“Quit your bitching, it’s not like you’re spending the night.”

Tenny looked over at Conners’ unnamed partner and wished he hadn’t. Even if the guy wasn’t built like a linebacker, there was something in his glare that always gave Tenny the creeps. Now he was looking back like he wanted Tenny to say something just so it would give him an excuse to try to beat his ass or worse. He was tempted to say something to see if the dude was as tough as he seemed, but he was there to do a job and that job didn’t include starting any fights.

Instead, Tenny looked back to Conners. “Did you bring her?”

“Did you bring the money?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t see it. You do know I don’t take checks or Venmo. This is a cash business.”

“I know.”

“Then where is it?”

“Where’s the girl?”

Conners smiled. “That’s not the way it works. You’re not paying for her; you’re paying for a location.”

“I don’t think so.”

“No one cares what you think. You give me the money; I tell you where to find the kid. You get her, and we all go home happy.”

“I’m going to need more than your word that she’s where you say she is and that she’s coming back the same way she was before you took her.”

“You know me. I don’t damage the merchandise.”

Tenny looked at Conners’ partner.

He shrugged. “Wear and tear is part of the process but she’s fine.”

“I’m going to need more than your say so,” Tenny repeated.

“What does your client think?” Conners asked. “What’s he going to say if you come back empty-handed?”

“Doesn’t matter. I made it clear that once he employed me, I make the calls.”

“Tenny, you bastard,” Conners’ partner said as he shot up to his feet.

Tenny saw the gun and even though he knew he would never get his in time, he went for it anyway.

The man fired—but not at Tenny.

Everyone looked back at the window and the big hole the Colt .45 had made in it.

The gun swung Tenny’s way, but Tenny already had his own pistol out and pointed it in the man’s direction.

Neither pulled the trigger.

“Someone needs to tell me what the Hell is going on?’ Conners demanded as he got to his feet.

“This guy brought somebody along,” the man said. “He was going to screw us.”

“I didn’t bring anybody,” Tenny retorted.

“Then who was looking in the window?”

Conners shook his head. “Do you remember when I told you to shut the curtains?”

“No,” his partner replied.

“Well, I do,” Conners said. He went to the window and peered down at the corpse. It was a man he’d never seen before. He looked back at the two men still pointing guns at each other and muttered, “Whatever he was doing, we need to get out of here.”

“What about the deal?” Tenny asked.

“We’ll call you.”

“Not acceptable.”

“Sure it is. We still want the money; your client still wants the girl. We can’t do business with a dead man on the doorstep anyway.”

Tenny reluctantly agreed. The police would be there soon, and that wouldn’t be good for any of them.