“But I’ll be here,” Camdyn groans.
“Just for the night. Then ye can have at ‘em while I take my lassies on a quick getaway. When I return, American, it’s all bonding, aye?”
“Alright, sounds good to me. For now, I’ll keep the fam safe.”
I click my tongue and hang up.
* * *
With a backpack over my shoulders,I grip the top of a cinder block fence, climbing over with ease. In the darkness, I try to discern how my boot has gotten caught in the pillow of a faded blue plastic pool lounger.
“Shite,” I mumble, untangling myself from the lounger and silently laying it to the side. I stalk past a dilapidated pool, reeking of stagnant water. A community barbecue pit is off to one side. My eyes scan across an area where weeweanshave left their toys scattered about. I take the stairs toward the rear of the apartment building up to the second level. As I start down the pathway, the streetlights are off in the distance. Management has placed no value on the safety of their tenants. My eyes adjust to the darkness.
Inside my gloves, my palms are slick with anticipation. I reach in my back jean pocket for a lockpick and make quick work of the locks. Upon opening the door, I step to the left, silently pushing the door closed while clearing each corner. I distinguish an old futon in the darkness, but much of the wee room is empty space.
A faint glow comes from down the hall. I grab a cell phone charger from the wall and wrap each end of the cord around my knuckles. Down the hall, the snivelingned, sounding like hisbawshave yet to drop, is presumably on the phone. There are a few short breaks during his conversation.
“Out since mid-last week. I was wondering—”
In a split second, I’ve scanned the single bedroom. Yates’ back is to me as he sits at a cheap, wooden desk. I slide the cord down to his neck, yanking him back. The light weight is lifted from the chair, feet dangling as I choke him against my chest.
His tiny shoulders lift a mile high when I snarl into his ear, “Awright,bawbag. Ye know me! I kenya too, now.”
* * *
Ten minutes later, Yates’belly is on the matted carpet, zip ties binding his wrists behind him. I’ve secured zip ties on each of his ankles. On my knees, I search my backpack for a third zip tie to loop ’round through the ties along his ankles and link them together. He grouses awake.
“Scream, I dare ya,” I threaten. I’d planned this evening meticulously, but the duct tape for his mouth must still be in my trunk.Feck. I’ve nae idea what happened to it.
Blood trails from Yates’ bruised lips, leaching into the already soiled carpet. He hacks. “Leith, use that noggin on your shoulders. Release me. Let’s discuss a new agreement.”
“Now that ye’re in a predicament, aye? Ye wanna negotiate with afeckin’eejitlike me?”
Biting his eyes shut, he groans, “I’ve never referred to you as an idiot. I indicated that your impulsive nature—”
“Just stop,” I laugh. Sitting on my haunches, I fold my arms. “Look at ye and look at me, yedaftienugget.”
“Daft? I’ve made millions in the past couple of years. With my intellect and your familial connections—”
“I’m ‘bout done listening to ya! Had it up to here,” I leverage a hand forehead high, “with thatfeckin’gubof yers. Stop talkin’!”
“My IQ is—”
“Off thefeckin’charts?” I chortle, reaching into the backpack for the zip tie that will bring his ankles together.Damn, where is it?
“You don’t want to do this, Leith.”
“Aye? What I really, really want is to clip yer tongue out and stuff it up yerarsehole. And I’m gonna do it soon. Then, when ye’re gargling on yer own blood,these hereeejitfistswill batter ye until ye choke to death!”
I grip him about the throat. “Then, and only then, will I be fully satisfied.Wit? Ye have nothing to say?”
“You-you’re mak-making a grave mis-mistake.”
I’m still searching through my backpack. I checked all my materials three times. I grip a switchblade in hand, motioning to his tongue.
Yates shouts, “Whispertips69, initiate failsafe!”
The air shifts. What resembled a toy airplane on the desk jets upward. The power of it slices the air—swoosh. Bullets rip from the drone. The drywall around me shreds. I scramble to the side of the dresser near the door.