104

Allison
It takes a few back-and-forth phone calls, but Jonny Jeffers finally agrees to meet in person. We set a date for the following day, and when the time arrives, Gregory’s on edge.
“I don’t like this situation,” he says, glaring out the car window. We’re being driven by his second-in-command, Sean, and another of their trusted enforcers while two more cars, one in front and one behind, are packed to the brim with armed men. I can’t imagine how we could get any safer short of hiding away in a nuclear bunker.
“I told you, Jonny’s an old hippie,” I say, trying to put him at ease. “It’s not really all that surprising.”
“This should’ve been straightforward, and we should be meeting at our office. Instead, we’re doing… this.” He scowls, shaking his head.
Jonny had been cagey about where he wanted to meet. Gregory felt he was being suspicious, while I only assumed he was acting like his normal goofy self. Eventually, we landed on an old vegan place that isn’t even listed online anymore-it allegedly went out of business-but Jonny claims to have bought the location. It’s in a strip mall on the edge of town.
“I bet he’s trying to show off his new investment,” I say.
“Why would he want us to visit him at a decrepit restaurant?” Gregory asks. “I should be insulted.”
“This is just the kind of guy he is. I bet he’s got the place renovated already and he wants to test the food on us or something like that.”
“Somehow I doubt it.” Gregory taps his fingers against his knee. “How well do you know this man again?”
“Not that well,” I admit, although I’m feeling slightly defensive. It isn’t my fault Jonny’s a weirdo. “Mainly by reputation. We’ve met a few times though.”
“Have you exchanged more than vague pleasantries with him?”
I hesitate, not liking where this is going. “No, but-”
“Then you don’t know the man at all. Could he be working with Paul?”
“I don’t think so,” I say carefully, but I can’t be sure. If I tell him that, he’ll turn this car around, and we’ll lose any chance we have at winning Jonny’s chain.
And we need Jonny’s chain. Now that I’m on the inside, it’s obvious that Gregory’s struggling to find anyone willing to do business with him. Paul’s got the whole city terrified and on edge, which means Gregory’s having trouble getting people to so much as take his calls.
“I did my research,” he says, his voice quiet and solid. “Jonathan Jeffers has a clean record. No outstanding debts. No arrest warrants, no prior trouble with the law. Grandchildren in high school, children in professional jobs. Lawyer, doctors, that sort of thing. His family is in good shape.”
“Then why would he need to work with a man like Paul? See, you’re being paranoid.”
He glances at me. “It’s always the clean ones I worry about most.”
“Convenient.”
“Everyone has some dirt. If I dug hard enough, I could find something on almost anyone. Including you, little wife. But Jeffers is clean. He’s too damn clean, and I don’t like it.”
“You’re being paranoid. This is just a business meeting, okay? You’ll wow him with your massive offer, and I’ll charm him with my… well, my massive charm. We’re a great team.”
He doesn’t seem convinced, but at least he stops arguing. There’s not much else to say-we’re doing this. We reach the strip mall, and I’m surprised to find it nearly empty. Only a few other cars are parked in front of a dollar store, but everything looks abandoned. The retail apocalypse really hit this place hard, it seems. Cardboard’s covering most of the shop windows, and weeds grow in cracks in the pavement. The grass looks like it hasn’t been cut in a few weeks.
The vegan spot is at the end of the row on the far side. All that’s left of the original advertising are a few faded window decals of sad-looking cucumbers. Gregory’s cars approach and park. It seems dead: no sign of Jonny or anyone else. Hell, there’s no sign out front at all. If he really did buy this location and he does plan on renovating, he definitely hasn’t started yet.
“I want you to remain in the car,” Gregory says. He’s sitting at attention, scanning the area.
“That’s not what we discussed.”
“My men will sweep the interior to make sure it’s safe. Once I’m sure this isn’t a trap, you may enter.”
“Gregory-”
“Don’t argue with me,” he says firmly, turning to stare into my eyes. His expression is hard, and there’s a hint of worry in his tone. “For once, do as I say.”
I shut my mouth, work my jaw, but I nod. I hate giving in to him, but I can’t keep on fighting for no reason. And besides, he’s right-it can’t hurt to check the place first. It’ll turn up nothing and Gregory will relax enough to let this meeting happen.
Which it desperately needs to if he has any hope of competing with Paul legitimately.
His men get out of the cars and head toward the building. I watch anxiously as they file inside, six big guys with hands on guns. Gregory’s waiting nearby, leaning up against the front bumper and speaking with Sean in hushed tones. Nobody looks happy. I wish I could hear what was going on, but after a surprisingly long time, one of Gregory’s men comes back out from the building and jogs over. He looks grim.
An ugly feeling fills my stomach.
Could this really be some kind of trick? Jonny Jeffers has never been anything but a legitimate businessman-but maybe he got mixed up with Paul after all. That or Paul somehow threatened him.
Gregory follows the soldier inside. Another long time passes. Each second is an agony. It’s obvious something’s wrong, but nobody’s bothering to tell me anything, like I’ve been forgotten. I can’t sit still and finally unclick my seatbelt. Sean’s still out front, keeping an eye on the parking lot, when I step out of the SUV.
“What’s going on in there?” I ask him.
He looks uncomfortable. “Please wait in the car. I know it’s boring-”
“Is he going through with this meeting without me?” It’s an irrational fear, but I wouldn’t put it past Gregory. “Is that what this is all about?”
“No,” Sean says, shaking his head. “It’s not safe right now. Please, just stay in the car. We’re almost done.”
“Done with what?” I’m about to go storming into the building to demand some answers when the door opens and Gregory comes out.
His face is hard. He spots me standing outside of the SUV and I swear a vein pops out of his forehead. Sean turns white as he ushers me into the back seat. “Just stay here for both our sakes,” Sean whispers, looking anxious, before he closes the door.
Gregory comes over and the two men talk. I’m on the verge of panic. I have no clue what’s going on here, but it can’t be good. Based on their expressions and body language, something very wrong has happened.
Finally, Gregory climbs back into the car beside me and shuts the door.
We’re quiet. I say nothing. He’s staring straight ahead. He smells like mold, musty and dank, like he waded into an ancient swimming pool. “Jonny’s dead,” he says. “It’s a mess in there.”
I stare at him. The words make no sense. “Are you kidding?”
“No, I’m not. We found his body inside.”
“I don’t believe you. We didn’t even get a meeting with him. I mean, why would he be dead now? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Paul must’ve heard.” But Gregory doesn’t seem convinced. “I don’t know how it happened, but Jonny’s gone.”
I sit back, stunned. Jonny Jeffers was a Portland lifer, practically a tourist attraction in his own right. How could that old man be gone? He was like a piece of the city itself, and now he’s gone, all because he took our call and agreed to a meeting.
“What happened?” My voice is soft. It trembles with the strain. “Are you sure it was Paul?”
“Jonny was shot in the forehead.” He stares down into his lap. “Both of his hands were cut off. His tongue was removed. His heart-”
“I don’t want to hear more,” I say, squeezing my eyes shut. I feel sick, stifled. Sweat drips down my back. “Was there… is there a note?”
“No note. No sign of struggle. That’s the strange part.” Gregory turns to face me. “When you set the meeting with him, did he say anything?”
“He seemed anxious, but nothing that made me pause.”
“Anxious, how?”
“The way everyone’s anxious to get anywhere near you.”
Gregory grunts. “You think that was it?”
“I don’t know for sure.”
“Was there more? Could there have been-”
He doesn’t finish that sentence.
The roar of an engine draws our attention.
Sean’s shouting, and Gregory’s suddenly on top of me.
There’s a loud explosion, and the world flips upside down.