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Marc laughed in my ear. It was difficult not to curse at him in reaction.
The man sat back, with the smile on his face broadening. “Really? What did you think you could do for me?”
I was stuck with my choice, now. I tossed my hair and then sat down in one of the ugly chairs. I placed the bugged phone on his desk in front of me. “To be honest, not really sure. I was checking down the road for a job, and someone mentioned this place. Do you need someone like a secretary? An assistant?”
“Can’t afford anyone that can’t pull her own weight,” he said. He leaned forward, planting his elbows on the desk. His stared briefly at my face, and then his eyes slid to my chest and stayed there.
Ick. Maybe Raven was right about my tank top shirts. I shoved the bugged phone aside, tucking it behind a pile of paperwork like I just wanted it out of the way, and then leaned forward on the desk, too, letting my breasts stick out a bit. “I can do more than just take a few phone calls,” I said. If I could get him talking about the job of a bounty hunter, maybe I could prod him about his current cases.
He tilted his head, his eyes dragging away from my chest for just a second. He licked his lower lip. “What else can you do?”
Too far. He thought I was hitting on him. I sat back, leaving the bugged phone tucked behind the paperwork. As long as he didn’t get a sudden urge to organize his office, it might be stuck there for days. “Seriously, I could use the money. I mean, even if it’s being one of your bounty hunters or something.”
He shook his head. “Too dangerous for a girl.”
“Are you the boss?”
“I’m Henry,” he said, pointing to himself. “What’s your name?”
“Bambi,” Marc said in my ear.
“Rachael,” I said.
“Aw,” Marc said.
“Rachael,” Henry said. “I like your style, but I don’t know if I need someone right now.”
“Ask him about his current cases,” Marc said. “If you can get him to talk, see how much he might know.”
“Don’t you need a girl around here? I mean, I knew a few bounty hunters. All big muscles and bulldozing onto the scene.” I was going by what I’d seen on television and from my own earlier experience from Fred’s apartment. “Couldn’t you use a girl to scout or lure guys out?”
He rubbed a spot behind his ear. “You think you could do that?”
I shrugged. “Tell me about any cases you’re on. If you’ve got a lead I could check out...”
“You don’t know how this works,” he said. “I can’t let you pursue a fugitive. You don’t have a license.”
“Team me up with one of your guys,” I said. “I don’t have to make the capture myself, do I? I can just lure someone out.”
“Don’t,” Marc said. “Too far. You just need to get information.”
I ignored this. What better way to get on the good side of a bond agency than to ride around with one of the agents? If they’re working the case, I could ask one of them what they knew about Fred. If I found out they were getting close, I may even be able to keep them busy while the guys got Fred to safety.
“Give me a chance,” I said. “I don’t scare easy. Like I said, I need the money.”
Henry sat back, his arms folded over his chest, making the chair creak with his large body pressing against it. “Maybe,” he said.
“You’ve got a visitor,” Marc said.
The office door opened. It was a girl with closely cropped, bleached white hair, mocha skin and a thick bubble ass that I could never manage to get myself without surgery. She wore a leopard print halter top, a pair of short, skin-tight shorts and Doc Martin boots.
And then I studied the shorts and realized ‘she’ had the biggest noticeable bulge in the front.
“Christ, Fortune,” Henry said. He sat back and frowned, putting a hand up to cover his eyes. “Put some clothes on.”
“How many times do I have to tell you?” She stomped toward the desk, planting her hands on it and leaning forward. “My name is Future. Like your future is going to be six feet under unless you give me a damn case.”
Future’s voice was masculine, with the pitch turned up for femininity, and with a specific sweet Georgian accent.
Henry shook his head. “How many times do I have to tell you? There aren’t that many cases right now. I can’t give you anything if someone hasn’t skipped.
“Then lease me out,” Future said. “Let me work for another agency.”
“Not a chance.”
“Damn it, Henny-Benny,” she said. She stood up full again and snapped her finely manicured fingernails at his face. “Mama’s got a date. She needs a new pair of shoes. Give me something.”
He thought it was too dangerous for me to go out, but he’d let a cross-dresser on his team? I didn’t have a problem with it, except Future was probably a walking target for bigots to beat up on. She’d be a liability running after thugs.
I met Henry’s eyes, which he rolled delicately. “Fine. Do me a favor though. Why don’t you take her with you?” He pointed at me before he took up a stack of files on his desk and started opening them.
Future turned her big brown eyes on me. She angled her head, studying. “You’re not here for a bond?” she asked.
“She came in looking for a job,” Henry said.
Future smirked, baring bright white teeth. “Hot damn. Perfect. A partner is just what I need.” She circled the chair I was sitting on. “Stand up. Let me see what size you are. If we can swap clothes, I may just have some things for you. Henry, give us someone we can work with some sex appeal. I’ve got an idea.”
“Hell no,” Marc said in my ear.
I jumped up, grinning. I liked her. “I’m a size eight.” Or nine but I could squeeze into an eight. Good enough.
Henry groaned. He passed over a file. “Do me a favor. Don’t kill her. Just show her the ropes. If she doesn’t run screaming, you can choose to keep her. But you’re splitting the cash with her. She doesn’t have a license, so she’s your responsibility.”
“No license, huh?” Future rocked her head back and forth. “That’s fantastic. Tell you a secret. Don’t let jackass here talk you into a contract.”
“Hey,” Henry said, nearly growling. “Shut up.”
“He paid for my schooling, see?” She picked up the file Henry had slipped over, weaved her arm to capture my elbow and then turned me toward the door. “He won’t let me work for anyone else in the state now. It’s total shit, too. I’m his bitch until I’ve made him like nearly a million dollars.”
I left the phone tucked behind the files. I was hoping to leave the other device somewhere close but I didn’t know where to plant another one now without drawing attention, so I held on to it.
“Should have never let you talk me into that,” Henry said.
Future released me to turn on him. “Then let me out of my contract.”
“Pay me,” he snapped back.
Future rolled her eyes, and then snagged my arm again to drag me toward the door. “Come on, honey, before he undresses us with his eyes any further. He’s a real pervert.”
“Don’t go with her,” Marc said.
“Did he really give us a case?” I asked. Chasing down bad guys? My blood was pumping. Besides that, she hated her boss. If anyone was going to talk about Fred, I bet I could get her to talk.
“Sure did, sweetie,” Future said. She walked me out to the white front porch and then opened the file. “Meh. It’s a $500 reward. Looks simple enough, though.”
I leaned over her arm to read. “He was arrested for armed robbery?”
“Kayli,” Marc growled. “Get out of there.”
“With a toy gun,” she said. She closed the file, fanning herself with it. Her blonde locks on her head feathered out. “He’s a kid. This will be easy. He probably slept in on his court date. Some of these guys are real idiots. We just need to pick him up.”
“Point me to him,” I said. “How does this work??
??
Future smiled big. “First thing, we need to change that shirt. That shirt is shit. Who the hell dressed you this morning?”
I thought our shirts were very similar, except hers was in leopard print and a halter. We were exposing about the same amount of cleavage.
“What’s wrong with your shirt?” Marc asked.
Future looked down the street. She pointed out a car, a refitted two-door Montego, painted a bright red. “And we need a vehicle change. We need a van. Let me call around and see if I can find one. I’ve got an idea.”
“We’ve got a van,” Marc said. “You are only doing this if I come with you.”
“I’ve got a van,” I said.
“And a Marc to go with you,” Marc said.
“Do we need backup?” I asked.
Future laughed, opened her trunk and motioned her hand to the contents. “Honey bun, does it look like I need any help?”
The inside of her trunk was a display of different clothes, weapons and devices I didn’t know where to start.
I smiled at the fuzzy pink handcuffs.
RUNNERS
The only reason Marc didn’t drag me out like a caveman was because I kept going. He insisted I scream or something if I got into trouble. I had a feeling this would work. I just needed time with Future. He needed to trust me that I could handle myself. I may not be able to outgun her, but I could run, and he had my back. Good enough.
Marc fed me directions in my ear, guiding me to pick up the box van Brandon had conveniently deposited at a vacant house in a neighborhood not too far from Mrs. Gunther. Brandon was going to walk the neighborhood, keeping an eye on the grandmother just in case Fred came by.
