Part 1.8

Part 1.8

When we got back to the St. Patrick Manor, Kennedy just left as soon as we entered.

With a shrug, I went back to my post, which was just outside Marky’s door.

For the rest of the day, I didn’t have anything to do.

In that downtime, I started fiddling with my program that would indict Smythe for the murder of Marky.

It was actually two programs, but I will save the specifics of the other when it becomes relevant.

I will, however, tell you about the first one.

Here is the basic gist.

First, Smythe’s daddy came in contact with him six months earlier.

From my research, that would be about a month after it became common knowledge that Marky and Kennedy were engaged.

From the messages, the plot will become clear.

The CCCB didn’t want two families of that level of wealth and power to work together.

It could mean that the North American continent could become a united country.

That is something they don’t want.

In the deleted logs, Daddy Smythe would say that they sent a deep-cover operative.

That was Peakey.

When that failed, they would tell Smythe to assassinate one of them.

Smythe would say that he could only get close to Marky.

That way, I can not only get the hit, but I also won’t be suspected.

How he dies is another story I will save for when I get there.

I spent the rest of my shift on my plan, and for once, I didn’t get interrupted.

That was new, and I managed to get a lot done.

As I got ready to go back to my room, Sandra stopped me.

“Hey, bigshot.”

She looked at her watch.

“Is it time to pull out your jokes?”

With a smile, I answered.

“If you ask nicely.”

With a smile, she invited me out for a drink.

There is something you should know about mercs.

They come in two flavours, union and indie.

Sandra was union, and Milton was indie.

Union mercs pay some of their earnings into the system, and the higher-ups help you get contracts.

Indies don’t have that luxury.

Another perk unions get is access to the bar Guns 4 Hire.

It was also their base of operations.

Because she was a card-carrying member, she could invite me in.

Another thing to keep in mind is that indies and unions have beef.

Or that is what I thought, because I got high fives all the way to the bar.

As we sat down, Sandra ordered two drinks.

“Are both for you?”

With a smile, she slid one to me.

As I took a sip, I enquired about my treatment.

“Why are these guys so nice to me?”

She lit a cigarette, and as she blew out a cloud, she smiled at me.

“A lot of these guys were there when you took out the ninja.”

I frowned at her.

“I got lucky with the spike, but apart from-”

She put a finger on my lips.

“Shh. It doesn’t matter how lucky you were. You were a badass, and you deserve the treatment.”

I took another sip as she continued.

“I heard you met the big boss today. How did it go?”

I put my empty glass down and ordered another two.

I slid the drink to her, and then I spoke.

“He just gave me a reward for what I did for Miss Kennedy that night.”

Sandra took another sip.

“You were a real hero that night. I’m sure every guy in this club would have run to St. Patrick, but you didn’t.”

After her words, she stared down at her drink.

I decided to follow her lead, but after a few minutes, I spoke.

“You know what, that was a team effort. I think you deserve half of the reward.”

She held up her hand.

“No. You got shot for that, don’t worry about me.”

“This is my money, and you deserve your cut. What is your account number?”

We pretended to argue for a few minutes, and she finally relented.

I studied her face as I transferred the funds.

Her eyes went wide at the numbers.

“I can’t believe he gave you two hundred thousand. For the rest of the night drinks are on me.”

As she put out the cigarette, she smiled at me.

The punch in my guts told me I had to speed up my timeline.

I am not supposed to fall for anyone.

That is unfair to her, and it is unfair to Milton.

We spent the entire night drinking.

She also introduced me to some of her colleagues, and we had a great time.

We went back to the Manor, and as I bid her goodnight, she smiled and said something that I didn’t want to hear.

“I had a good time. We should go out again.”

Before I could get a word out, she gave me a quick goodnight and left.

I let out a sigh of relief.

If she had kissed me, I would’ve failed my mission.

The next morning showed me that the saying of how good deeds never go unpunished was in fact true.

As I was getting ready for my shift, a very angry Sandra stormed into my room.

Earlier, I told you about her finger blades.

It was an understatement.

Her fingers elongated as her entire hand became metallic.

Those sharp spikes penetrated the wall around my head.

Her other hand was also transformed into its deadly form.

As I thought of tactics to get free, she yelled into my face.

“Do you think you can buy me?”

I froze.

“What are you talking about?”

“Miss Kennedy told me you got a hundred from her dad. Why did you transfer all of it?”

After each word, her blades dug deeper into the wall.

I decided to talk her down, and I hoped I didn’t have to fight her.

“Pull out the blades, and I’ll tell you.”

She pulled her fingers from the walls and kept them ready at her sides.

I took a deep breath.

“He didn’t look happy that I saved his daughter. I didn’t like what I saw and didn’t want the money. I’m sorry for offending you.”

She must’ve stared at me for a full minute before she retracted her blades.

I heard a ping, and when I checked, the full hundred thousand was back in my account.

“Drinks are off.”

She turned around and walked away.

Milton begged me to run after her, but I had a job to do.