Page 73 of XO Karma

How To Find The Target: [Shown after job is accepted]

That sounds more like a practical joke than karma, but it would be an easy one. Continuing to the next request, I shoot straight up in bed.

Karma Request #2856

Crime: Landlord threw a rock through the windows of most tenants on 58th Street because we wouldn’t pay the rent increase. Last week landlord informed us of the increase (which is unlawful) and since most of us couldn’t afford it, they threatened us

Evidence: (10) photos, (1) video, (3) emails

Preferred Punishment: Karma’s choice

Payment Offered: $1000

How To Find The Target: [Shown after job is accepted]

Jabbing the screen with my finger, I swipe quickly through the photos of the bar near Amara’s coffee shop.

The next request is eerily similar. Ten minutes later, and I’ve confirmed the rest of the posts received are the same. Broken windows or graffiti, and a shitty landlord as a target.

On the final request, I freeze on a photo of Mocha Muse with the window smashed in, glass everywhere, and the last photo causes my jaw to clench. There’s a massive rock that says, Pay up bitch. The background is the familiar black-and-white checkered floor. Why did she keep this from me?

Guilt settles inside. It’s my own fault. I can’t expect her to share these things when she doesn’t know I’m Karma. I’ve wanted to tell her desperately, but it’s never felt like the right time. And the less she knows, the better. Plausible deniability and all that. Besides, I would never ever ask her to lie on a witness stand for me.

Amara offered $500, and while I can’t take the money, her sleazebag landlord will not get away with this.

Karma Request #2868

Preferred Punishment: Karma’s choice

Payment Requested: FREE

Within seconds, my counterproposal is accepted.

Karma Request #2868

How To Find The Target: Frederick Vetrel—owns Vetrel’s Bar. He’s usually there every night after seven

My heart stops. Isn’t that who Aster visited the other day after Karolyn was murdered? So much for sleep.

I roll off the bed and dig the burner out of my bag.

Gnawing on my cheek, I remind myself I’m doing this for Amara and hit the call button. He answers on the second ring.

“Hey, birthday girl,” he says, tone cheery, and I hate to be the one to ruin his day.

“Hey…”

“Everything okay?” he asks, too easily able to read me even through a twenty-year-old phone.

“Yes. Well, not really.”

“Do you need me to co⁠—”

“No,” I cut him off. “I just have a question.”

“Okay.” Silence falls between us. “Are you going to ask it?”

“Yes.” I clear my throat. “So I’m doing a Karma request, and I…” How much should I share? “Didn’t you say something about Frederick Vetrel? That he was into some shady stuff?”