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“Like a wall?”
“No. He never helped me when I had to paint the wall. Kind of annoying, now that I realize I could have made him do it.”
“Why did you have to paint a wall?” A note of exasperation had crept into Laura’s voice, as if my answers were only creating more questions.
“It had blood on it. But no, I meant a painting.”
“Of what?”
“Can I have an easier question?”
“Sure. Did you drink tonight?”
“No,” I said proudly. “I did not. How are you doing with it?”
“Good, so far. Hey, do you fancy coming to an AA meeting with me next week?”
I bit down on the no that immediately rose to my lips and forced myself to think about it for longer than three seconds. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and all that.”
“It’d be great to have company. It might make me keep going. Not that I’m putting pressure on you or anything.”
“I’ll come,” I said. “Text me the details.”
We wrapped up the conversation after that, Laura satisfied that I’d live long enough to attend the meeting with her, and me feeling absurdly proud of myself for agreeing to try it.
I’d barely pressed the button to end the call before the rapid slap of footsteps sounded behind me. I automatically moved to one side to let whoever it was pass.
They didn’t.
Instead, a hand struck me between the shoulder blades, sending me stumbling down the alley to my right. Before I could turn, someone shoved me face-first against the wall. Brick scraped my cheek and something sharp pressed into my side.
“Don’t move.”
Every muscle in my body locked.
The man crowded close behind me, one hand fisted in the back of my coat while the other held the knife. I couldn’t see much of it without turning my head, only the glint of the blade in my peripheral vision. He was close enough that I could smell the garlic on his breath.
“Phone and wallet. Now.”
My phone was still in my hand. I loosened my grip immediately, letting him take it.
“Wallet’s in my back pocket.”
“Get it, then. Slowly.”
I raised both hands before lowering one toward my pocket, making sure he could see every movement. My fingers felt clumsy as I pulled out my wallet and held it over my shoulder.
He snatched it from me. “What else?”
“That’s it.”
The blade dug harder into my side, not enough to break the skin but close enough that I could imagine it doing so.
“Watch?”
I swallowed. “It’s not worth as much as you think.”
“Did I ask?”
