Olsen stepped back, keeping an eye on Collin as he rapped a few times on the door that Collin recognized as belonging to McKensie. Olsen waited a moment, then opened the door, speaking in hushed tones to the man before waving Collin forward.
“Slowly now, I’d hate to bloody up that pretty face.” His tone suggested otherwise.
Collin moved forward slowly, keeping his hands visible.
“You have three minutes, so you’d best make them the most convincing three minutes of your life,” he challenged.
Collin nodded and stepped inside McKensie’s office. It was now or never.
“You again. Interesting. I was going to send Olsenafter you today. I received an interesting letter from Whaleford.” He lifted a piece of parchment and set it down on the table. “And the little English flower you’ve been sniffing around has now vacated the city, so you’ve left me with limited prospects for punishing your dishonesty.” He leaned back in his chair.
“How about I pay for my debts?” Collin asked, then slowly, so both Olsen and McKensie could watch his very deliberate movements, withdrew the funds he’d procured and set them on the table.
McKensie’s eyes darkened. “What’s that?”
Collin gauged his reaction to the stack of notes on the table. “For your silence on the matter. I figure I needed something, which I believe you can finalize for me, and in return, you are reaping the benefits. I’m leaving Cambridge on the morrow anyway.”
“So you think,” Olsen said with a dark chuckle.
“What is it you need?” McKensie flicked his eyes up, then back to the bribe.
Collin breathed out slowly. “Your names for your…operation’s locations…have been compromised. You know this. It’s not new information, but I’m just making sure they get changed with alacrity and don’t involve themselves with me.”
“Didn’t like our little trick?”
“No more than you’d like me to pull one on you,” Collin replied tightly.
“I’ll consider it.” McKensie pulled the notes toward him.
Collin reached forward and placed a hand on the funds. “This is not an amount that buys possibility, but action,” he replied darkly.
Olsen spoke up. “You’re not in a position to be making demands.”
Collin didn’t release his hold but met McKensie’s flinty stare. “You harm me, and it won’t be something you can cover up. Do you honestly think that the death of a peer of the realm will go unnoticed? You’re more foolish than I anticipated.” He released the money and straightened.
“Very well.” McKensie tucked the money in his front pocket, then nodded to Olsen.
“My appreciation,” Collin replied, then made to leave.
Olsen stood in his way. “Not quite.” He grasped Collin’s arm and swung with his other.
Collin ducked out of the way, wrenching his arm free as he headed into the hall, toward the back door. He kept his back to the wall, maintaining an eye on Olsen. “Nimble, you are not,” he replied.
Olsen’s grin darkened.
“Olsen, don’t kill him. As he said, it won’t go unnoticed, but…rough him up a bit. Remind him that peers of the realm bleed just as much as the rest of us,” McKensie said from his desk, not pausing his work to study them.
“We had an agreement.”
“We did, and I’ll uphold my side, but I never said I’d stop Olsen from exacting his justice. You lied to him. He takes that personally.” He waved his hand as if telling Olsen to hurry up.
Collin groaned.
Olsen started toward him, his corded arms flexing as he fisted his hands. When he reared back, Collin ducked, landed a right hook into the man’s stomach, and rushed to the back door.
Olsen’s footsteps came rapidly.
Collin was nearly to the back door when it opened, revealing Michael.
