Page 71 of Bitter Truth
“You know, with Janine gone, I could use a partner.”
“Is this a sale’s pitch?”
He shrugs.
“More like an offer. A very lucrative one. And considering that accepting it is the only way you’re going to walk out of here, it’s one that you might want to seriously consider. Assuming you’re interested in seeing tomorrow, that is.”
Obviously, the time for small talk is over. Which means the time to play the endgame has come.
CHAPTER 37
I pretend to not have heard the threat. Ignore the way the back of my neck prickles like dozens of fire ants have latched on and bitten as I make myself turn my back to him. Take several steps toward the nearest stack of crates.
It’s clear by the way the nails have started to rust on the ones with weathered wood, while others are bright and shiny and still smell like pine, that some of the containers are older than others. The dates on the labels affixed to the sides confirm this. I turn back to face him.
“This is a nice place you’ve got here. Janine must have been stealing for a long time to have gathered so much product.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. These containers all hold merchandise for local tourist shops. It’s all completely legal.”
“I wonder if the cops would agree?”
“Is that your plan? To come here and threaten to turn me in?”
“No. I’m aware that you have people on the inside. Chances are, even if the police seized everything in these crates, you’d have it all back in your possession soon enough.”
“You’d be correct about that.”
“I know.”
“So then why are we here?”
“I came to make you an offer,” I say.
He takes another step closer, effectively blocking me off from the door behind him. Lets his eyes slowly drag across my body as he looks me up and down.
“Not that.”
His grin, the one that’s a bit too much like Jake’s, slides off his face. His voice is sharp as he asks, “Then what?”
“I invited you here today to give you a chance to live.”
He laughs. “Maybe you aren’t as smart as I gave you credit for. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m the one with the gun.”
“Mmm. True.”
“And yet you expect me to take you seriously?”
“I do.”
“Even though I could just shoot you now and end this whole thing?”
“Killing me wouldn’t solve the problem.”
“And how’s that?”
“Because if you shoot me, this entire place, and everything in it, goes up in flames.”
“How do you figure that?”
