Page 65 of Chaos Crown

The person we called when we were in this kind of trouble was Jack Sharpe. Fat lot of good he’d do us now. Calling my father would get me the same lawyer who I knew had to be on their way. Calling Jacques’s mom wouldn’t help either. If we were at the point of needing a friendly judge, we already failed.

I have to call someone who can get us out of here tonight. Someone willing to go against an acting sheriff and his brain-dead deputies. Someone who owes us a favor?

I lifted my head, meeting my reflection’s grim expression.No, not a favor.

Aware of the fact Mars was likely listening from the other side of the mirror, I chose my words carefully as I typed in the number and listened to it ring out.

“Hello? Who’s this?”

“It’s Legend St. James.”

“What? No shit? What are you doing calling me?” Adriel Burton asked, snickering. “Heard you got into some legal trouble. No way you’ve got time for a chat.”

“I don’t have much time, so it’s a good thing you already know why I’m calling.”

Yeah, I had the guy’s number. I had his home address, license plate, and the name of the bar he meets his Hunter’s Crest girlfriend in every weekend. The bar for dates with his Bedlam girlfriend was local.

“You were sent here to do a job—”

“I’m not—”

“Save it,” I growled. “I just said I don’t have time. Here’s the bottom line: help us out, and I’ll double whatever he’s paying you.”

Adriel snorted. “Please. I’ve seen this movie before. Bluffs don’t impress me.”

“It’s not a bluff. As soon as my lawyer gets here, she’ll wire half into whatever bank account you tell her. You in or out, Burton? ’Cause I know a few other people who’d love to get rich today.”

“Then why didn’t you call them? I’m not doing a job for Ellis. I’ve said a hundred fucking times that I’ve got nothing to do with—”

“Okay, cool. We’ve got nothing to talk about then.”

“Hold up— Wait,” he burst out, stopping my finger an inch aboveend.

“Yes?”

“I don’t admit to any fucking job for Steven Ellis.” Sounded like the words were pulled out of him. “But if you want to pay me two hundred grand, why the hell would I stop you? What do you need me to do?”

“My boys and I have plans tonight. We’re supposed to be there by seven.”

“And? Wait,” he said. “Is this being recorded?”

“Only my end.”

“Then cough when I’m close. You got somewhere to be and you’re not waiting till you make bail.”

I coughed.

“You need me and my boys to break you out.”

Cough.

“How many officers?”

I coughed three times. “I told you to get me water,” I called at the mirror.

“And in exchange for this, you’re going to pay me two hundred grand, and owe me a favor that I can collect at any time. No questions asked.”

I gritted my teeth, hesitating. This shit was working for Steven Ellis no matter what he said. This favor would hurt us—fatally. But so would going down for murder and Jack Sharpe ending up in the ground.

---