Page 60 of Sinful Crimes for the Artistically Inclined
“American dollars.”
He stared straight back, and for a moment, Joe was quite sure Percy would reach for his dagger. Instead, he said, “Sold.”
Percy made a move for his chequebook, but her voice stopped him. “The price just went up.”
He turned back, incandescent. “You can’t do that.”
“I can do whatever I want. I’m the one with the sheath.”
Percy nodded and scoffed bitterly. “What is it now?”
“Fifty thousandandsex.”
Joe wondered, would he bother to intervene if Percy took out his dagger?
“Cleo, I don’t understand you at all. We’ve always been friends. We always got along. Why are you doing this?”
“I have all the friends I need,” she replied, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She made her way to the door, turned back and said, “The deal is for tonight only. Fifty thousand American dollarsandgood sex. You know where to find me.”
“Don’t be like that, Cleo.”
“Goodnight, Doctor Ashdown.”
“Cleo!”
Joe heard the door slam shut, then Percy’s furious, “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!”
Joe squeezed his eyes shut tight and bolstered himself. Percy was already beyond furious. He probably didn’t need to find out at that particular moment that his partner had been spying on him. Even so… He took a deep breath, and made his way reluctantly down the stairs. Percy looked over at him sharply at the first sound of his steps, then, recognising him, said disgustedly, “I don’t believe this.”
“Percy, I?—”
“I’ve been fuck-zoned!” Percy spat. “This whole time I thought we were friends, and she was using me for sex! Do you believe this?”
“No, I— Well, I guess, I do. A bit.”
“Unbelievable!” He walked to the kitchen and poured a new drink which he shoved at Joe, before wandering irritably around the apartment. “And she just bought it off the bishop. Why didn’t we think to just buy it?”
“I think there may be more to the story,” Joe muttered.
Then Percy paused. He stared across the room at Joe as the revelation sank in. “I’ve just realised…”
“What?” Joe asked nervously.
“You came down the stairs. You were up there that whole time, which means…”
“I’m sorry, Percy, I?—”
“You cracked!” He practically shouted it, with an infuriatingly victorious smile as accompaniment.
Joe blushed bright pink, but broke his own wide smile. “Yes. I did. I cracked.”
“I knew it. When you left the church, I knew it and I was so disappointed when you weren’t here. But you were…”
Percy closed the distance between them, and put his arms around Joe, who spoke between kisses, “But now I think that was a very bad idea. Also, I’m going to guess you want to go steal that sheath.”
“You’re half right,” Percy replied. He kissed Joe’s cheek, then set him free, launching into his burgeoning plan. “She’s got some incredible security up there. It won’t be easy. We’ll have to pick each security guard off before they can radio for help. We’ll have to do it quickly and silently. And we’ll have tofind a place for the bodies. We’ll have to take out the security cameras, too. That means we’ll need to go downstairs first and take out the hotel security, and possibly several members of staff. We’d better move fast.” He wrenched the untasted champagne out of Joe’s hands and dragged him to the door. “Go and pack your things. We’ll need to make a fast getaway when we’re done. I know you don’t like murdering innocent people, but if that sheath falls into the wrong hands, all hell could break loose, and I’m not above breaking a few eggs to make an omelette, if you know what I mean.”
He pulled the door open, thrust Joe forward, then much to his bewilderment, Joe was thrust straight back again as a large white box was dumped in his arms. Percy stood aside, a bemused look on his face, as Althea followed, slamming the door behind her.
