“Who’s to know?”
He was silent, staring at me before he leaned forward to go into his drawer.
My hand went to my side because I had no problem putting this old motherfucker in the dirt.
“Easy, sweetheart. I gain nothing by shooting a CIA agent. Even if she has gone rogue.” He then extended his hand with a small white card. On it was a scribbled number.
I accepted the card, then gave him another look. “I ain’t gone rogue either. I just see the world in a couple other tones. Morally gray ones.”
He nodded. “In that case, let me know if you’re ever looking for a side job. I dabble in those morally gray spaces, as you already know.”
The conversation with the depleted pimp replayed in my head while I watched cars drive past the pawn shop windows. I had gone from coming here to check on my father to watching the floor while he checked out an old school somebody was trying to pawn. Since when did he accept cars for collateral?
I sat here and watched the windows before I glanced down at my phone. It vibrated against the glass display case. Forman’s contact was on the screen and I shook my head. The bell alerting me to someone entering the shop made me look up. The door was open.
I immediately locked eyes with my sister and glanced back at my phone.
“Hello to you too, sister,” Sissy greeted before I could even look back up.
“My bad, hey. Do me a favor and watch the front. I need to handle something.” I picked up my phone and walked out of the shop before she could respond.
“Um, okay,” I heard her mumble from behind me, but my focus was out of the door.
As soon as I stepped out, a black-on-black SUV pulled up in seconds. The back passenger side was right in front of me before the window lowered.
“Imagine my surprise when they said my asset was spending her off time in the slums of Briar South. Get in, Pierce.”
The door opened and she scooted over for me to get in next to her. No sooner than I was in the car did she start speaking.
“I need you at home, not here.”
“This is my home, Forman,” I corrected, looking out the window while they drove, hitting a block before a right turn.
“You know what I mean. We have a job and need you back. You should have been back. Shoulder looks fine, and even if it wasn’t, you could have passed with your eyes closed.”
I laughed. “Weren’t you the one who said I needed to come home for a little while and recuperate?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t mean get here and get lost. That’s not what I meant, Liora, and you know it. This is a career maker and you are the only handler who can run it.” She dropped a file into my lap before I could speak again.
“The Heminez Cartel. They’re now operating on our soil, which means we are operating on our soil in a way as well. You’ll have a team, so you don’t have to go back into the field. We’ve all agreed that we’ve been too cavalier with your particular skillset. You have earned your stripes.”
I looked from the file in my lap to her. “So, this is a promotion.”
“I have taught you everything I know. Now you’re better than me and the DOD has handed over a blank check to clean the soiland keep it clean. They just want things handled and I believe you are the person to do that. What is there to think about?”
“Everything. Where would my base be?”
“Anywhere in the world, you name it. Preferably New York, but I have a feeling you’re going to turn that down.”
“Here.”
She looked displeased immediately but agreed. “I guess I can spin the small city girl, but not here, per se. Westvale or Uptown, maybe.”
I laughed. “Fine.”
“Good negotiation. Now I’ll allow you to get back to your pawning. Be on standby.” Then she held a phone out toward me. “It’s secured, and please, for the life of me, stop screening my calls.”
I accepted the phone. “I guess I can do that.”
