Contract Killer

The man looked back at him before tapping on the counter. “How much ya got?”

Gage could have showed the old man his Beretta, but he had no intention of hurting a man that was well into his seventies. Gage went after the evil men, the ones that hurt people for sport alone. “How about one hundred for whatever you know, and another hundred for not knowing anything if asked.”

The old man mumbled something incoherent and tapped the counter. Gage exhaled and pulled out two one hundred dollar bills, slapping them on the stained and chipped laminated counter. The old man grabbed a book from under the counter and pushed it toward Gage.

He opened the book and started flipping through the pages. He looked at the date Neeka had been taken, and the week after that, in case they held her somewhere in the meantime. He scanned the pages for anything that looked out of place.

“Anyone of these assholes seem shifty when they signed in?” Gage asked and looked at the old man. He pulled the book toward him, looking over the page, and then placed his grease-stained finger on a name.

“Was this girl with him?” Gage showed the man Neeka’s photo again.

The old man glanced between the name and the photo, nodding before picking up a toothpick and going at what little teeth he had left.

“Tell me about why this one stood out.”

“Two guys checked in and asked for the farthest room. I watched them, because they seemed like people that might party or trash my establishment,” the old man said without apology. “I wouldn’t be havin’ none of that. The two went in the room, and I seen a third get out of the car carrying a pretty li’l thing in his arms. Got eyes like a hawk, yes I do.” He tapped on the picture as he smiled, showcasing a mouth full of missing teeth. “That was yer girl, all right.”

“What else?” Gage asked.

“I seen one of the guys leave. He was driving a piece of shit van. But there was another car that pulled up before then. One of the guys that had checked in signed out and left the keys and a new hundred on the counter, but I was watching, you better believe it. Who gives extra money unless they want someone kept quiet?”

The old man stared at Gage, as if emphasizing the little transaction that was going on now.

“They took a left on sixty-one, but then took a sharp right off of Harrison.” He scratched his jaw. “Harrison only leads to one place.”

The silence stretched on, and Gage felt his nerves and the darkness rising. “Spit that shit out.”

“Kliffborne.”

Gage didn’t give a shit why the old man hadn’t gone to the authorities if he thought things were sketchy, because he had the information now, and that’s what mattered.

“I can’t be callin’ no cops over here. I like my business just that, my business. They’d be poking and prodding, findin’ all sorts of stuff that don’t need finding.”

Gage didn’t care one way or another, but nodded. Gage knew what and where Kliffborne was. It was several hours west, a barren desert filled with cacti, thistles, and red dirt. It was now void of activity and human life due to chemical testing that had been done out there back in the fifties, but as far as he knew the actual building was still standing.

Is that where Neeka is?

Gage thanked the man for his time and turned to leave. The air was hot and stiffling, a complete one-eighty from Shyloh. Shyloh was right next to the mountains, the air more dry and fresh, but winter coming on strong and having a chill surrounding everything.

Gage swiped a hand over his brow, sweat already starting to bead on his skin as the sun blazed brightly over the horizon. Although it was starting to become dusk, the temperature was still hot as hell. He got into his SUV and started the vehicle.

He was close to finding Neeka. He could feel it in his veins, in the way his blood pumped fiercely through his body. That familiar darkness rose up, and he didn’t deny himself, didn’t try to stop it.

Gage had no doubt there would be a lot of bloodshed, but then again, it came with the job, and he was looking forward to it.

Chapter

Ten

Neeka slowly woke to the sound of voices near her. She groaned, rolling onto her side and immediately wincing at the tender spot on her arm as it pressed against the hard, unforgiving table.

“Ah, the princess awakens.”

She blinked several times as the room slowly came into focus. She realized she was back in her “holding cell”. Rye sat a few feet away from her, along with two armed guards on either side of him.

As she slowly rose and sat on the edge of the bed, she noticed how the guards tightened their hold on their rifles. Neeka couldn’t help it. She laughed out loud at the sight. The guards moved closer. Rye lifted his hand, stopping them from moving closer.