Page 98 of Wallflower

“Yeah, or there’s a dead body somewhere.”

We exchange an ominous look.

Is that why our contact didn’t show up?

Without another word, Kyle and I draw our weapons. I follow him back to where he was crouched just off the overgrown hiking trail. Sure enough, the buzzing is there, but not as loud as he made it seem. Though, sitting in the bushes for over an hour could have him isolating the sounds around him, especially if he thought he was going to be stung.

Taking the lead, I follow the sound. Flies become more prominent as we move through the trees, coming upon the smallest area where the vegetation isn’t so thick and heavily packed. Black flies circle around an area of freshly turned dirt, disappearing into burrows they’ve already started to dig in the loose soil.

“Let’s assume this is our contact,” Ky whispers.

“Okay… Where are you going with this?”

“That would mean he got here before us, and was taken out. I, for one, do not want to be here if and when that person returns to check on his crime scene.”

“Good point. Let’s go.”

Our matching footfalls crunch through the underbrush on the way back to the parking lot. “Where’s his car?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, we’re in the middle of bum fuck nowhere, Rip. Where’s his car?”

“It was most likely stacked full of contraband, and taken by whoever killed him. Maybe a rival gang? He could’ve had a partner who flipped on him, and stole the goods to sell. It doesn’t really matter.”

“I think it does.”

“And why’s that?” There’s a reason Kyle’s my second-in-command. As irritating as this shit is, I need to hear him out.

“What if the head of that organization thinks we killed him and stole his car full of shit.”

“Fuck.”

“That’s a bunch of heat we don’t need, especially in the midst of what’s going on.”

“I know.” Why can’t anything just progress smoothly? There’s always a catch, a hitch in my fucking plans. Most recently, the flower that’s hell bent on derailing my entire personality with the laugh that echoes in my ears on an unending loop. “You’ve got me fucking paranoid now, let’s get out of here. I’m worried we’re being watched.”

When we emerge from the trail, nothing is amiss. Quickly, we pile into the rental sedan, taking off back to the hotel.

Getting on the wrong side of another kingpin is really not what I need right now. I just wanted to beef up my current armoury before infiltrating Bleakcrest, and if this guy had any intel on the ridiculous security system, it would’ve been beneficial.

“What about the photos?” Kyle asks, interrupting my thoughts.

“They’ll have to wait. Shantel won’t be here until later. Bucky’s rat wouldn’t eat, and she had to take him to the vet ‘cause Buck was too worried about it to drive.”

“Glitch is not a rat, she’s a sugar glider.”

“It’s a rodent like a rat, therefore it's a rat.”

“Actually, it’s a marsupial.”

“Kyle, I swear I’ll drive this car into a tree.”

“Get it right and I won’t have to correct you.”

I roll my eyes, swerving into the fast lane without signalling. “Fuck sakes man, watch your speed. The last thing we need is a cop on our ass.”

“Can you fucking relax?”