"You wanna tell me why you're still off the grid? Your last ping was five hours ago."
"Had things to do."
"Like thinking about the client you shouldn't be thinking about?"
Viper was always like this. Constant noise and assumption. But this time his assumption wasn't far from the truth. He'd seen all the street footage of us during the karaoke night. I ignored his bait.
"When are you getting me the goods?" he asked.
I ran my tongue across the back of my teeth. "Haven't made it back to the safe house yet."
"So where the hell are you?"
"Been tracking the target. He's been holed up in his penthouse since the club incident. I suspect wife kicked him out."
"That's expected," Viper mused. "Unless of course, she's a twisted bitch like her hubby."
"I doubt it. You said it yourself you never found any evidence she knew. Plus her reaction on scene confirms it. And even if she suspected him, her family would most likely force her to distance herself from him. This is not the kind of scandal the blood-blooded elites want to be involved in."
I stared out at the water, the way the foam streaked the sand in crooked lines.
"Well, if you want this to be over as quickly as possible and before the target retaliates, better get me that footage, boss." I could hear him typing. A low, constant chatter, like his brain couldn't stand the idea of idle time. "I've already done all my prep. In talks with a few media contacts."
"Copy."
"And you still have a tail."
"I know. That's why I'm careful. Don't want to lead them to her."
"Understandable."
"What's the situation with Kimmy's mother and her insurance company?"
"I'm closing in. We should be able to put a lid on this bullshit soon."
"Good."
"I've got your back, boss."
"Later."
"Hey," Viper called right before I went offline.
"What's up?"
"Don't use the names, dumbass."
I had a comeback with an unsavory name for him right on the tip of my tongue. Instead, I hung up. He was right. I'd gotten sloppy.
The car was quiet again, except for the hum of the engine and the ocean's roar.
I put my hand on the envelope and thought about its contents. Realname. Birth date. Maybe a picture of a family I didn't remember, or didn't want to. Maybe a police report. Maybe just another test, another way to see if I'd follow orders.
Or maybe it was empty. And I had a full reign of what I wanted my life to be.
48 kimmy
I heard him before I saw him.
