Page 153 of Seven
For a second, I stood there, unsure of what to do with myself.
I let myself think about last night again, about the way Kimmy had curled up against me after. The way she'd traced the ink on my chest with her tongue.
Stupid.
Stupid.
Stupid.
I checked my burner, stared at the blank screen. I wanted to call her, but I couldn't make myself do it. At least not yet. There were too many emotions inside my chest, and I was scared I'd say the wrong word and it would all come crashing down.
Instead, I dialed Viper's number. I hardly ever used it, only in rare cases when my earpiece was broken.
"Why you calling my burner, boss?" he replied.
Because I want to do what normal people do. Use a goddamned phone instead of a spy tech."It's done," I said. "I left the package in your usual spot."
"Efficient as always, Seven. Any issues with the goods?"
"No."
There was a pause. A typing sound in the background, rapid-fire. "You sound off, boss. Something on your mind?"
"No." I hesitated. "Can you check on Bale Security? I think they're still tailing me."
"Sure." He cleared his throat. "Your earpiece broken?"
"It got wet." I lied. "I also need a favor."
Another silence, this one longer. We didn't do favors. That was the rule. But Viper's been my eyes and ears for years. I knew he'd agree. His curiosity for the unknown was insatiable.
"Ah, I see. Don't want Daddy to know. That's why you're calling this line."
"He'll know, eventually."
"What's the favor?"
"I need you to track someone," I said.
"Who am I tracking?"
I tasted the name before I said it, rolled it around in my mouth like a pill. "Priscilla Mercer."
He didn't ask why. Maybe he already knew. Or maybe he didn't care.
"You got it."
I was about to hang up before he could say anything else but changed my mind and said, "Hey, Viper."
"What's up?"
"It's possible I maybe going on vacation soon." The Bureau didn't do vacation, and I had no idea if my plan would actually work, but I needed to manifest it, to say it out loud.
"Are you high?" Viper asked on the line.
"No."
"Well, that's odd."
