The Sin Collector by Jessica Fortunato

Jimmy never showed. I called his cell phone but there was no answer. It was strange for him to be this late. I was beginning to worry. Billy and I chatted throughout the day to pass the time. He seemed interested in me, so I told him about the places I had been and Collected. He tried to hide his happiness when I mentioned Valentine would not be joining us on our trip. I also warned him about Sofie, and that she would be looking at him very closely. He seemed interested in our friendship, so I told him a bit about her. Before I knew it, it was closing time. I grabbed my things and hurried Billy out the door; I didn’t want Sofie to have to wait for us. We drove back to my apartment quietly. We parked his SUV in my usual spot and both sat there in silence; I was still staring out the window deep in thought.
     
    “What’s bothering you LiLi?”
     
    “I don’t know, something feels off, Jimmy not coming to work, is odd. I can’t shake this sense that something is wrong.”
     
    “Do you know where he lives?” He was already turning the ignition back on in the SUV.
     
    “I do, I’ve seen his paycheck envelopes, but we can’t go now. Sofie will be here any second. Remember to act normal.”
     
    He nodded once and pulled a small black case out of his back pocket and popped in the horrendous green contact lenses.
     
    “Suited up and ready to go.”
     
    I rolled my eyes in his general direction. I climbed out of the monstrous SUV and we rounded the corner to see Sofie just about to knock on my door.
     
    Her eyes got wide when she saw Billy. He reached out to shake her hand and she took it without hesitation. I could see her taking in his chiseled chest and broad shoulders. She seemed to approve immediately. We went into my apartment and Sofie was putty in his hands. I went into the bedroom to put the rest of Valentines things into a box and get his carrier. The moment I sat down on the bed he jumped into my lap. I talked to him for a while, as I always did. After all, you don’t usually have a friend as loyal as Valentine had been. He went into his carrier willingly, and I carried him out to Sofie. I wasn’t sure when I had started crying but I sniffled now and Sofie rushed to give me a hug.
     
    “Don’t worry Lily I will take good care of him.” She smiled warmly and kissed me on my cheek. She said goodbye to Billy and left with Valentine. I sat down next to Billy on the couch quietly for a good twenty minutes before I sighed heavily and spoke.
     
    “So breaking and entering then?”I asked not looking at him.
     
    “It’s looking that way, how are you at crime?”
     
    “Pretty sucky.” I sighed again.
     
    He let out a loud laugh. “Well prepare to be schooled.” He gave me a wink and pulled me off the couch.
     
    We pulled up in front of Jimmy’s tiny ramshackle home just before ten. It was pitch black inside and we crept around the side of the house. His car was in the garage. We circled back around the front and stood on the porch. I grabbed Billy’s arm to get his attention in the dark.
     
    “What do we do now Danny Ocean?” I couldn’t see his eyes, but I sort of felt his glare. I heard a hard sigh and he knocked three short hard raps on Jimmy’s door.
     
    “Wow, criminal mastermind, I should have brought my steno pad.”
     
    There was no movement inside and after a minute Billy dropped down to his knees and pulled a lock picking kit from his pocket. As he unzipped it, I absentmindedly reached out and turned the knob letting the door fall open. I was giggling quietly as we both stepped into the small foyer. It took the length of a heartbeat to feel it. I heard the sharp gasp in my chest, and I felt Billy become rigid beside me.
     
    “Billy….”
     
    “Lily stay here.”
     
    The way he said my name so formally disrupted my trapped thoughts and I moved forward. Now I heard the soft noise that was breaking the silence of the still house.
     
    “Don’t look…” But he said the