The Arrangement 12(4)

If Gabe didn’t show up and I was on my own, what would I do? The thought never occurred to me. I had this sense of security, that if anything went screwy all I had to do was crush that stone and help would arrive. It never felt like I was on my own, left to my own devices to defend myself, but it seems like that’s exactly what happened to Mel.

What would Mel do if help didn’t come? She held her own on the streets long before I ever met her. The attitude she projects says don’t screw with me, so I can’t imagine who would—or why. It makes no sense. When Sean and I left, Mel was ordering a buffet from the room service menu. How’d she go from pigging out to fleeing, leaving behind a dead body on the floor?

I see the lifeless curled fingers poking out from under the sheet in my mind. I remember the massive amount of blood that soaked into the carpet around her. What happened? Better yet, who was she? Why was she there and who killed her?

‘Fuck’ is the right expression. We’re all screwed if this gets traced back to Black. I glance up at Gabe and try to keep my thoughts off my face. “Why didn’t her transmitter work?”

Gabe’s jaw is locked tight as he shifts his lower jaw from side to side. He’s livid, but I’m not certain of the reason. It could be fear of exposure or something worse. God, what could be worse? He lets out a huff of air and inhales again before looking in the mirror at me. “No clue.” That’s all he says before locking his jaw again.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickle as he looks away. It’s an ominous feeling and I know he’s lying to me. There’s more going on than I’m aware of, a lot more.

We exit the expressway and drive down some side streets until we stop in front of a shack. Okay, calling the strip club a shack is kind. It’s just scary looking, complete with a neglected façade and a decaying parking lot that’s turning to dust.

Gabe’s expression changes into a look of concern. “You sure this is where Mr. Ferro wanted you to go?”

I nod, gaping at the building with the same dumbfounded expression. “Yes.”

“It looks like the place is closed.”

Yeah, it does. There are only a few cars in the parking lot and the sign on the door is flipped to CLOSED. What the hell is Sean thinking? There’s only one way to find out. I move before Gabe snaps out of it, and open my door. My heels hit the gravel and I nearly twist my ankle, but I recover and straighten.

Gabe rushes toward me, and closes my door. We both stand there, shoulder to shoulder, and stare at the old building. “I think I should walk you inside.”

I think that he should, too. Honestly, the place creeps the crackers out of me, but Sean wouldn’t have sent me here if it wasn’t safe. My gaze drifts to the ring on my finger, and I know without a doubt that Sean asked me to come here to keep me safe. Although I want Gabe to walk me in, I don’t know what secrets Sean has hidden here and I don’t want to cause more trouble. “It’s okay, I’ll be fine. You can go back to Black’s.”

The old guy eyes me like I have a spine of steel and nods. He scratches his scruffy cheek and looks at the car. “I’ll tell Black that I didn’t find you—that you were already gone.”

“But what about the bracelet?” She’ll see that I was in the limo.

He shrugs. “I’ll make something up.”

I reach toward him and squeeze his forearm. It’s the closest thing to a hug that I can offer without him taking my head off. Well, not that I think Gabe would hurt me, but I want to reassure him in some way and it seems like the right gesture.

“Be careful. I don’t know what’s going on, but this feels wrong.” Gabe glances at my hand and then up at my face. He has the perpetual frown he always wears and pats the top of my hand. “Trust your gut, kid.” That’s all he says before turning away. He doesn’t wait for me to go inside before driving away.

I watch the red tail lights disappear down the street and stand there, alone, staring at the door to the strip club. I better head inside and find out why Sean sent me here.





CHAPTER 4




My heart pounds a little faster as I cross the parking lot. The wind rustles the barren branches of the trees at the back of the building, making me look in the shadows for ominous figures. I’d planned on going inside and sitting in the back, blending in amongst the other patrons as much as possible, and waiting for Sean. It’s late and the place is empty, closed, so that plan’s tossed. When I walk inside, assuming the door is unlocked, everyone is going to look at me and wonder what the hell I’m doing here.