Page 33 of Dark Things
The diner’s decor is a simple country feel with shiny countertops and red plastic booths. The scent of coffee and bacon fill the air, and I wonder if I can get away with eating something before I have to leave.
“Sit anywhere you’d like, hun,” a waitress says from behind the register, ringing up another customer. I glance around and see Gino on the side of the diner where the parking lot is visible. His head is bent over a newspaper, and he’s eating his pie with the other hand. Comfortable. Not even looking around for danger.
I slide into the booth in front of him, facing the opposite way. It puts me in a vulnerable position, but it’s the only way for him not to see my face or what I’m doing.
The waitress steps up and goes to hand me a menu with a smile. “I’ll give you a minute to decide what you want.”
I clear my throat, waving away the menu. “No need. I’ll have a cup of coffee and a side ofbacon.”
She offers me a smile and turns to leave me be. I slide my phone onto the tabletop and start flipping through it with my left hand. On my right, I slip the phone Haunt gave me and open the app. The program loads and green numbers and letters rapidly flow over the screen. I glance at it to make sure it’s running properly before sliding it under my thigh out of view.
A text from Haunt comes in a moment later, and I lift my head to stare out the window.
Haunt: You good?
Me: Yeah, the program is up and loaded. How long did Hex say before I could leave?
Haunt: It needs about five minutes to get in and then it depends on how much data is on the phone. He said a minute or two if it’s not much. I have a visual on both of you, I’ll text if there’s any movement.
Me:
The waitress comes back with my coffee and bacon, placing it in front of me. “Need anything else?”
I shake my head and pick up the creamer to put in my coffee but she doesn’t leave. I look up and she’s staring down at me with curiosity in her eyes. Fuck.
“Haven’t seen you around here before. Usually only my regulars come in this late.”
Internally I’m screaming at this lady to mind her own business, but I can’t draw that much attention to myself. “I’m actually on my way home from a friend’s. Figured I’d stop and get a coffee and some food before I keep on driving, ya know, to keep me awake.”
She smiles again and pats my hand. “Okay, let me know if you need a refill or something more than just the bacon.”
Offering her a tight smile, I go back to scrolling through my phone. The booth creaks behind me, and my whole body tenses. Gino gets up from his booth and circles around to the counter. He gives the waitress some money before he slips out the door.
I close my eyes and count to ten. The need to rush out and tackle him so I can get what we need is fucking infuriating. I glance down at the cloning device and see the program is halted on the screen.
The text comes through seconds after.
Haunt: Did you get anything?
Me: Have no idea. I’ll send it over to Hex and see if it was enough time.
I close out the app and click on the link to get to the message board that will bring me to the portal we use for our merc jobs.
Pitch: Sending over the intel now. Don’t know if it was a complete upload before the mark left.
Hex: I’ll take a look and let you know if I need more. May not be worth it for another go-round. These guys are smarter than the boss gives them credit for.
Pitch: What if I can get the phones of three more players. Think you could work your magic?
Hex: Have you met me? Of course I can make it happen
Pitch: You’re lucky I like you
Hex: You’re lucky to have me
I roll my eyes and get up from the table, finishing the last of my coffee. I don’t bother waiting for the check. I throw down a twenty and walk out into the night. Hopefully this fucking side quest wasn’t for nothing.
13
