Asking For Trouble Read Online Free PDF Page B

to keep track of.”
    Harry signaled, and the SUV pulled a U-turn in the street and stopped in front of them. Stein was behind the wheel. Chalmers and Tripplehorn weren’t around. Harry bundled Matt into the rear of the vehicle, and Stein reversed back into traffic. Stein kept to downtown, driving with no particular destination in mind.
    “You betrayed us, Matt,” Harry said.
    Stein just shook his head.
    “You wanted me to kill a man.”
    “He killed a child.”
    “But I can’t kill him. That would make me no different.”
    Harry snorted. “If you don’t kill him, you’re no different than him. He’s a coward, and so are you.”
    This logic made Matt’s head swim. “Hang a left here,” Harry instructed.
    Stein parked the SUV in an industrial vacant lot in the shadow of a half-demolished warehouse. Harry flipped Matt over and zip-tied his hands together. Both men dragged him from the vehicle and dumped him on his knees in front of the dazzle of the headlights. Harry put a revolver against Matt’s forehead. Matt closed his eyes and waited for the trigger to be pulled.
    “Open your eyes,” Harry growled.
    Before Matt had a chance to respond, Stein kicked him in the back, sending him sprawling onto his face. Harry lifted Matt back to his knees. He put his face close to Matt’s.
    “Playtime is over, son. You’ve got to make your mind up. Are you going to kill this guy? Because if you aren’t...” Harry cocked the revolver. “You know we can’t have you knowing what you know.” Harry stood and pointed the gun at Matt’s forehead again. “What’s it to be, son?”
    Matt stared at the gun’s muzzle. Kill or be killed. What a choice. He would have liked to tell Harry to go to hell, but Harry was probably right about him. He
was
a coward.
    “I’ll do it,” Matt said.
    “Are you sure about that? I don’t want you repeating this disappearing act tomorrow night.”
    “Don’t worry, you’ll get your head for your trophy room,” Matt snarled.
    Harry smiled and lowered the gun. “Good.”
    He nodded to Stein, who cut Matt’s wrists free.
    “I think you can find your own way back,” Stein said.
    The Taskmasters returned to the SUV.
    Getting into the vehicle, Harry said, “And I wouldn’t think about running. Your picture is in the hand of every cop down at the bus station and train station. You could always thumb a ride or even steal one out of town, but know this: we’re watching you. You’re on a very tight leash from now on. Oh, and Matt...”
    Matt looked up.
    “You’ve got two nights. If Terrance Robinson isn’t stiff by then, you will be.”
    ***
    Terrance Robinson smiled and shook hands with the young couple. Their loan application must have been a successful one judging from their broad smiles. When the couple walked away, Robinson beckoned to Matt. Robinson walked him through the loan application procedure. He was very thorough, and Matt nodded at all the right times. Robinson printed off an application then excused himself while Matt completed the form.
    Matt scanned the paperwork then wrote across the top of the form: Y OU’RE A HIT-AND-RUN KILLER .
    Robinson returned to his desk and Matt handed him the application. The color drained from the loan manager’s face as the sheet of paper slipped from between his fingers. His lips couldn’t form a response.
    “I know you killed that girl, and I’ve been sent to kill you.”
    “I...I...didn’t.”
    Matt held up a hand to silence Robinson’s gibbering. “Doesn’t matter. It’s been decided that you have to die.”
    Robinson’s eyes flitted from person to person in the bank.
    “They can’t help you.” Matt let him see the gun tucked into the front of his pants. “It’s closing time in a few minutes. Just excuse yourself early. You’re having a business meeting with me. Make a fuss and you’ll still have to explain about the girl you killed. It’s a no-win situation for you. Are we cool?”
    Robinson nodded.
    “Good.