He slid a flash drive across the table. “I assure you, I’m not law enforcement. Even if I was, this would be entrapment and therefore inadmissible in court.”
“My answer is the same either way. Get the fuck out of this bar.”
I wasn’t in the business of contract murder. I wasn’t in the business of murder, period. Self-defense, yes. Vigilantism, certainly. But murder? Not my jam.
“Please, just look at the information. I’ll give you fifty-thousand up front if you agree, and another fifty when the job is done.”
“What are you? Fresh out of the fuckin’ academy? Jesus, get the hell outta here before someone else figures out you’re a cop and turns you into dog food.”
“I’m not a cop. Swear to god,” he said. “Please. I promise. This will be the easiest hundred-grand you’ll ever make.”
This asshole didn’t know what kind of money I made and how easy it was to make it.
“Why me?” I asked.
“You’re a Primal Howler. You have a reputation for keeping your mouth shut and I need this matter taken care of as discreetly as possible.”
I shrugged. “I’m not your guy.”
“No one will trace the money if that’s what you’re worried about. In fact, I’ve already deposited ten-thousand dollars directly into your personal account as a sign of good faith. The rest can be paid in cash or crypto currency if you prefer.”
I shrugged. “Don’t know what the fuck that is.”
“You can act dumb all day.” He smirked. “Check your account, you’ll find ten-grand has already been deposited.”
“Bullshit,” I hissed, whipping out my phone and checking my currency app. “What the fuck?” Sure enough, my balance was ten-grand higher. “Who the fuck are you?”
“The less we know about each other, the better,” he said. “I’ve come to you because we have no previous ties. Believe me when I tell you, I could easily take care of this matter in-house, but I need to take care of this matter in a way that can never be tied back to me or any of my associates. It needs to look like an accident.”
“Thanks for the ten-grand, but I’m not for hire,” I snarled. “You need to find someone else.”
“If money’s not your motivator, maybe the fact you’d be ridding the world of a dangerous and evil person, will be. Despite the appearance of the subject, they are responsible for the death of my father.” He sighed. “A crime for which they were never charged.”
“I’ll repeat,” I growled. “Fuck off.”
“Just look at the drive,” he begged. “All the information to do the job is there should you choose to accept it.”
“Jesus,” I hissed. “Are you gonna tell me it self-destructs after I watch it, too?”
“If you want the job, I’ll meet you back here in two days and I’ll have the first fifty-grand ready to deposit on acceptance of our contract. That ten-grand is yours to keep either way.”
The man slid out of the booth and walked toward the exit.
I caught Rocky’s eye and gave him a chin lift as the asshole walked past him, and my VP followed him out from a distance. I snagged the flash drive and slid it into my pocket, no intention of doing anything with it, but not wanting anyone else to find it.
Pippa delivered another scotch a few minutes later just as Rocky slid into the booth across from me.
“What’s up with the Wolf of Wall Street?”
“I dunno. Some asshole looking for directions,” I replied.
“Oh, yeah? Where to?”
“Prison,” I said.
“You done here?”
“Not even close,” I replied, slugging back my drink.