Page 62 of Marked

I open the door to step back into the hall, but I freeze at a familiar voice.

“Well, I haven’t heard back from him since yesterday.” Agent Laurens.

I step back into the bathroom, shutting the door enough to shield me from her sight but still be able to hear her conversation.

“If he fucked up, he’s probably hiding from you. I’m going out there tomorrow to pick up some product he’s holding for me. I’ll find out what’s going on and get back to you.”

Electric fear skims over my skin, setting all the little hairs on end.

That voice.

I have to clench my teeth together to keep from making a sound. It’s Vince. It has to be.

“Fine. I expect to hear from you by tomorrow night.” Laurens sounds shaky. Like she’s losing control of her situation. “I’ve got Jimmy on me about Dustin going missing, and now his cousin is too. It’s not good.”

“What’s that got to do with you?”

“I can only circumvent so many investigations at a time. Someone picks up on these guys having connections, and theirbodies start showing up, it’s going to be hard to get in front of it,” Laurens says.

“Don’t worry. Artie’s just hiding from his fuck up, and Dustin probably took off on some bender. The younger girl, Jackie, is giving him a hell of a time. I’ll pick her up and check in with you after I see him.” Vince laughs. “Those motherfuckers. Always causing stress. Don’t worry so much.”

“Maybe you should worry a little,” she bites back.

“Look. It’s going to be fine. So what if the bitch remembers what happened to her? She can’t prove anything, right? She has no idea where they were taken, and unless her mom decides to tell all ofherdirty secrets, it won’t matter.”

“Her mom is another issue.”

My heart stops.

“Why? If she does decide to get chatty, Jimmy’ll take care of it.”

“It’s an issue because she’s a beneficiary of the Plastics Pension fund.”

I lean into the door just enough to see them. Laurens is tense, her fingers curl into her palms.

“Oh.” Vince rubs his chin. “Well, if she’s on his payroll now, then even better. Look, she was willing to put her fucking kid up for collateral in the first place, what’s to say she’d give a shit now if we take out the other one?”

Laurens hooks her hands on her hips.

“Yeah. I guess you’re right about that. I mean, this one isn’t even the one she chose, right?” Laurens laughs.

My blood heats.

“Yeah, fucking Jimmy.” Vince joins her in her enjoyment of my horror. “I got to get back to these fuckers. I’ll check in with you tomorrow. Try not to worry so much.”

“Yeah. Yeah. Tomorrow.” She turns with him like she’s going to follow him, but then stops. “I gotta piss before I go.” She turns around on her heel and comes straight at the bathroom.

I let go of the door, jumping back from it. Before I can dive into a stall the door pushes open and she walks through.

Dropping my eyes to the floor, I walk forward, bumping into her shoulder.

“Shit. Sorry,” I mumble and reach for the door.

“Hey. Wait.” She stops just as I get my foot outside. Do I run? No. She’s a cop, she’ll chase.

Slowly, I turn, but don’t look up.

“You dropped your phone.” She hands me my phone that must have fallen out of the pocket of my skirt.

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