End Man by Alex Austin

Author:Alex Austin [Austin, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781951445331
Publisher: Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing, LLC
Published: 2022-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

TWENTY-ONE

Matt’s mud-stained, hydrogen-powered, rainbow-colored Roly-Poly drove through the Norval parking lot gate. Raphael gave it ten seconds, then chased after it on his board. By the time he caught up to the car, Matt had pulled into a parking space, a pastry hovering before his lips.

Raphael slipped up to the driver’s side window and tapped.

Matt jerked back, dropping his pastry on the passenger seat. “Shit,” said Matt, driver’s window descending.

Raphael bent at the waist. “I need to talk to you.” He straightened and twisted back his head. “Did you hear something?”

“Hear what?”

“You didn’t hear something?”

“No.” Matt reached toward his Danish.

Raphael grabbed his shoulder. “I need—”

“Why don’t you get into my ride.”

Raphael hefted the skateboard and dashed around the vehicle. He pulled the door open just as Matt retrieved the pastry. Raphael brushed off the traces of flakes and icing, then plopped onto the seat. He yanked the door shut, shoved the board between his legs, and glanced over his shoulder.

Matt leaned into him. “You seem a little nervous.”

“Oh yeah? Perceptive, aren’t you? Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

“Take it easy, man. You act as if you’ve got a hit out on you.” Matt bit into his pastry, unleashing the scent of blueberries. He chewed fast and swallowed. “You going to tell me what’s going on?”

“Last night, a dude broke into my apartment and put a gun to my head.”

Matt drew away the Danish, a jelled berry stuck to his lip. “What?” He licked the berry into his mouth.

“Put a gun to my head, stole my thumb drive, and erased my … files.”

“Have the police—”

Raphael tapped his fist on the window. “I stole the files from Norval, okay?” He slapped his hand against a skateboard wheel. It spun, blurred. He rose in the seat, craned his neck, and viewed the lot. “Klaes is killing people.”

“So he’s not dead?”

“Not sure. This case is super fucked up, but people are dying, and Klaes is making it happen. And now this guy with a gun.”

“Sounds like you’re earning your paycheck. By the way, how come you make six times more than me?”

Raphael sighed. “This is not the time to discuss salary. And I don’t make six times more than you.”

“I can’t afford the Tar Tower, and you buy more take-out than anyone I know.”

“If you want to live to eat another of those, shut up.” He pressed his fist to his lips and murmured, “Lily Faraday.”

“Yeah? Who’s that?”

“A friend and colleague of Klaes. She’s managing the Klaes celebration at the Harvey Hotel. I need to speak with her.”

“Get out your phone.”

“I don’t have her private number, and I’ve called her at the hotel a dozen times. She never calls back. She must think I’m a salesman or something. I need to sit down with her.”

Matt glanced sideways at him. “Shit. The Harvey is just a couple of miles away. Barge in on her if she’s so important.” Matt stuck the key in the ignition and started the engine.

“What are you doing?” asked Raphael.

“You want to see this

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