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Chapters (57)
  1. Welcome to the Game
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Epigraphs
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. Six months later . . .
  56. Acknowledgments
  57. Back Cover

Spencer shook his head. He squished the ice pack against his eye socket. “That man in there, he’ll never be on our side. He’s the most dangerous thing you’ve ever met.”

Chris pondered for a moment. “I’m not sure about that.”

37

37

Outrun by Fate

Spencer didn’t like the fact that Chris’s apartment was open plan.

The Yo-Yo watched him as he went from fridge to freezer to liquor cabinet. Vodka, beer, brandy, and bourbon. All of it went down the sink. At the same time, he put together a sandwich he didn’t really want. As he sliced some cheese, the TV was suddenly muted.

“I counted the knives,” said the Yo-Yo. “And I sleep light.”

Spencer said nothing. He took his sandwich out onto the fire escape. As the TV volume went back up, Spencer opened the fire escape fridge. He’d known for some time that Chris would probably have listened to his doctor by now and stopped drinking if it weren’t for him. He wanted to trash all the alcohol and not just for their benefit; he didn’t want the guy on the couch drinking any more of their beer even if they didn’t want it anymore. At the same time, he knew he couldn’t afford to provoke him. He left a six-pack. One by one, he emptied the others over the fire escape. As he watched the tentacles of foamy liquid twist down into the darkness, he was struck by a newfound ease with which he considered others. And the novelty of it shamed him.

He took the cushions from the fire escape couch through to Abby’s room where he made himself a bed on the floor. Abby was fast asleep. Spencer looked at her. Tomorrow he’d have to think hard. He knew he was finished. He was going to have to do the job for McGrath. And then McGrath would surely kill him. The real question now was how to ensure Chris and Abby survived. He didn’t believe for one moment that McGrath wanted anyone left to tell tales.

He’d just laid down when Chris’s face appeared around the door.

“Our friend is asleep.”

“I’m happy for him.”

“Come through to my room.” He left without waiting for a reply.

Spencer flopped back with a great sigh. He gave himself a moment before getting back on his feet and padding into the hallway. He glanced into the living room. The TV was still on. The Yo-Yo was stretched out on the couch, eyes shut, fully clothed but for his white-socked feet. Spencer would have liked to at least hear a snore, something to convince him the man really was asleep and no longer monitoring his surroundings. Even asleep, Spencer was scared of him. He didn’t have any trouble admitting it to himself.