Kristin’s place opened for business at noon.
After lunch, I tidied up,
grabbed the IOUs and cash,
and hailed a taxi straight to the venue.
Usually, this time of day was pretty quiet.
But as soon as I got out of the car,
I saw seven or eight cars parked at the entrance,
each filled with bodyguards in suits and sunglasses.
I glanced at them and walked in.
The place was sparse, with only a few patrons playing low-stakes games.
I didn’t spot Auntie Wyatt anywhere,
so I headed straight for Kristin’s office with the money.
I knocked and entered, but froze the moment I opened the door.
Kristin looked the same as ever—
her chubby face twisted into an unpleasant expression,
sitting in her armchair with a frown.
Auntie Wyatt stood beside her, face cold.
On the sofa across, a woman sat there.
She was unlike any woman I’d seen before.
Short, neat hair,
dressed in a black suit,
black flat leather shoes,
the top two buttons of her white shirt undone,