“Is everything good?” Sol asked, leaning over the armrest.

“Yeah,” Theo said, looking into his side mirrors. Kai could tell he was nervous. He didn’t know this area or this guy they were meeting; he probably couldn’t even name a rapper from this part of the city. She damn sure couldn’t. Sol leaned back, clearly unpersuaded. Kai didn’t blame her.

A slate-colored Astro van coasted up behind them, creeping up to the bumper and flashing its lights. Kai watched the side mirror as Theo got out to meet the driver.

“George,” she heard the driver say as his reflection stuck his hand out his window, the van’s engine still grumbling.

“Jack,” Theo replied, meeting George’s hand with his own. They seemed to find comfort in their mutual deceptions.

“So, Jack, you got the money?” George asked.

“Yep, all I need are the keys,” Theo responded.

“Good. I filled her up, got her some oil, and cleaned her out. Should be good to go.”

“Okay,” Theo said, brandishing his wallet. He removed ten one-hundred-dollar bills and counted them aloud, slowly. George silently watched. When Theo finished, George turned off the car and stepped out, handing him the keys. He was a strange man. Kai couldn’t tell his age. But his wardrobe, a breezy linen suit with impeccably white Pumas and Adidas high socks, placed him somewhere between thirty-two and thirty-nine. He probably has a Freaknik shirt, she thought.

Theo took the keys and climbed into the van, testing the engine with a few revs. It sounded fine. Kai could sense his satisfaction. The air conditioning must have been on. Satisfied, he climbed down, putting the cash in George’s hand. George quickly pocketed it, nodding his head. He started to walk off, but then he took out three hundred dollars and handed it back to Theo. “The brakes don’t work so well,” he said cryptically, again turning to walk away. He quickly disappeared around the block.

Theo hopped back into the van. Kai and Zed joined him, gas containers in tow, eager. Finally, it was going down.

“You gave Apollo your keys, right?” Theo asked, watching Zed fumble with the front passenger seat seat belt. She nodded affirmatively, clicking the buckle into place. Theo turned his eyes to the rearview mirror. “And Sol has my keys, right?”

He flinched as his question was answered by a hellish flash from his Civic’s bright brake lights. “Yep!” Kai chortled. Theo cracked a smile, his nervousness dissolving.

Theo started the van, accelerating and turning into the street in order to pull up beside Sol. Kai thought he was going to stop, but they kept rolling.

° ° °

“Typical,” Sol sighed as she watched the van continue rolling despite the red gleam of its brake lights. Impatiently, she pulled out the burner she’d been given and dialed Andromeda, one of the phone’s only two programmed numbers. Zed answered, muttering something about brakes. Sol didn’t laugh as the van’s taillights crawled out of sight. She placed Zed on hold and dialed Titan, the phone’s other programmed number. Apollo answered, bewildered. She shushed him and explained the situation, along with a change of plans, hanging up before he could respond. Clicking back over to Zed, she commandeered the mission.