Page 13 of The Devil We Know

I frown at the screen. “What the fuck does that mean?”

She laughs and responds, “Fuck around and find out.”

I sigh again, then continue to shake my head because these fucking people.

My phone pings again, and this time, more people have been added to the conversation. I look over at Issa questioningly, andshe snags my phone, obviously inputting more names. When she hands it back to me, I see someone has added Tony and Dare to the conversation.

Tony: Another group chat?

Darius: Oh, for fuck’s sake.

Antoinette: It’s all for a good cause, baby.

Antoinette: Issa, send the screenshot again.

The screenshot pops up again, and new messages appear almost immediately afterward.

Tony: Well, that’s fucked up.

Darius: What the fuck?

Antoinette: So, it appears that our good buddy Matt isn’t just taking a short sabbatical between jobs.

Tony: I told you fuckers this didn’t feel right.

Darius: I didn’t disagree with you. I just said there wasn’t much we could fucking do about it.

Tony: Don’t try to pretend like you didn’t poo poo it, Dare.

Jessica: What the fuck does any of this mean?

Darius: Who the fuck are you?

Issa: It’s Jessica. That was her conversation I sent.

Darius: Oh, yes. Issa’s murderous friend. Welcome to the chat.

Tony: Are you going to tell us what Matt was doing chatting you up?

Jessica: I don’t think that’s any of your fucking business.

Tony: *laugh emoji*. I will take from that whatever I may.

The chat falls silent, and I stare at it expectantly, annoyed that no one is saying anything. Issa steps close, her arm coming up around my shoulder, and when I look over at her, she says, “Just give them a minute. They’ll do something.”

A few moments later, the phone pings again.

Darius: There isn’t any chatter right now, but I’ll put some feelers out and see what we can get going.

Tony: I’ll go grab my gloves and do some finding out of my own.

Jessica: What the fuck should I do, then?

Darius: If you want to help, get your ass to New York.

Issa’s phone pings, and I stare at my phone in confusion when no message pops up for me. She spends a few minutes texting someone back and forth and then hands me her phone, and I look down to see she sent Declan a message.

Issa: I need your plane.

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