of yesterday reared its head in my mind: me tied to a tree and the frightening trip down the highway under hisdriving. Sören wasn’t safe to be around people without a minder. On the other hand, evenwitha minder, he didn’t seem to be safe.

I sighed and pulled in close to the front gate. “I’ve got to meet my contact, but you can go in.” He had money for the entrance fee—at least it was half price for the afternoon. “If we don’t find each other inside, we’ll meet together outside here at six, okay?”

“Very reasonable,” Sören said, a little smile quirking his lips. “What makes you trust me to return?”

“The fact that you’re still here right now,” I told him honestly. “You could leave me or kill me and get back to Ólafur at any time. You haven’t yet, so you’re still interested in being with me. For now.”

“For now,” Sören agreed. “But perhaps forever. I appreciate…” He paused and considered what he wanted to say. “Your faith in inevitability.”

I shrugged. “That’s fate. Can’t fight it without getting fucked over.”

“We should discuss that sometime when I don’t have a roller coaster waiting for me.” Sören leaned in closer. “And did you know they have paintball here?”

I felt myself pale. “You know what that is?”

“Randall told me.”

“Oh.”That little shit. “Look, I’m not telling you what to do, I’m definitely not, but…”

“But you’d like to.”

“Sometimes.”

Sören laughed. “Your honesty is also appreciated. I won’t break anyone, don’t worry.” He got out of the car and headed for the entrance, still wearing his black suit, although it was significantly more rumpled now. It was still a good look for him.

I shook my head and turned forward, determined not to watch Sören disappear. “Head in the game,” I muttered as I starteddriving again. Rainbow car, mustang decal…how hard could it be to find?

Pretty fucking hard. I didn’t locate the car for another hour; it was hidden behind an enormous red truck in a far part of the parking lot. Also, rainbow might have been a bit misleading. It was a splotchy mess of primer and a dozen different colors of paint, each one slapped on like the owner was picking a new shade for hisen suite. And “mustang decal” was also pushing it. It looked like—I squinted a little. It looked like a My Little Pony.

I pulled in next to the car, and the person who came out to meet me was also, very clearly, not a man. “Hi,” the lady, dressed in a flannel crop top and a pair of Daisy Dukes complete with, yes, cowboy boots, said. She had long blonde hair, bright red lips, and an enormous smile. She also had a very thick Southern twang that sounded more Georgia than Missouri.

“Does Phin know anything about you at all?” I asked as I got out. It was hot today, but I kept my battered fedora on out of sheer solar self-defense.

“Oh, nobody knows all my secrets,” she demurred, tilting her head and biting her lower lip. I almost expected her to giggle. “That’s how you stay alive in this business.”

“Yeah, well, you can drop the cutesy act and start things off right by giving me my new equipment.”

“Ooh, tough guy.” She patted her waist, and I saw the Taser at her hip. “Let’s not get too bossy, huh? This is business, but that’s not to say it couldn’t be pleasurable too. I’ve heard a lot about you, after all.”

Yeah, I just bet she had. “Nobody knows all my secrets.” I tossed her own words back at her and watched her frown and fumble them. “And I’m not interested in pleasure, not with you or anyone else. I just want to pay for my stuff and go.”

“Not very fun.”

“Lady, I don’t even know your name. Don’t go asking me for fun.”

She beamed at me. “You can call me Cherry! Or just pick a fruit. I don’t care, sugar.”

“How about Kumquat?”

“Now that’s just rude.” She leaned her hip against the car. “I could just leave, y’know. I don’t have to do Phin any favors on this hot, hot summer day. I came because he told me you could give me what I wanted.”

“I’ve got money,” I said. “Let’s keep this clean.”

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