My brief moment of joy is short lived. I almost pee myself when my own cell phone startles me. I grab it, dropping the knife back in my bag, and quickly getting out of the parking lot before anyone can see me.
“Hey,” I answer, knowing it’s Chris. He’s the only one that has this number.
“Get anything?”
“Yes. At least, I think I did. You really haven't made it clear what exactly it is that you're looking for,” I say, hoping he’ll finally give me more.
“Why were you at the office late?” I look around, wondering how the hell he even knows that.
“I was asked to stay late. It was good, though. I used the opportunity to our benefit.”
“I’m pulling up.” He ends the call. A moment later a black SUV pulls up to the corner and comes to a stop. The window rolls down to reveal Chris. “Get in.” I barely get in and he’s speeding off. “So what did you get?”
“I got some contracts he had me make copies of for some stupid reason.” I pull out the USB. “I also got a bunch of stuff off one of the girls’ computers. I just dumped as much stuff as I could.”
“You did good tonight.” His approval feels good. Or maybe it’s the fact that I’m needy for human connection. “There are whispers of a big deal that’s going down soon. Warren has been looking at shipyards. No one is quite sure what he has up his sleeve or with who, but I want to know.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” I’m starting to think Chris doesn't give me any real details of what I need to get my hands on. It doesn't feel right, but it’s not like I can push him for more.
“You should try and get closer to him.” Chris pulls up outside of my extended stay hotel. I’ve been living there for the past month. “Is that a problem?”
“No. I’m in this.” I swallow. I shouldn't be worried because there is no way I can get close to him. He’s banging some beautiful blonde and thinks I’m ugly. I don’t tell Chris that. He might pull me out and then where will I be? Nowhere with no purpose.
“This all could get messy, Leila. Are you prepared for something like that?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not sure that we should let Warren even live if we pull this deal off. He’ll poke around. It would only be a matter of time until he traced everything back to you.” I know he is gauging me for a reaction.
“I…” I try to respond but no words come out. “I can’t kill someone.”
“Everyone is capable of murder. Especially a young, pretty girl who is trying to ward off her boss who can’t take no for an answer.” My heart starts pounding harder. “But we don’t have to worry about that today. I only mentioned it because I thought you should know it’s on the table and to prepare yourself.”
I open the car door to get out. Chris grabs my arm, stopping me. “Your father would be so proud of you.”
“Thank you.” He slowly releases my arm
“This man is the reason my brother and your father are no longer with us. Warren forced his hand. Set him up. He deserves everything he gets, and you can make sure he never does what he did to our family to another soul.”
I have a feeling when this is all said and done, that I’ll be the one to have lost my own soul.
Chapter Six Warren
“These tire slashes were done with a small knife, likely a switchblade. See here?” The security guard squats down and points to the barely visible line in the rubber. “It doesn’t take much to damage a tire, not if you’re intentional about it. These should be easy to patch so you can get home, but you’ll need to take it to a shop right away.”
“Let’s just call a tow from here.”
“You want me to stick around?” The older man takes one last poke at my back tire before straightening and dusting off the arms of his gray polyester jacket.
“No. Not necessary.” I text the auto service to request a tow and repair.
The man lifts his cap and scratches his head. “I don’t know, Mr. Holmes. It might not be safe for you out here.”
I peer over the top of my phone at the guard. “Why would you say that?”
“Because your tires.” He throws an arm toward the rear of my car. “Obviously someone has it out for you.”
“Can’t it just be some random vandalism?”
“Yours is the only car that was hit in the whole lot.”
I look around and realize that there are a handful of cars down here, including a very expensive Alfa Romeo Spyder which I know belongs to the president of the tech company who leases out the top floor.
“Have you looked at the CCTV footage?”
“Yeah. Couldn’t make much out though. The person was small enough, and then a black SUV pulled up and took the person away. License plate was covered too. Anyone got a problem with you, Mr. Holmes?”
“Too many.” I tap my phone against my leg.
“Let’s get some additional cameras and lights in here. If there’s some kind of gang running around, it won’t be me in danger but my staff.”
A chilling thought strikes me. What if Leila was attacked?
“Make it double.”
“Double what, sir?”
“Double up all the cameras. All the lights. I want it to look like a baseball stadium in this parking lot. The sun should be less bright.”
“Yessir. On it. Should I report this to the police?”
“Yes, and make sure that you give them the stills of the SUV. Maybe they can track it down by make and model.”
As the security guard contacts the authorities and I wait for the taxi, I call Connor. He answers even though it’s late.
“Is there a problem?”
“Yeah, someone slashed my tires.”
“Oh, fuck. I’ll call the police right
