Page 55 of Death Wish

Turning around, I noticed two large shadows moving on the other side of the shop’s door.

My breath caught. Mr. Johnson’s actual associates? Oh shit. I was about to be found out.

Just as the door opened and the bell rang to signal a customer, Marla’s trill came from behind him, making me jump.

“Oh! I’m sorry, but we’re closed today for appointments only.” Nothing in her tone indicated fear or even the slightest bit of concern—the confidence in her abilities coming through. “We will be open at regular time on Saturday, if you boys would like to come back.”

Boys? The two men filling the doorframe as they took turns stepping into the shop had definitely passed puberty decades ago. Even though they were dressed in black suits, their sizes and muscular builds were obvious. Very intimidating and here for a reason.

These had to be Mr. Johnson’s real friends, but Marla didn’t seem to think so. She didn’t even blink when they ignored her warning and stepped farther into the store.

“We have an appointment,” the bald man with a shiny gold tooth said. “At noon.”

Marla and I glanced at the grandfather clock against the wall, which read ten twenty.

“We’re early,” the other man said, his voice low and scratchy, like a long-time smoker.

Marla’s face changed to annoyance. “Appointments are made for a reason.” She sighed, turning to me. “I’m truly sorry about this. There’s a certain way I like to run my business. Organized and professional. But I can’t control if someone decides to be late or early, now, can I?”

I eyed the men again, who were both staring at me intensely, as if they knew something about my reasons for being here. My heartrate sped up as I wondered if they were going to out me, but I told myself my fears were all in my head. If these two weren’t really from Mr. Johnson’s and had a later appointment, there was no way they could know who I was or what I was here for.

“It’s okay,” I told Marla. “We’re almost done anyway, aren’t we?”

Marla held out a purple velvet bag closed with a drawstring. I took it, surprised by how light it was in my hand. I didn’t know what I was expecting exactly, but I’d have to check out what was really in the bag later. Once I was out of here and out of harm’s way.

“Please tell Mr. Johnson it was a pleasure, as always. And I hope to do business with him again.”

“Of course.” I offered her my attempt at a polite smile, hoping it didn’t come across as too forced. She didn’t seem to notice though. With the bag in hand, I strode past the two large men, feeling their eyes on me the entire way, and walked out the door. For some reason, the jingle of the bells sounded louder this time. Like a warning.

All in my head.

Pushing it from my mind, I rushed down the sidewalk a few blocks, to where I knew Cole was parked. I was relieved to see the Jeep was still there, still running, with Cole sitting in the driver’s seat. His face lit up when he spotted the purple bag in my hand.

I hopped into the car, and before I could even settle in, he pulled out and sped down the street.

“You got it.” He laughed. “Damn. I can’t believe it. I admit I didn’t have much faith in you, but I have no shame saying when I’m wrong.”

That may have stung in another situation, but I hadn’t had much faith in this plan working either.

“I got something, but it’s not the herb we need.”

“What?” He slammed on his brakes at a red light, propelling me forward. “What’s in the bag, then?”

“Not sure.” I set it on my lap, about to tug at the drawstring, but Cole’s hand shot out to stop me.

“Whoa. Wait a minute. Marla gave you a bag with some kind of magical object, and you have no idea what it is?”

“Well…yeah. Things didn’t exactly go as you said they would. As I predicted.”

“Don’t open that,” he snapped. “Not yet at least. We’ll bring it back to the motel and check it out there. That way if things get out of hand, we’ll have some room to defend ourselves.”

“Defend ourselves?” My brows rose. “What the heck do you think is in this little bag? It barely weighs anything.”

“You don’t know Marla. A small bag like that can contain thousands of trapped angry souls or some kind of ancient deity imprisoned for centuries and wanting revenge.”

“Why would Mr. Johnson want an ancient deity?”

He glanced at me as the light turned green. “Mr. Johnson?”

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