Page 80 of Bitter Arrangement

Before I can muster a defense, a car pulls up. It’s a black sedan with dark tinted windows. Daron steps aside, hand drifting toward his jacket and the gun I’m sure he’s got tucked into the holster there. The car’s window rolls down, and Jeremy Fong stares out at us.

Nobody moves. My heart’s hammering in my ears. Daron’s still got his hand on the gun, and his face is grim.

“Hello, gentlemen.” Jeremy seems genial and professional. “I was hoping I could borrow some of your time, Alexan?”

“It’s alright.” I put a hand on Daron, but he doesn’t stand down.

“You sure?”

I’m almost touched that he’s willing to draw a gun for me. “I’m good. Head home; we’ll talk later.”

Reluctantly, he pulls his hand from the jacket and nods. “Check in soon.” Then he stalks off without looking back.

“You have protective friends.” Jeremy smiles and gestures for me to get in. “But there’s no need for the dramatics.”

I walk around to the other side and climb into the back.

Instantly, there’s a gun in my face. A thickset man sitting in the passenger seat is twisted around and aiming a pistol big enough to blow my brain into a fine pink mist.

“You have protective friends too.” I keep myself calm as I shut the door.

The driver pulls out.

I’m very much aware that I’m trapped in here, and Mantis isn’t the kind of organization that will hesitate to make me disappear. It’s a risk to get in the car, but I have to keep playing this one straight.

“You shot my associate.” Jeremy studies me with an amused smirk. “I’ll admit, we might have crossed some professional lines by setting that tail, but still. It wasn’t necessary.”

“I didn’t kill him.”

“Yes, that’s true. Perhaps I should cut off your hand? It wouldn’t be death, so I suppose you couldn’t get angry.”

I have nothing to say to that. I only stare at him, my jaw working. I made an impulsive move, and I might pay a very steep price for it.

The car keeps driving. I don’t know where we’re going, but I feel like we’re moving in a very large circle with no actual destination in mind. Jeremy goes silent for a little while, and I keep my breathing steady. The gun never wavers. The man’s finger remains on the trigger. I’m aware that if he twitches, I’m dead.

I hope the car doesn’t hit a pothole, but it’s Baltimore. Potholes are an inevitable fact of life.

“I am unhappy about the delay so far.” Jeremy finally breaks the tense silence. He looks at me sidelong. “You seemed very confident when we hired you.”

“That was before I realized how impossible the job really is. But I’m doing my best.”

“Is there any progress?”

“Not as much as I’d like.”

“Then that’s a no.” Jeremy shakes his head. “This is very bad news, Alexan. I had high hopes for the famousPermafrost. But perhaps your reputation is incorrect.”

“My reputation is what it is. I’ll find the object eventually, but you need to be patient.”

“I’ve been patient.” He turns to stare at me. I get the sense he’s studying my face for something. “But you’ve done nothing but delay.”

“I’ve given you honest updates.”

“Can you find it? Are you wasting my time?”

“Yes, I can. And no, I’m not.”

His lips press together. I can tell he doesn’t believe me. I get the sense he suspects something is going on, but he can’t figure out what yet.

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