“Hmm. All right, Boss.”

Emily nodded and turned to Handshake. The man’s handsome face was a bit red, and she suspected that he was having a hard time breathing. “Loosen your grip on him, please. He can’t talk,” Emily said.

She felt a little like she did when she dove to the very bottom of a pool and just allowed herself to sink, like she was weightless and floating.

“Miss Wright,” Handshake said.

“We’re not going to kill you,” she said, more for Teddy’s benefit than the man’s. “But, but you threatening me . . . that’s not acceptable, Mister Handshake.”

“I understand. I’m sorry,” he said. His confident little smile was long gone, replaced by the sheepish look of someone caught red-handed. “I was trying to do the best for both of us?”

She didn’t believe him, not one bit. “How does your power work?” she asked. “Do you even have a power?”

“I do!” he said. “I can make deals with people. I know what people want and what they’ll accept in a deal.”

Emily frowned at the news. “Then why did you threaten me?” she asked.

He swallowed. “I could get a better deal out of you if you’re under pressure.”

“And . . . and you didn’t think I would be hurt by that?” she asked.

He froze up. “Um. It’s more that I didn’t think your friend would turn into a bear.”

She crossed her arms again. “That’s . . . Mister Handshake, you’ve been dealing with me in bad faith,” she said.

The man started to tremble, especially as Teddy growled her displeasure.

“How about a new deal, then?” he asked. “I’m sure I can make it worth your while!”

CHAPTER TEN

Born Knowing

Teddy walked just a bit ahead of the Boss with her head held high and her chest puffed out. She was allowed to look so prideful because she’d done a good job.

That guy in the hidden bar place had been supersuspicious from the start. Asking the Boss for money and favors in exchange for information. She was pretty sure he was one of those capitalists she’d been warned about.

So at the first sign of him being crooked, she’d used her power and she put the fear of the proletariat—and of the Boss—in him.

Now they were on their way back home, and Teddy was sure that the Boss would give her something nice for all her hard work.

The Boss was a bit busy though. She had one hand up, holding a phone close to her face so that she could read all the information she’d gotten from the Handshake guy, while her other hand was safely guarded by Teddy’s own.

“Found anything good, Boss?” Teddy asked.