was he working on?" I asked. "You should start there."
Slowly and deliberately, Captain Reed turned his head to stare at me. "What makes you think I'd share confidential information with you? You're lucky I haven't arrested you yet."
"For what? Helping you? I didn't realize that was a crime. I'll stop now."
So much for my useful and cooperative side. I'd have to work on that.
"Do you have a phone number, Miss Winters?" His gaze narrowed. "A real one."
"Why?"
"In case I need any more help, obviously." He didn't smile.
"I'll trade my number for my daggers," I said, holding out my hand. I didn't push my luck asking for the Glock. It was likely too hot to handle right now anyway.
Reluctantly, he removed the daggers from his belt of blades and gave them to me. "Promise me next time you'll surrender so we can avoid a fight."
"What's the big deal? Your shoulder's already healed," I told him. My head, on the other hand, still felt like it had been shaken and stirred. I never had to live with the aftereffects of a fight before and I wasn't happy about it.
I gave him my number and hoped he didn't decide to use it. I didn't need any trouble right now. My plate of woes was full.
"You'll need to ice the side of your head when you get home," he said. "Your eye's going to be a mess tomorrow."
A bruised eye. That would be a new, unwelcome experience for me.
At that moment, my partner in crime finally decided to make her useless appearance. The fox came bursting into the warehouse, teeth bared, and headed straight for us. She barreled past me and nipped mercilessly at Captain Reed's ankles.
"Stand down," I said, through gritted teeth.
"Friend of yours?" he asked, lifting the fox by the scruff of her neck.
"She's harmless," I said, as her teeth clamped down on his hand. "Unless you haven't had your rabies shot."
Farah growled and he smiled at her. "She's cute when she's angry."
"You've never seen her lose a companion in Fallout. Trust me, it isn't pretty."
"I don't understand the appeal of video games." He released his grip on her and she skittered across the floor. "Real life is harrowing enough."
He looked back at the corpse and I took it as my cue to leave.
"Good luck, Captain," I said. I tucked the dazed fox under my arm and hurried away before he could ask any more questions. When I glanced over my shoulder, he was already on his phone, reporting the murder.
6
I sat cross-legged in Farah's apartment, trying to order clothes online. A first for me. Even though my bank account was gone, I held out a glimmer of hope that one of my credit cards was still in play. Although the Shadow Elite were less bureaucratic than PAN, it was still a bureaucratic agency where little things like credit card numbers could slip through the cracks. I figured I'd do some Internet shopping and find out.
After yet another rejection, Farah lost patience with me.
"Let me try with mine," she said and bumped my butt to the side. She settled in front of the laptop and replaced my numbers with her own. The purchase went through without a hitch.
I sighed as a little more reality seeped into my system. "I owe you for that." The words left a bad taste in my mouth. My tab was increasing by the day. I had to find a way to support myself until I could get my name cleared. If I didn't die from the cuffs, I'd die from shame.
Farah peered at the screen. "Two hundred and fifty dollars. What'd I buy for you?"
"Shorts, T-shirts, underpants, a bra and a pair of stylish sandals. A few items to tide me over until I get myself out of this mess."
"Good thing it's summer," Farah said. "Winter clothes are more expensive."
"Hey, this isn't even my usual style," I said. "I'm trying to keep the amounts low now that I'm flat broke."
Farah gave me a sympathetic look. "You'll bounce back quickly."
I shook my head. "Bounce back how? My accounts have been shut down. I can't access money or credit." I covered my face with my hands. I'd never felt so helpless. "This
Slowly and deliberately, Captain Reed turned his head to stare at me. "What makes you think I'd share confidential information with you? You're lucky I haven't arrested you yet."
"For what? Helping you? I didn't realize that was a crime. I'll stop now."
So much for my useful and cooperative side. I'd have to work on that.
"Do you have a phone number, Miss Winters?" His gaze narrowed. "A real one."
"Why?"
"In case I need any more help, obviously." He didn't smile.
"I'll trade my number for my daggers," I said, holding out my hand. I didn't push my luck asking for the Glock. It was likely too hot to handle right now anyway.
Reluctantly, he removed the daggers from his belt of blades and gave them to me. "Promise me next time you'll surrender so we can avoid a fight."
"What's the big deal? Your shoulder's already healed," I told him. My head, on the other hand, still felt like it had been shaken and stirred. I never had to live with the aftereffects of a fight before and I wasn't happy about it.
I gave him my number and hoped he didn't decide to use it. I didn't need any trouble right now. My plate of woes was full.
"You'll need to ice the side of your head when you get home," he said. "Your eye's going to be a mess tomorrow."
A bruised eye. That would be a new, unwelcome experience for me.
At that moment, my partner in crime finally decided to make her useless appearance. The fox came bursting into the warehouse, teeth bared, and headed straight for us. She barreled past me and nipped mercilessly at Captain Reed's ankles.
"Stand down," I said, through gritted teeth.
"Friend of yours?" he asked, lifting the fox by the scruff of her neck.
"She's harmless," I said, as her teeth clamped down on his hand. "Unless you haven't had your rabies shot."
Farah growled and he smiled at her. "She's cute when she's angry."
"You've never seen her lose a companion in Fallout. Trust me, it isn't pretty."
"I don't understand the appeal of video games." He released his grip on her and she skittered across the floor. "Real life is harrowing enough."
He looked back at the corpse and I took it as my cue to leave.
"Good luck, Captain," I said. I tucked the dazed fox under my arm and hurried away before he could ask any more questions. When I glanced over my shoulder, he was already on his phone, reporting the murder.
6
I sat cross-legged in Farah's apartment, trying to order clothes online. A first for me. Even though my bank account was gone, I held out a glimmer of hope that one of my credit cards was still in play. Although the Shadow Elite were less bureaucratic than PAN, it was still a bureaucratic agency where little things like credit card numbers could slip through the cracks. I figured I'd do some Internet shopping and find out.
After yet another rejection, Farah lost patience with me.
"Let me try with mine," she said and bumped my butt to the side. She settled in front of the laptop and replaced my numbers with her own. The purchase went through without a hitch.
I sighed as a little more reality seeped into my system. "I owe you for that." The words left a bad taste in my mouth. My tab was increasing by the day. I had to find a way to support myself until I could get my name cleared. If I didn't die from the cuffs, I'd die from shame.
Farah peered at the screen. "Two hundred and fifty dollars. What'd I buy for you?"
"Shorts, T-shirts, underpants, a bra and a pair of stylish sandals. A few items to tide me over until I get myself out of this mess."
"Good thing it's summer," Farah said. "Winter clothes are more expensive."
"Hey, this isn't even my usual style," I said. "I'm trying to keep the amounts low now that I'm flat broke."
Farah gave me a sympathetic look. "You'll bounce back quickly."
I shook my head. "Bounce back how? My accounts have been shut down. I can't access money or credit." I covered my face with my hands. I'd never felt so helpless. "This
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