QF Chapter 7 – Paycheck
"You found him!" Mr Johnson said with a broad smile.
"Yes, we did," Ada said, smiling as much as her pain would allow. Cabras had managed to heal the worst of the injury, but it would take weeks before being a hundred percent again.
"I'm very, very pleased with your work," he said. He studied Peter's face and noticed a large bruise forming. "What happened?"
"He wasn't coming quietly," Burn said with some distaste.
"You hit him?!"
"Your son fell into a pretty bad group," Magnus said, cutting Burn off from a tirade. "He joined a cult that promised to give him his magic back."
"But that's just nonsense…nobody can give magic to those who've lost it. Peter is smarter than that," Mr. Johnson said.
"Smarter, perhaps… but he was desperate to get his power back. He made a pact with a very dangerous spirit in order to reach that goal. I would suggest you get him checked out magically as soon as possible."
Mr. Johnson looked dumbstruck, as Magnus volunteered the information. He looked at his son and shook his head with sadness.
"About our payment?" Ada asked.
"Hmmm? Oh yes…" Mr. Johnson tapped away at his commlink and authorized a transfer of funds. "I've added a little bonus in there for your professional candor on this job. I assume you approve."
Ada checked the balance and nodded. "Everything is acceptable. Good day, Mr. Johnson."
The runners turned away and walked out the door.
"So what are you guys going to do next?" Magnus asked.
"I'm going to rest and send the address of that ritual chamber to Lone Star's magical division. I'll watch the rest of this unfold from the benches," Ada said, clutching her gunshot wound.
"I'm going to get myself a beer and a date," Burn said. "Then rent and groceries. Real exciting stuff…What about you?"
"I'm taking Cabras out to a nice Thai place I know."
"I thought you didn't date runners…" Burn said, with a smirk.
"I'm not thinking of this as a date. She needs to decompress after confronting her biggest fear. A nice dinner and a few drinks with a friend should help."
"No ulterior motive, huh?" Burn prodded.
"No, there's no ulterior motive. Besides, she's tiny even for a human. I might break her," Magnus said with a lopsided grin.
"Braggart…"
Magnus laughed as he hailed a cab. The three runners parted company and faded into the shadows of the city.
