Sunk Costs by Preston Lang

Author:Preston Lang
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Down & Out Books

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Kate pulled into a diner lot about two miles from the motel. It wasn’t too crowded, but there was a steady hum, and a radio playing lite favorites. Kate spoke low and clear.

“I didn’t shoot her. She shot herself. I never had my hand on the trigger. I had her wrists. The gun went off.”

“You’re sure she got it in the leg?”

“It was pointed down. I thought you searched her for the gun when you had her in that chokehold.”

“I did. Where was it?”

“I don’t know, but she obviously pulled it out of somewhere. Like a fucking magic trick. So thanks for that.”

The waitress handed them their menus.

“Give me my share,” Dan said, after the waitress had left them.

“We’re not putting twenty-seven thousand dollars on the table in a diner. You’re not going to hit me with a plate and run out with it, either. We’re going to talk, then if you’re still acting like a little pussy, we can split it back at the motel.”

“I’m not going back to the motel.”

“Then you’re not getting any money.”

“Be careful how you talk to me.”

Kate put her face in her hands. Tired? Frustrated? When she looked up she had a sad smile.

“I like you, Dan. I like working with you. We’re going to make money. You’ve got to stay with it.”

“I don’t have to.”

“Where are you going to go? There’s no train station. No bus leaves until morning.”

The waitress came over and asked if they were ready to order. Dan wasn’t hungry, but Kate asked for eggs and iced tea. Before the food came, a man entered the diner. He was slender, wearing a long gray coat that was too light for an evening like this. When he saw Kate, he gave a smile, lopsided and unconvincing.

“Katherine Ulm? You know this place also? I thought I was the only one. The tuna melt here? Good Lord, is that tasty. Mind if I sit down?”

He took the seat next to Kate, across from Dan.

“Hi, I’m Eugene Klein.”

The Klein in Klein & Price.

“I’m Vinny.”

Dan held out a hand and they shook.

“Vinny. Yes, of course. Vinny.”

Klein was having a good time saying the name. Dan looked around the room quickly then scanned the parking lot. He saw a black Acura with the lights on.

“But didn’t I hear something—you had a stomach virus?” Klein said to Kate. “Is that right?”

“Earlier in the day.”

“So maybe just a light broth here tonight—what do you think?”

“Maybe some eggs.”

“It’s good that I ran into you, though, because there was something I wanted to talk about.”

“Mr. Price called me earlier.”

“He told me. We think that you may have something that belongs to us. We’d like it back. Simple as that. Is it out in the car? Or do you have it in the bag?”

Kate had her body between Klein and the backpack. Dan picked up a fork. It seemed unlikely that Klein would do anything wild, but Dan was ready if he made a move.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Tsai’s box.

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