Load by Preston Lang

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

CHAPTER 25

Chad slowed the car as they came to a stretch of low office buildings. The largest one had Riviera Tanning written in bright red across the window at ground floor level. Chad parked the car, and he and Ana Luz got out. Verna lay still in the backseat.

“She might have OD’d,” Chad said.

“We’ll deal with it later.”

“We have to get her to the hospital.”

“You can do that once you get my package.”

“She’s—look at her.”

“Yeah, I see her. She looks peaceful.”

“Can I check her breathing?”

“Are you a doctor?”

“I’m a dietician.”

“Check her breathing, then we’ll go inside.”

Ana Luz did not want this stupid woman to die—not right now off her heroin. Chad opened the backdoor and leaned into the car.

“Hurry up.”

“I think we have to take her to the hospital.”

“You have to get me my package first. All of it. If you do it quick, you can take her to the hospital.”

Chad took out his keys and opened the front door to the tanning salon. No alarms went off but a light on the security box started to flash.

“See, that sends a signal to Claude.”

“That’s fine. Let’s just get our package and move.”

“He’s going to call in, like, one minute. If no one answers—” The phone at the front desk rang. “It’s got to be Claude.”

“Okay, answer and tell him everything’s okay here. And don’t get inventive on the phone.”

“Yeah, I know, or you’ll kill me.”

Chad picked up the phone; Ana Luz watched him carefully.

“Hey, Claude. Sorry, yeah, it’s me. Don’t call police. I forgot my inhaler…yeah, for asthma…Well, yeah, I do have asthma. I don’t tell people, you know, because I want to project an image of good health. I’m sorry, man. I’ll lock up on the way out.” Chad hung up and flashed a smile. “I got a little cute. I’m sorry.”

“Get the bag.”

Chad flipped on the lights, and they walked past the front desk and two tanning rooms to a small office. Chad used another key to open the door. Inside the office was a desk. Chad opened the big bottom drawer; under an old wool scarf was the bag, wedged in there tight. Ana Luz pulled it out and checked inside: it was all there.

“Where’s the money?” she asked.

“I—”

“Don’t lie to me. If you say you deposited it in the bank, I will shoot you.”

“I wasn’t kidding. I put it in the bank.”

“In your bank account?”

“Yes, I swear. That’s kind of how I am—give me money, I’ll put it in the bank.”

“She just handed it over to you? I’ve got 20,000 dollars, I’ll give it to Chad?”

“It wasn’t 20,000 dollars.”

“She just gives all her money to you?”

“You want to know the truth—she’s buying into Plush Solutions. It’s the new venture.”

“The new weight loss and narcotics studio you’re opening?”

“No, Plush Solutions is going to be a fully integrated—”

“Chad. Get me my money now.”

“My friend, please. I am telling the truth. Short of tunneling into the bank there’s just no way to get the money right now.”

“Is it here or is it back at your home?”

“I’m not lying: it’s in the bank.

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