Page 91 of Penny For Your Thoughts
I winced at the uptick in Darcy’s voice. He’d turned what should have been a statement into a question, and Luke heard it too.
A long pause ensued. “You don’t sound sure.”
Darcy was about to speak when Tallus waved for him to stop and gestured at the ceiling with his pointer finger, indicating he should raise the sum.
I didn’t think Darcy would understand, but he instantly held up three fingers and peered questioningly at Tallus.
Tallus held up three fingers but bent the third in half at the knuckle.
Darcy nodded and meekly replied, “T-two and a half, sir.”
“Ah. Not as honest as you claim, are you?”
“I’m s-sorry. I shouldn’t have lied.”
“It’s okay, myshka. I forgive you, and I will reward your honesty. Not many of my helpers would bother contacting me over such business. They would keep the money for themselves. But not you.”
“No, sir.”
“Here’s what you’re going to do. Keep five hundred. For your honesty. Not a penny more, you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Take the rest to Grinders. Tonight. You remember the café, of course?”
“On Lake Shore.”
“Good. They close at eight. Olenka is working. I’ll contact her so she knows to expect you. Same order. Any questions?”
“No.”
“You did well, myshka.” The line went dead, and the tension in the room broke.
Darcy looked ready to puke or fall to his knees, so I dragged him in for a sideways hug and ruffled his hair. “Good job, brat. Fucking brilliant. You were amazing.”
Darcy’s reluctant smile suggested he wasn’t expecting praise. Even Tallus looked impressed.
“Do you know where we’re going?” I asked.
Darcy nodded, pushing from my hold, and explained that it was the same place Luke did all his monetary exchanges. Although not the same café where they had met in person, it was within the same vicinity, located off Lake Shore Boulevard West.
Tallus drove the Jetta, and I took Darcy and Echo in the Jeep. After mapping out the neighborhood, we planned to meet in the parking lot of a Korean restaurant across the street. I wanted to scope the joint and determine the best places for surveillance before sending Darcy in with a padded envelope. It all seemed to be unfolding as we hoped, but I needed to be sure this Luke asshole wasn’t skulking about with plans to confront Darcy.
“Are you nervous?” I asked the kid as I parked in an available spot at the restaurant, aiming the nose of the Jeep so it faced the street and the strip mall on the other side.
“Yes.”
“Don’t be. He didn’t sound suspicious.”
“Until he discovers it’s a hoax and comes after me. He knows where I live.”
“You aren’t going back there, and by the time he realizes he’s been duped, you’ll be safely away.”
Darcy scanned the street and rotated the center of the fidget ring with a flick of his thumb, again and again and again. “What if he’s camped out waiting for me?”
“Tallus and I will both watch for suspicious activity. Trust me. I’m good at what I do.”
“You promise I won’t get hurt?”
