Page 98 of Being Lost

He leans in closer. “Like that promised blow job.”

He’s still chuckling, presumably at the expression on my face, when he disappears into the bathroom.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Lost

Iremain smiling as I finish my day’s preparations and fully dressed, leave my room. Patsy’s face at my declaration had been a picture to remember. Her mock shock had made me laugh. At least my comment had broken the tension.

Look at us. Our feelings already so deep for the other, we’d both be prepared to sacrifice ourselves for each other. Truth is, with Patsy waiting for me, and me still not having felt her lips around my cock, make me more determined than ever to return to her without so much as a scratch. Knowing what I already do about my soon-to-be old lady, that goes for all my men too. She wouldn’t appreciate me leaving anyone behind.

Now we’ve got to prepare and minimise all risk.

As I appear, Dart whistles loudly and points toward the meeting room. A subdued crowd follows me in.

I wait until all the seats are filled, then immediately get started.

“With all the excitement yesterday, we heard Niran’s account but nothing from Reboot and Smoker. Let’s rectify that now.” As my eyes fall on the last man I’ve named, I notice he’s looking particularly pale today. His chest moves fast as though he’s taking in shallow and frequent breaths. At the very least the man might require oxygen. I’ll have to ask. In my view, he’s got weeks, not months, unless he accepts some help.

It’s he who first raises his fingers. I raise my chin toward him. “They didn’t suspect me, Prez.” He pauses and starts hacking. Pennywise gets up, walks down the table, and puts a sealed bottle of water in front of him. Smoker opens it, gives a grateful nod of thanks, and drinks some. His voice sounds hoarse and noticeably weaker than normal when he continues. “So,” he waves disparagingly at his chest, “I couldn’t stay quiet. A man came out to have a smoke. Hispanic. He investigated who was making all that noise. I bummed a cigarette, and he asked me if I was hungry. I said yes, not thinking anything of it, but wanting to keep up my cover.” He takes another few sips of his water. “He finishes his smoke and goes back inside. Comes out with a tortilla filled with some good shit.”

“Nice fella,” Salem observes. “Get anything out of him?”

“Nah. When I thanked him, he told me he knew what it was like to be hungry. Then he disappeared before I could question him.”

It would have been hard even if the guy had stayed to chat. What could Smoker have asked?Hey, you got the entrance to a tunnel around here?

“While I was eating, I nosed around. That auto-shop place? There’s a back entrance facing the restaurant. The area between the two premises looks like it’s used quite a lot, a well-trodden path. Could be the workers like Mexican food for lunch, or—”

“Or they use the shop for cover for the trucks transporting the immigrants out.” Bones sniffs and glances at me.

I’d like to get into that shop and check it out. “Any lights on there? Anyone working late?”

Smoker shakes his head. “All locked and closed up. I got as close as I could but saw nothing to indicate anyone around.”

I raise my chin toward the man who’s coughing once again. He’d done good, and I convey that with my nod.

“We could go tonight, Lost? See what more we can find. After hours when the restaurant has closed up.”

I nod at Dart, then look around. “Whose lock-picking skills are up to speed?”

“I’ll go.” Token’s raising his hand. “In case they’ve got alarms and shit, I can jam the signal.”

“We’ll go.” Salem knocks his fist against Pennywise’s bunched knuckles.

“How many do you need, Prez?”

I think for a moment. If we turn up in force, it’s more likely we could be spotted. “Me, Token, Niran and Salem.” I pause and glance around. “Dart, you take Grumbler, Blaze and Kink and see if you can find anything in the restaurant. Pennywise, can you take up a spot and keep an eye out for us?”

“Want me to go loaded?”

“Yeah.” Pennywise is a sniper with super powerful sights on his rifle. He’s often our lookout being able to spot trouble from a long way out.

“You’re not leaving me out, Prez.” Smoker speaks up. “They fed me last night. Won’t raise questions if I hang around again tonight. Vagrants will always go back if there’s food around. I’ll have eyes on the ground before closing, see if anything’s moving you need to be given advance warning of.”

“Good idea.” I’d rather he spent the evening in bed, but I’m not going to insult him with that suggestion. “But you stay out of trouble, Smoker, you hear?”

He gives a slight raise of his chin.

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