The man smiled, a grin that terrified the man sitting across from him. “Do we have a deal?” he asked, his tone holding a distinct threat despite the smile on his lips.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf52koQbp29
His companion nodded with quick jerky movements. “Y-yes. D-deal.”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4fpaDwFN9
“Good.” He leaned back in his chair. “Now, tell me what I want to know.” 162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDeHgtT4FM
“W-well, I, I, uh, don’t know m-much,” started the terrified man. “BUT!” he almost shouted when the smiling man’s face darkened in rage. 162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLxnO07JhC
“But what?" growled the first man, his pleasant smile still in place. “Tell me how to get into the book NOW or your son dies.”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSs9gkrAgY
“I don’t know anything about getting into books!” sobbed the man. “I-I only know there’s this thing, an, an item. Everyone h-has been whispering about it.”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK6Wy1NP9a
He slammed his fists onto the table, his smile twisting. “What. IS. IT?!”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qRXLJCqtp
“A necklace!” sobbed the cowering man. “It’s a necklace! I swear on my son’s life!”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOj8frIaq8
“WHAT KIND OF NECKLACE?” He slammed his fists onto the wood again. “ANSWER ME!” 162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzETx7J7QT
“I-it’s supposed t-to be a silver ch-chain w-with a-a pen. Please don’t kill my son, that’s all I know!”
“Where is it?” His twisted smile looked painful even as his voice dropped to a near whisper.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuGh2hyMsW
“I’ve never seen it! I swear! P-please!” His desperate eyes dropped to the item now held in the villain’s hand.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJn8KxQdPc
In the dark room, it would have been easy to miss the small gun clenched by the smiling man. The gun pointed across the table at his companion.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsBXGUvI1I
“Please,” whispered the panicked father. “I told you what you wanted to know! You said if I did, my son would live! That was the deal!”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnab7vaTzlH
“And he is still living.” He cocked the gun with a casual movement. “I’ll ask you only once more. Where. Is. The. Necklace?”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1rLaopmrk
“I-I-I….” He swallowed hard. “It….. it might… might be at…. At the jewelry st-store.”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1DY6XfjZP
“Finally.” The man’s expression shifted back to a pleasant smile. He stood and nodded to the other man. “Have a lovely rest of your day.” He strode to the door.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWnnjUdHgY
The seated man gasped in relief, pressing a hand over his heart.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4eyRqaTRk
At the door the smiling man turned. A gunshot rang through the silence, followed by a thump and then the slam of a door.
