Page 80 of Jael

“How do I know you’re not a cop?”

“If I was a cop, wouldn’t I have arrested you by now?”

“Not if you don’t have evidence.” Bo smirked.

“I just told you I know that it was your product that killed Gregory Heber, and I know who you provided it to. I’d call that evidence.” He leaned on the counter. “If I was a cop, I would have you arrested you and then persuaded you to turn on the bigger fish. Why trap Bo from Pan’s Asian Groceries when there are men like Artus Sisera to be had? So, either I’m a bad excuse for a cop, or Mr. Sisera gave me your name.”

“Fine, but if I agree, don’t expect me to give you the same rate I give Mr. Sisera. It’ll cost you. A lot.”

“He didn’t tell me how much he paid, and it doesn’t matter. I’ve got cash.”

“You’ll have to get close to the target. Mix it into a drink in exactly the measurement I give you. You overdo it, forensics could find traces.”

“Got it.”

“Come back four weeks from today after ten p.m.”

“Why does it take so long?”

“I’ll have to do a background check. Confirm your affiliation with Mr. Sisera. And I have limited resources. You have to plan these things carefully.”

“Four weeks it is.” Hopefully the background check wouldn’t be a problem. There was nothing Artus could tell Bo that wouldn’t work in Danny’s favor.

“I’ll need five thousand in cash upon pick up,” Bo said.

“Five K? That’s more than I expected.”

“You could find someone to shoot him for cheaper. If you want what I have, it will cost you.”

“You make a convincing argument. Five K it is.”

“And another two when the deed is done.”

“Two more after the fact? That’s unusually trusting for someone in your line of work. How do you know I’ll come back?”

“Because my product is so good, you’ll want to have access to it in the future. Also, Mr. Sisera knows who you are. If you don’t pay, he’ll find out.”

“Ouch. That’s good incentive. I’ll see you in four weeks.”

“Four weeks it is.”

Danny’s phone chimed with a text. He pulled it out as he left the store and read Jael’s message, then sprinted for his car.

The first thing Danny saw when he turned the corner was Christopher standing with his arms crossed, watching something Danny couldn’t see until he drove a little farther and spotted Jael on the ground with another man standing over her. The man reached down and swatted at her. The obscenities he was screaming could be heard even from within the cabin.

Danny put his foot down, jumping the curb before he slammed to a halt on the sidewalk. He fumbled out of his car and ran for them, almost hurled himself at the man. But Jael beat him to it. She launched her foot in the air, catching the guy in the crotch.

The man dropped where he was, and Jael jumped to her feet, brushing herself off as she walked toward Danny.

Christopher moved in then. “What are you doing here?”

“I asked him to come,” Jael said.

“This is none of his business.”

“I’m making it my business,” Danny said, stepping up to him. In four weeks, he’d have the evidence he needed to put pressure on Bo and turn him against Artus. He didn’t need to keep Christopher happy.

“You should get back in your car and go,” Christopher said.

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