Page 51 of S.O.S. Perk

Fuck.The kid was a sicko, getting off on those details.

Perk would have liked nothing better than to punch the smirk right off the asswipe’s face, but he had a role to play.

“Yup. It was pretty awesome if I do say so myself.” Perk managed to agree without retching, but he was through with Jeremy’s lurid questioning. “Now, let’s get down to business because I’ve proven I’m serious. I did my part, now you do yours.”

“I told you, I’m working on it,” Jeremy whined.

Perk glowered at him. “You better be. Because if you don’t cut me in on shit pretty much immediately, I’ll drop an anonymous tip to the cops about seeing somebody in a boat last night in the girl’s location. And remember, when they drag up her body, your ID will be on her.”

Jeremy closed his eyes and scrunched up his face. “Getting you onboard is not just as simple as saying you’re in,” he backpedaled.

“Oh, it’sjustthat simple,” Perk told him, crossing his arms over his chest.

“No,” Jeremy demurred. “I have to…ask the person I’m working for if it’s okay to bring you on board.”

“Then do it,” Perk replied.

“But…they might not agree.”

“Then you’ll go to jail,” Perk told him with a cheeky sneer. “So I guess you’re going to have to be pretty convincing. Tell them if you’re taken into custody, they’ll have no one to do their cyber-dirty work at school any more.Andthey won’t like it if while you’re being questioned by the cops, you spill the beans on them.”

“Crap, Dude. They…wouldn’t like that.”

“Exactly.” Perk waited Jeremy out.

“Okay. I’ll do what I can,” the kid whined. “But right now you have to leave.” He kept eyeballing the driveway nervously.

“Fine. I’ll give you until Monday,” Perk told him. “But you better show up at school, or I’ll hunt you down.”

“Right. I—”

At that moment, a car sounded from down the long driveway, and Jeremy began dancing from foot to foot. “Listen. That’s got to be my Mom.” He pointed to the poster Perk had brought. “We need to use your excuse. She won’t like that you’re here. You were just here dropping off that homework, right? You won’t say anything to her about…”

“About what?” scoffed Perk. “About killing a girl you were holding hostage in your basement?” He threw back his head and laughed. “What am I, an idiot? No. I won’t say anything, but you better be cool. Act like I’m your new best friend, because I have a feeling we’re going to be spending a bunch of time together onceyou get me into your network, and I don’t want her keeping me out of your house.”

“Yeah. Yeah,” Jeremy huffed. “Just stay quiet and let me do the introducing, after which you’ll bug out. Immediately.”

Perk wondered why Jeremy was so worked up. It was just the kid’s mother, and it wasn’t as if friends didn’t visit friends after school. Unless… Was his mom suspicious of Jeremy’s activities?

There was an interesting thought.

The Mercedes that pulled up in front of the house was a new model; top of the line. Perk wondered what the kid’s parents did for a living. He knew the FBI had probably looked into the couple by now, and he made a mental note to ask.

When the car door opened, and a long, sleek leg appeared, Perk snorted to himself. When a gorgeously coiffed blonde appeared, Perk had to hold back a snicker.

It looked like Jeremy—the nerd—had a MILF.

“Keep your mouth shut and follow my lead,” Jeremy whispered nervously.

Geeze.Did his hot mother beat him or something?

“Hi Mom,” Jeremy greeted.

She looked at him, then Perk, with a kind of suspicious curiosity.

“This is Dude. He was just dropping off a poster I’m supposed to work on. It’s due Monday.”

A perfectly arched brow went up as the elegantly dressed woman approached. “Jeremy, I’ve never met this young man before,” her cultured voice replied. “Where have you been hiding him?”

---