Page 30 of Cash

Who was I? Who was this whimpering, shivering little wimp? Oh, right. A woman at the end of her rope. Who felt as though she was being torn in half.

“What’s so difficult about what we’re asking you to do? You draw blood. You store it. You deliver it when the time comes.”

“And when does that time come?”

“Once you’re finished with the shifter, of course.”

Horror washed over me. “I don’t know how long that will take.”

“It would be in your best interest to work quickly, then, wouldn’t it? Of course, as far as we’re concerned, you can take as long as possible. Weeks, frankly. The more blood, the better.”

Weeks? No. Not going to happen.

“How would you even know if I’m finished with him?”

“Oh, we’ll know.”

“But how?”

“Are you trying to create a plan? Is that what this is? Getting as much information as possible so you can think up ways to trick us?”

“No. I’m only trying to—”

“Stop trying.” They weren’t toying with me anymore. That light, teasing tone of voice was history. “We’re watching you. We’ve been watching you for days. If you keep going to the lab, we know you’re still working with the shifter. It’s really very simple.”

Yes. Very simple. They had me trapped. “I can’t deliver the blood before then?”

“No. You cannot.”

They were following me. They would know if I was still reporting to the lab. They’d know if I never left my workstation, just like they would know if I never left the apartment.

“So I have no choice but to finish my work before I can get my nephew back.”

“You really are a very intelligent woman. No wonder you do the work you do. It’s remarkable.”

“Let me talk to Tommy.” I was tired. So tired. Of everything. It was time to stop letting them lead me around like a puppet on a string.

“You think you’re calling the shots on this phone call?”

“As long as I have a fridge full of something you want, yes. I do. There’s no other way you’ll ever be able to get what you want without me. We both know that.”

Silence. My heart was firmly in my throat as I waited for them to reply. Who were they? I wished I could at least imagine a face, surroundings, something. The faceless, shapeless creature I imagined only added to my terror.

“Be careful what you ask him,” they finally replied.

I shook with relief. I had passed a test. They had admitted I was holding a few cards of my own. If I only had the guts to play them.

“I will,” I promised.

“If you say anything—anything at all—that we decide is even slightly leading…”

We. He kept saying “we.” Who was listening? Bad enough I had to speak to this person, but knowing there were others listening in as he broke me down was almost too to bear.

“I understand. Nothing is more important than hearing his voice right now.”

“So be it.” A sound. Muffled talking. His hand over the speaker? I kept imagining the person on the other end as male, even though the voice was so deeply disguised. I chewed my lip until it bled, held my breath until I felt lightheaded. What if he hated me? What if they fed him stories about me not wanting him? I couldn’t bear it. It would kill me.

“Aunt Cari?” So unsure of himself. Pain screamed through my chest.

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