Jeez, it’s a little early to be meeting your friends, thinks Emily.

A guy in a trench coat approaches Emily, waving at her, smiling broadly, big friendly grin.

Emily texts, Yeah I see him now. We’ll wait for you.

She waves back to Joey and smiles as he approaches.

16.

16.

Zack looks at a woman through the window at Mali’s. Sitting alone. Clearly terrified. Clearly the client.

Late forties. Petite. Pretty. And who knows—maybe she was trying to have an abusive husband killed? Or a sexually abusive boss? Maybe she felt as cornered as Zack does.

Zack is pretty certain she has no idea what Joey looks like. Nothing done in person. All arranged by phone call.

Zack slides smoothly, silently, into the booth across from her.

She looks up, startled.

He stares at her silently, blankly. Channeling an assassin he’s never met.

He watches her shift uncomfortably. Senses her struggling to breathe evenly.

“Joey?”

Zack waits before answering. Thinking it through. This needs to be right. “Joey couldn’t make it,” he says. “And here’s your problem, Miss Whatever-Your-Name-Is, and don’t even tell me. In my hands here, I’ve got Joey’s phone, and on it is clear evidence that you ordered a professional hit from Joey, tried to have someone killed, and I can take this phone right to the police, and I will, unless you do exactly what I say.”

He sees the expression on her face. Her eyes go wide. Absorbing it. Absorbing how she has fallen into this dark hole. Stunned. Terrified.

“Do what I say,” Zack says, a little less harshly, sympathetically, “and you won’t get hurt.”

Stunned, terrified, she nods understanding.

“Lucky for you, your hit didn’t happen so you can still go free. We can both pretend you never hired Joey.”

She nods mutely. Obedient. Ready to get out of the trouble she’s in. Ready to emerge from this world that she foolishly, mistakenly entered.

“I will explain what you need to do…but first, we have a phone call to make.”

Zack dials the phone.

Joey picks up. Gruff. Insolent. “Guess you’re finally—”

Zack cuts him off. “I’m sitting here with your client, Joey. Say hello, client. She’s not too happy that you screwed up, Joey. Not too happy to be with me. Not too happy the evidence against both of you is on this phone. Pretty scared overall. Here’s what’s gonna happen, Joey. Your client and I are going to meet you back at the GreenGirl in full view of dozens of people so you don’t put a bullet into anyone. And you’re gonna take your phone back, and I’m gonna walk out with your client, and—”

Now Joey cuts Zack off, furious. “Your timing’s pretty good, Zack,” says Joey. “’Cause I’m here with Emily. Say hi, Emily.”

Muffled, whimpering, terrified, “Zack, help!” before the phone is yanked away.