“What do you mean they work for the government?” I asked. Leaning in, I said, “Like theykillpeople?”
“Yeah, and the government gives them permission.”
My mouth moved, but no words came out. I tried again. I couldn’t stop picturing some handwritten permission slip that readLicense to Kill.
This was more dramatic than the web comics I only got to read halfway through. But unlike the web comics, I actuallyhad access to the ending.
Lowering my voice, I said, “You’re saying that Ghost is some sort of hitman for the government?”
Haz seemed unsure all of a sudden. “I thought you two knew each other.”
“No. I mean, yes,” I said, tripping over the words while darting a glance down the hall, half expecting him to come waltzing out and accusing me of lying.
If he did, I’d accuse him back!
“Which is it?” Haz asked.
My shoulders slumped. “We met two years ago. He stopped some thugs from stealing my money and putting me in the morgue. After that, sometimes he would follow me around the city… I never saw him, but I knew he was there.” I peeked up, worried he would think I was being weird, but Haz nodded.
“I know what you mean. My skin usually tingles when Kieran is around, sometimes before I even see him.”
“Yeah, like that,” I said, relieved he understood. “Anyway, I tried to lure him out by going into creepy alleys and stirring up trouble. I just wanted to thank him.”
“Did it work?”
“One time, but he wouldn’t let me look at him, and he told me to stop trying to get his attention.”
“He’s definitely more like Kieran than I thought,” Haz mused.
“But then I got sick and was restinginside a box.”
“A box?”
I hesitated. “I was homeless.”
Haz gasped so hard his chair teetered again. I wrapped my ankle around one of the legs to steady him, but I was sure if he fell, I’d end up on the ground with him.
But that’s what friends do for each other, right?
“You were homeless?”
“Yeah, for a few years actually,” I admitted.
“Makes growing up in an orphanage seem privileged.”
“You grew up in an orphanage?” I echoed.
“My mom abandoned me the day I was born.”
I wasn’t sure which was worse, being put out on the street or escaping to it. Both seemed equally shitty. Maybe that was why he and I got along so well. Because it seemed we were both on our own for most of our lives.
In a surprise move, Hazard reached out and laid his hand on my arm. Taken off guard, I looked at where he touched me and then up at his face. He smiled. “I’m glad you were able to find your way to the apartment across the hall.”
My chin wobbled a little, but I told it to knock it off. “The only reason I could was Ghost.”
Haz pulled his hand from my arm and used it to prop up his chin. “I love gossip. And Kieran’s so bad at it. But I can tell you won’t be.”
I smiled a little. I hoped I didn’t disappoint him because usually my life was utterly boring.
