Page 60 of Falcon's Prey

He took my home.

He took my life.

My father.

My dignity.

And he left me with nothing to lose.

That was dangerous.

Going over to the sink, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My makeup had run a bit, making me look more macabre, my eyes a little soulless, and I knew this was not the me I had once loved before, but this was a me I could be in awe of.

Putting my hands in the lukewarm water, I brought it to my mouth and rinsed away the cottony feel I had on my tongue. When I heard someone trying to pull the door, my heart stopped. Looking myself in the mirror one last time, I walked away, ready to face whomever was on the other side of the door.

I closed my eyes and pulled it open.

“Uh, you’re in the wrong bathroom.” Relief spread through my body at the guy in front of me—one of those hippie coffee-loving guys.

“My bad.” I stepped aside, cautious and alert.

The hallways were empty, and I prepared myself for whom I was going to meet in the lobby. With every step, my craving for a hit grew, and my body demanded just to give up, but I didn’t want to let my addiction win. The first thing I had to do was find the closest pawn shop and get whatever money I could from this; then, I would try to find a way to get out of this mess.

Where would I go?

Maybe it was time I learned how the other half lived.

The place was empty, just a few patrons sipping their drinks. I was about to walk out when I turned around. There had to be a reason why the doctor had told me to come here.

The woman at the counter looked at me expectantly.

“Sorry. This is going to sound dumb, but does the name Wozniak ring a bell?”

Her eyes seemed to flash with understanding or recognition.

“Yes. The old guy says he’s a doctor?”

“Yes,” I said hesitantly.

“You Ember?”

“Yes…”

She nodded, then turned around, going to the back.

“He said you left your purse at his practice and couldn’t reach it since you live on the other side of the city, but since you were going to be around the area, he left us this.”

“Thank you,” I said, reaching for it.

“Thank you—his tip was amazing!”

I nodded as I made my way to a back booth, hoping Gio and his men didn’t come looking here. There was a reason why I’d chosen the float I had to make a run for it. The vendor lady, her family, ran it. I was hoping her people held off Gio and his men long enough.

With shaky hands, I opened the bag, preparing myself for what I would find.

Dear Ember,

I will not ask questions about what you asked me to do. I may be an old man, but I’m not dumb. At five o’clock, your guest will arrive, and I hope you know what you’re doing. I want you to know that your father is in great hands.

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