Page 18 of The Company We Keep

He recognized the name immediately and scanned through the catalog of his memory. Carrow had heard the name on Nick’s mouth and then several times afterwards, always in connection with high profile targets and clean scores.

“He’s an East Coast man, yeah?” Carrow asked.

Vashvi shrugged.

“I don’t know much about him,” she admitted. “But he’s in town now and he’s looking for a crew.”

Carrow thought this over. At least it was a place to start.

“And if we consider him, that’ll settle up the favor you owe?”

Vashvi frowned but nodded. He didn’t appreciate it when members of The Company owed favors and he’d made that clear time and time again. A favor to someone outside the crew meant a weakness and indicated an allegiance to someone who wasn’t on the inside. He couldn’t protect them from the type of dangers that exposed them to.

But he knew from experience that people got in binds — and favors from members of Carrow’s crew were about as good as it got in terms of underworld currency.

He could forgive her for it.

And hell, who knew? Maybe Dust would fit.

“Then we’ll consider him,” he said.

5

June 2014 • AIIB Mission Month 1

"Acool million says you two will hit it off."

Leta's words slipped into Carrow's office before she did. He pushed back from the desk and cracked his neck. It had been hours since he took a break, and he'd half forgotten that Leta was out on assignment, interviewing their first potential replacement for Short.

Carrow had always had a tendency to lose track of time when he was planning. On a job, his measure of time was near-scientific, but the minute he sat down behind a desk or sidled up to one of the glass boards they used for notetaking in the penthouse, he might as well be in another dimension.

"Since when did cash enter into the equation?"

Leta answered with a little shrug and crossed the room to the leather sofa at the big window on one side of the office. Las Abras sparkled out beyond.

"Hitting it off is one thing. We need someone better than Short ever was."

"Hitting it off iseverything," Leta said quickly. "We can teach demo. Wecan'tteach someone how to be a good roommate. Short is evidence of that."

"Was," Carrow corrected softly. She nodded.

"He had the right feeling," Leta continued. "He'll slot in just fine."

Carrow considered her words. Short had slotted in, too, but his only allegiance to The Company had been the money and work they provided. Yes, he'd loved Wayles — but Carrow had always been struck by the thought that Short was probably the only human on the face of the planet who could've convinced Wayles to leave The Company behind if he'd had a compelling enough argument.

"Did you get a sense that hewantsto be a part of the crew?"

Leta chuckled softly and Carrow raised an eyebrow.

"I'm telling you — you'll just have to meet the kid. He's right for us. He wants it."

The meetingwith Leta Wright had set Dust on edge from the very beginning.

First, the directions Emerson had given him for the meetup point led him to apet shop, which he assumed couldn’t be right. Still, he parked his motorcycle on the street and approached the dim storefront.

There was the cock of a pistol behind him and two stilettoed footsteps. He froze and accepted the feeling of a gun muzzle being pressed into his lower back.

“Dustin Wrenshall,” Leta said cooly. “Sorry for the precautions. I hope you’ll understand. Go ahead and step inside — it’s open.”

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