“Now tell me. What is a notary? And how do we get one?”
Julian’s smile erupted in a quick laugh. He liked this kid.
See? I told you.
Regge left the bar as the night came to a close. When the last patron had been ushered out and the door locked, Abraham took the seat across from Julian. “Regge tells me you need a notary? You’re selling the hotel to Regge?”
“The deal’s on the table until I’m taken into custody.” He squinted at Abraham. “I may need a proxy—someone to complete the paperwork in my stead. Someone trustworthy.”
The big man smiled. “I think I can arrange something.”
Julian continued to stare at Abraham. Nigel noticed his hesitation.Abraham is on the up and up. He’ll do right by us.
He nodded and Abraham left the booth to make a call.
“You just think he’s hot,” Julian mumbled. Eventually he came back with a sheath of paperwork and a older man with a notary seal. Within minutes, Julian had signed everything. His money would be deposited within three days. He hoped he survived long enough to spend it.
After the deal was done and the notary left, Abraham went to close out the registers. Julian stepped outside for some air. He needed to clear his head. It had been a weird day.
Pinkie’s neon sign blinked a soft pink glow over the damp sidewalk. Rain had stopped an hour before, and amber light through the windows cast his silhouette onto the wet pavement. Ducking back into the safety of shadow, he breathed in the murky air of river water and diesel fuel, but he felt like he wasfree for the first time in a long while. It was likely to be short-lived.
Are we okay?Nigel’s voice trembled.
“Yes. We’re okay. For now.”
Hearing a splash, he looked down the empty street. A block away, a delivery guy rode his bike through another puddle. His red trucker’s hat looked like blood in the streetlamps. Julian stepped back as the bike made its way toward the bar.
“You work at the bar?” The guy didn’t wait for an answer. “I got a delivery.” Stopping his bike, he pulled a pizza box from his front container.
Julian took the box. It looked harmless enough. Maybe Abraham had ordered a pizza for the end of the night. With a casual salute, the guy sped away leaving Julian alone.
The pizza box was cold in his hands. Well, even warmed-over pizza was okay. He grabbed the door handle and pulled it open. The box corner caught on the door and landed on the sidewalk. Great.
He bent to pick it up, flipping open the lid to check on the pie.
“Holy shit!” He jumped, the smell knocking him back a step.
Oh my. That’s not pizza. It’s oh. It’s a rat.
Way to state the obvious, Nigel.
Who would deliver a dead rat disguised as a pizza? Is this a joke?
Julian looked around, peering up and down the street as he stepped farther into the shadows. “It’s not a joke. A warning.”
They knew where he was. Enough to find him at Pinkie’s Bar. His chances of the feds protecting him had just tanked. He dashed back into the relative safety of the bar, taking a second to throw the dead bolt lock on the door.
“Abraham!” He ran toward the hum of the dishwasher, finding Abe coming in the back door. “They’ve found us. You got to go.”
“Us?”
“Me. The cartel delivered a message. And they’ll unalive anyone in the way. Which puts you and this whole place in jeopardy.” He let out a sigh. “I’m sorry for this whole fucking mess.”
“It’s okay. Cobb called. He’s on his way with someone from his office. Just sit tight. This place is warded. They can’t cross the threshold.”
“I don’t know what you mean by warded, but really? Did you not hear me? If I even look like I’m talking to the feds, I’m a dead man. You plan on beingherethe rest of your possibly not-so-long life? No. Once I move on, they’ll move on too.” Julian patted his jacket, noting the packets of money he’d stashed. Walking back out to the bar area, he grabbed the bags Hunter had packed. “Stay away from the goddamned windows.” He pushed Abraham ahead of him into the narrow hallway. “If I’m gone, I’ll have a fighting chance. And you will too. Think of your customers. Your friends.”
Abraham said nothing. He stood there, just inside the back door. Finally he nodded. “I’ll explain to Cobb. Take care.”
