Knocked Up by the Killer

“You were never just giving it to me,” I said.

“Now I want money.”

“Lee.”

“Money, Tanner.”

“What happened between then and now?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Lee.”

He grunted again and I thought I heard him moving around. “Fuck, fine, okay? I got into Hog’s poker game.”

“How’d that go for you?”

“I’m asking you for money. So not great.”

“What do you owe?”

“Ten grand.”

“Jesus, Lee. What the fuck?”

“I thought I had him,” Lee said. “Seriously, I did. Hog had that smile he gets when he’s bluffing, you know the one?”

“He doesn’t smile when he’s bluffing,” I said. “He coughs when he’s bluffing.”

“Yeah, well, I figured that one out the hard way.”

“You’re a moron.”

“I’m a moron that owes ten grand, and you’re the moron that wants what I have.”

“Do you take personal checks?”

“Nope.”

“And I guess I can’t just PayPal you the money?”

“Probably not.” He paused. “Can you?”

“I don’t think so.” I closed my eyes. “You want ten grand in cash. That means I have to go to a bank. Then I have to go find you.”

“Right, that’s the deal.”

“Fine,” I said. “Is this info good? And motherfucking current?”

“It’s motherfucking current,” Lee said. “Do you really think I’d try and screw you?”

“Probably,” I said. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Come on, that was a misunderstanding.”

“Yeah, you keep saying that.” I squeezed my eyes shut then opened them. “When and where?”

“Tonight. You know that dog park near the river ramps?”

“The one with the fence around it?”

“Yep, right next to the river.”

“Why the fuck would we go to a dog park?”

“Mookie likes to run around.”

I groaned. “I forgot you had a dog.”

“Asshole. Mookie has feelings.”

“Fine. I’ll see you there at ten.”

“Works for me. Mookie loves the park, especially at night. Big lights come on, you know? So the dogs can run around as late as they want.”

“What a world,” I said. “See you then.” I hung up the phone and stared down at my bath.

I guess I wasn’t getting a soak today.

Fucking hell. I stood up, reached into the tub, and pulled the plug. I dried my arm off then found Elise lounging in front of the TV.

“We’ve got an errand to run,” I said.

“What?” She frowned at me.

“Errand,” I said. “Then a meeting.”

“We’re going out?”

“Yep. Big day for you.”

She sat up. “Why? What?”

“Contact of mine found where Bennigan’s been staying. I need to meet with him, pay him off, then we can get that info.”

“Why do you need to know where Bennigan’s staying? Isn’t the whole point that we avoid him?”

I gave her a look. “Of course. But if I can get the drop on him, I can buy us a whole lot of time before the Leones can find a new killer.”

She chewed her cheek. “Okay, right, I guess that works.”

“So the bath is off.”

“Can I shower before I go?”

“It’s all yours.”

She got up and stretched. I let my eyes roam her body then stopped myself. Our conversation from earlier rang through my head again.

She had a world waiting for her when this was all done.

I turned away as she walked back into the bedroom and shut the door with a soft click.14EliseThe night felt oppressive as I struggled to keep pace with Tanner. His long legs ate up the pavement like they were designed for it. He had a black duffel bag slung over his shoulder and I saw the outline of his gun tucked into his waistband at his lower back.

The park was mostly empty. Streetlights broke up the gloom and only a few people sat on the benches. The open grassy fields were empty. Tanner didn’t slow down as he took the narrow, paved path toward a set of large spotlights.

I heard the dogs before I saw them. Jingling collars, owners making small talk. The dog park consisted of turf, a few trees, green painted fences. The river rolled along lazily beyond. Above, elevated paths curved futuristic and pristine. They hung out over the river and made for good views during the day. Though at night I thought they were more than a little creepy.

“So he has a dog?” I asked.

“Right.”

“And the dog’s name is … Mookie?”

“Right.”

“What sort of dog?”

“Westie.” He frowned a little. “I hate Westies.”

“And this guy is, what? Another hitman?”

“Lee is more like your run-of-the-mill scumbag,” he said. “Sort of an everyman of crime.”

“That’s weird.”

“I guess so.” We reached the fence and Tanner paused. His eyes scanned the park. I spotted a little white fluffy dog running after a Doberman that looked like it might eat the fluffball for breakfast. A small black lab loped after the pair of them, its dumb red tongue lolling to the side.

“There,” Tanner said, nodding.

I followed his gaze. A half-bald pudgy guy stood at the far end of the park not speaking to anyone. He wore a white shirt with a black vest over top and a pair of ratty jeans. He had on black fingerless gloves and the little hair he had was a fluffy puff of white on either side of his skull.