Page 61 of Collin: Episodes 13-15
“Is he alone?” Mikhail said into his mouthpiece. He listened for a moment. “Then send him in.”
Collin tried to look toward Émeric. His guard thumped the top of his head with a gun butt. Collin kept his eyes forward. His hand throbbed. Now was so not the time. He pushed away the pain.
His Master was going to have to make a choice. Collin had to trust him. Trust Émeric. Trust in his impossible order. Live.
Mr. Reevesworth walked down the long narrow alley. He wore his everyday long overcoat and the suit he’d gone to the office in that morning. His hat was on his head as if it was any other day. So many terribly normal touches in a day that should be painted in anything but normal. He entered the ruined courtyard and paused about twelve feet from Mikhail when the man started to raise his gun.
“I have the record.”
“Good.” Mikhail kept his gun half raised. “You bring one bribe, so you get one man. Which one do you want?”
Mr. Reevesworth’s eyes traveled over Collin and Émeric. “I’d like to have both, thank you.”
“Not an option. One bribe buys you one fuck.”
“Then you misunderstand the depth of my investment.” Mr. Reevesworth glanced around the space and then back at Mikhail. “I assume you are a practical man. Most men in your line of work are. So, what will it take to buy both?”
Mikhail’s gun came up a little higher. “It’s too late, Reevesworth. I think you misunderstand. You can get one back. I kill one. The people I work for want you to learn a lesson about messing with them. Do you want to know why we are letting you have one back?”
“Why?” Richard’s voice was bland, almost bored, a sound Collin had only heard when he was speaking to Barker.
“Because whichever one you keep stays a hostage. From this day forward, Reevesworth Industries will answer to Bernstein. Or the remaining man will suffer the consequences.”
Richard sighed. He narrowed his eyes, looking between Collin and Émeric. “Heads down, both of you, all the way down, if you want a prayer of being allowed to look in my face again. Don’t think you’ll be forgiven for getting kidnapped anytime soon. Your faces are going to be pressed against the floor for a month.”
Collin dropped his eyes. What? Émeric wasn’t his… This wasn’t his master… Or… was it? He leaned forward until he was almost bent in half.
“Mikhail,” Reevesworth continued. “How much are you getting paid? One, two, million? My conglomerate is worth more than that. You won’t be the first hitman I paid off. I have a proposal. Do you want to see it?”
“What is money in comparison to control of Reevesworth Industries?” Mikhail snorted. “Choose.”
“If you think Bernstein will be as generous with you as I’m willing to be, you are mistaken. The man has cheated and shorted every supplier who has ever worked with him.”
“I’m not any supplier. I don’t sell concrete. If he doesn’t keep me happy, I will come back and make him make me happy.”
“Sounds like work. And I didn’t say I was offering money. I said I had a proposal.”
“And if I don’t take the proposal, which one will you choose, the boy or the husband.”
“If you’re planning on killing one and holding one hostage, I think you underestimate me. I’ll take a clean slate. So, do you want the proposal or not?”
There were sounds, but with his face almost pressed into his knees, Collin could see nothing.
“I’ll throw it to you,” Mr. Reevesworth said.
“No.” Mikhail’s voice cracked through the space. “Don’t throw. Bring. Here.” A boot tapped the ground.
Collin started to raise his head.
“Eyes down, boy!” Mr. Reevesworth snapped. “Who said you were allowed to look at me?”
Collin smashed his face into his knees.
There were sounds of gravel churning and a gunshot. Them a shockwave. It traveled through Collin wiping out sound, sight, and all sense of touch except the sensation of the strongest wind of his life passing over and through him.
Collin was thrown onto his side. What the hell? He peeled his eyes open. The man who had been guarding him was flailing, hand over his eyes. Collin rolled himself over. The man’s gun was in one hand. Collin kicked at it. It was a bad kick, but the man was reeling. He turned, lashing out in the wrong direction and moving away from Collin.
Collin pushed himself up on his hands and knees. Bile rolled in his stomach. His eyes swept over the courtyard. Smoke wafted through the space, hiding bits and pieces of it from view and making the rest soft with haze.
