“I love you, too, Saw…”
I smile to myself as my phone chimes.
Sawyer
You’re up, babe. Remember, I’ve hacked the cameras, I can see and hear everything. Just get in and get out, don’t linger
I don’t know how this man does it, but he never ceases to amaze me. I glance at Luna. “It’s time.”
Me
On our way. Don’t worry x
“Good luck guys, wait, do you have provisions if this goes bad?” Payden asks, suddenly alarmed.
“I have a knife and mace, and Luna has a piece,” I tell her and she settles back into the backseat looking a little relieved.
“I’m a good shooter,” Luna says. “Plus, I doubt they’re gonna gun us down in broad daylight for asking about Barry, there’s too many people around.”
Clearly, I also hope that’s the case, too.
“Let’s go,” I say, then turn behind to glance at Payden. “Stay tuned for part two.”
She gives me a smile. “Be careful, both of you.”
I nod.
We exit the truck, and move onto the pavement where I fall into step with Luna.
We’re both clothed in dresses we’d never wear. Mine is red, tight and leaves little to the imagination, and Luna said Tag forbade her to leave the house. She didn’t get her way on that one, though, and I don’t know what the previous dress was like, but this is low cut and short and she is working it.
“We have to look the part,” she reminded me when we climbed into her G-wagon earlier. “Like we’re easy, and unfortunately if you show a little boob men just assume you’re up for it.”
I hate the way that is how society seems to work, that we can’t wear what we want without fear of men judging us, but that debate has to wait for another day.
We walk to the dry cleaners in a few minutes. There’s a Chinese restaurant on one side, and a pawn shop on the other. I glance up and Harlem looks straight at me through the window of the pawn shop. Okay, well, that’s good he’s close by. I assume Tag isn’t far away either because they work together, but I make no attempt to acknowledge him or look for Sawyer. I want to, but I don’t.
“Let’s do this,” Luna says, pushing the door open.
I step behind her and smile at the dude on the counter. “Hey,” I say, giving him a little wave. “I’m here to see Barry.”
The guy at the counter looks up as the bell chimes on the door, his eyes rake down my body, then he does the same to Luna, an icky grin permeating across his face. “Barry isn’t here, sweet thing, but lucky for you I am.”
“Lucky us.” Luna sashays towards the counter as he leans on it. He has greasy hair, a three day growth and looks like he could do with a bath. “We’re a little out of our depth here,” she goes on. “Being new in town and all. Can you help us?”
The guy isn’t Forest, I know this straight away, because he just doesn’t have the air of authority about him to be anyone that important. “Well, let me introduce myself, I’m Rick.”
“Nice to meet you,” Luna says. “I’m Thelma, this is Louise.” She didn’t. Oh, my fucking god, she did.
“Hey,” I say awkwardly. “Like Lu–Louise said, Barry told us to stop by and said he’d be here; we were at the fighting match the other night and we got talking.” I gesture to Luna. “We’re both looking for, uh, work, and he said he had a couple of positions open.”
I wish this creep's eyes would stay off my tits, but at least he’s engaged. “Such a shame about Barry.” Shit, he’s got missing teeth, too. “But I can help you with all of that. Assuming you mean the little get together tomorrow night?”
“Yes!” I clap my hands. “That’s it! I’m so glad you’re here because I totally lost the business card he gave us and I had no way of contacting him.” I make sure I have a pre-teen whine to my voice to give it some edge. I know we’re probably older than some of the girls they like to kidnap, but Rick here doesn’t seem fazed. “My friend was mad with me.” I gesture to Luna who pouts.
“We can’t have that now, can we?” He looks between us both. “Pretty little things like you.”
“So Rick?” Luna leans on the counter, letting him have a good look down her dress. I see the tightness in her jaw, but hewouldn’t notice. “Are you gonna be a good boy and tell us where we can find Barry, or are you gonna be there, too?”