Make Them Pay: A Thriller Anthology by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Speculative
Publisher: Craig Martelle, Inc
Published: 2021-03-14T22:00:00+00:00

***

“I’m really sorry about this,” Knox said.

Cross smoothed the tape over the bridge of his nose and glared at his client. “You should be.” He opened a pill bottle, shook a few into his palm, and knocked his head back, swallowing them dry. At least his eyes had stopped watering. Though, that was the least of his problems. “Vasili wants me to get his shipment out of police custody. Do you have any idea the kind of hell that will rain down if I do or the pain Vasili’s prepared to inflict if I don’t?”

“Shit.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Lucien, you gotta believe me. I didn’t know this would happen. I needed the money. I didn’t know he’d come to collect. I didn’t realize he was behind the break-in. If I did, I never would have asked you to track down my stolen sports memorabilia. That championship ring alone is worth well into five figures.”

“I know what it’s worth. So does Vasili. That’s why he stole it. You should have told me you owed the Russians money.”

“Would you have taken my case if I did?”

Probably not, Cross thought. “At least I would have known what was at stake. You didn’t keep up with your payments. You didn’t even try to make good on your debt. That’s why he took the ring.”

Knox jittered his leg up and down, causing the floor to vibrate. “I didn’t tell you to call the cops. You did that. That’s all you. It’s not my fault they confiscated everything in the freight container. It’s not my fault Vasili’s pissed at you.”

Perhaps Knox had a point. But Cross didn’t see it that way. “You lied to me.” Cross held up a hand before Knox could protest. “A lie of omission is still a lie. Is there anything else I should know? Anything at all? Now’s the time.” Cross had sixteen hours until the deadline. And he still didn’t know what he should do. But saving Knox’s life and fighting off Vasili’s enforcers hadn’t earned him any favors with the Russian gangster.

“No,” Knox shook his head for emphasis, “that’s it. I swear. Cross my heart.” He drew an x on his chest with his pointer finger.

“Do you owe anyone else any money?”

“No.” Knox reached for the bottle of Irish whiskey and poured it into his coffee cup with shaking hands. “I thought I’d be safe. Isn’t it bad business to kill a debtor?”

“Vasili’s no longer worried about your outstanding debt. He wants revenge. You hired me to steal back your ring. You screwed him. You lied to me. And now here we are.”

Knox took a swig directly from the bottle, capped it, and put it down beside the coffee cup. “Please, don’t hand me over to him.”

“I should,” Cross picked up the liquor bottle and moved it out of Knox’s reach, “but I won’t.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I wish I knew.”

“Why did you call the police? According to everything I know about you, you despise them. You retrieved my property and returned it to me.

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