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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTKF4EhDNM
His companion nodded with quick jerky movements. “Y-yes. D-deal.”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKLTAIj1pj
“Good.” He leaned back in his chair. “Now, tell me what I want to know.” 41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoZNE9f9eV
“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. 41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtX4UN5SLi5
“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.”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbHziE6R4D
“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.”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezenUU7zg6
He slammed his fists onto the table, his smile twisting. “What. IS. IT?!”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p9MgNcKFp
“A necklace!” sobbed the cowering man. “It’s a necklace! I swear on my son’s life!”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymxBxdmEtQ
“WHAT KIND OF NECKLACE?” He slammed his fists onto the wood again. “ANSWER ME!” 41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9o604SN5i
“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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL7yAXLcbz
“I’ve never seen it! I swear! P-please!” His desperate eyes dropped to the item now held in the villain’s hand.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwV24eg4rv
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhMHqVPeX5
“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!”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdnOURSNHl
“And he is still living.” He cocked the gun with a casual movement. “I’ll ask you only once more. Where. Is. The. Necklace?”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NJj9d1JF8
“I-I-I….” He swallowed hard. “It….. it might… might be at…. At the jewelry st-store.”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUE8zkwVno
“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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9F87cNDPN
The seated man gasped in relief, pressing a hand over his heart.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl6tVRikGr
At the door the smiling man turned. A gunshot rang through the silence, followed by a thump and then the slam of a door.
