Chapter Eleven

David "You're late." Alex mocked when I walked in. Then he realized that I had just come through a door that had been locked, and he hadn't answered the door. "How long've you had that key?" I met his brown, glaring eyes and could tell that he loved every moment of it. "'bout a week or two, maybe three, I couldn't say. Nicole gave it to me on our second day, so that would mean." I pretended to think about it a while, knowing that every instant Alex's eyes grew colder, his temper worse, and him more irritable, furious.and jealous. Too bad for him! ".ah, yes, three weeks, four and a half days, twelve hours, seven minutes, and.ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, etc. seconds. I believe that's about as accurate as you can expect me to be, or did you want me to give you milliseconds too?" To my surprise and dissatisfaction, Alex actually smiled. "You really are on top of things, aren't you?" "You intended no pun, I'm sure." I started, lips bending into the closest thing to a smile as I could conjure. With Alex's attention won, my response lengthened. "If it's not one thing, it's another, if you catch my meaning." He did; and he wasn't too happy about it either. "You sick piece of sh-" I interrupted him with a knuckle sandwich. "Sorry 'bout that. Did that hurt?" I helped him from the ground. "I only ask because it looked like it did." "If you mess up or do anything like that again, I'm gonna kill you!" He shouted, wiping blood from a split lip. "Really? Personally, or do you plan to hire an assassin to hunt me down and finish me off quietly for you, eh? I'm thinking you'll do the second thing I said. In fact, I think you already hired someone to get rid of me as soon as I murder Nicole. Am I right? Is that your plan?" He gave me a sinister grin. "Only if you fuck up, David.Only if you fuck up." "How'm I gonna know if I mess up? What, you got a list of rules or something for me?" "Something like that." I didn't mean it. I'd only been being sarcastic. "Yeah? Give it to me." He reached into a pocket and pulled out a white slip of lined paper. Then he held it out for me to take and read. I accepted it and shoved it into a back pocket. I'd read it later.maybe. Personally, I didn't really care if he sent his little assassin after me. If he kept his word-and I'd make sure he did-then I could easily evade them with thirty grand. "I am getting thirty grand, yes?" I asked, to be absolutely certain. "Of course, and not a penny less.if I'm satisfied, and if you actually kill her." There was a brief quiet moment that he broke. "Anyway.Everything you'll need is on that piece of paper. Read it, memorize it, and don't forget it. I'll see you around." He spoke dismissingly, but I wouldn't be gotten rid of that easily. "What about my money?" Alex sighed. "Ah yes.you get thirty grand: half now, half after the job's done if-and only if it's done well." He momentarily left the room and returned with a duffle bag. I opened it and glanced at the money. It looked like fifteen grand, so I zipped up the bag again, shook Alex's presently outstretched hand, and turn to the door. As I went through it, I spoke over my shoulder. "Just make sure she's not spending the night at some friend's house again, Alex." "It's a deal."