Killing Is My Business

by Michael Todd

  “Thank you.” Katie took the card and read it: “Under the Skirts Tailoring.” She smirked, holding back a chuckle. It was clever, and cute in a way. She put the card in her pocket and stood up to shake Mamacita’s hand.

  “Thank you for seeing me without an appointment,” Katie said.

  “Anything for a friend of Armani.” She smiled.

  Katie nodded and walked out of the room and back down the hall, this time seeing herself out.

  As she passed the rooms in the hallway she could see the girls—most not much older than her—dressed in lingerie, sitting on their beds and working on various things.

  One girl was studying, another drawing, and a third was going through a photo album. Katie couldn’t help but be saddened by it all. These girls were so young and full of life, but they had to sell their bodies to survive.

  Oddly enough, she kind of knew how that felt—just not in a sexual way. She had given her body over to the demon inside her, and now did things she had never imagined, just for survival.

  She left the house feeling down instead of happy like she had thought she would be from fulfilling Armani’s wishes. She walked back down the street past the guys, who were still unconscious in their own blood, around the corner and back to the SUV.

  She had to push forward; there was no way around it.

  When Katie got back to the base, the gate was open. Joshua’s van was parked out front, and the front door to the place was open, so she parked the car and walked over. As she stepped inside the building. Joshua looked up and smiled at her.

  “I-I hope you don’t mind. I borrowed a table from next door and wanted the fresh air, so I set up right in here,” he said, looking around nervously.

  “No, that’s fine.” Katie tried a smile to see if it helped.

  “Um, see here…I marked it on the budget for you.” He pointed to his notebook.

  “That’s great,” she replied, gazing at his figures. Her eyes narrowed and she glanced at him. “Um, Joshua, let me ask you a question. The money that I am going to transfer to you—the money for the company. Do you have plans for it? I mean, is someone going to invest it for you?”

  Joshua shook his head. “No, my dad would have done that. He was always really good at that stuff,” he said, looking down. “But he died three years ago, and I got his tools and some books.”

  “How about your mom?” Katie asked, stepping a little closer. “Can she help you?”

  He shook his head. “She passed away six months before my dad. I think she…she kept him alive, you know?” He looked like he was pleading with her to understand.

  Katie sighed, and a feeling of sadness moved quickly through her. She couldn’t tell if it was empathy or her own loss that had conjured it.

  He sniffled and stood up, shoving one hand in his brown pants pocket and pointed to a pile of things in the floor. He looked up at Katie, but quickly looked away again. Katie slowly walked over to the pile of tools and realized quickly that she was looking at a small forge.

  “Oh, wow,” Katie said, bending down and studying the forge before looking at Joshua. “Is this how you make the weapons?”

  She pulled out her dagger and looked down at it, imagining Joshua sitting in front of the forge creating the weapons she had used not even twenty-four hours before. They were beautiful, and worth every cent she had paid, if not more.

  She sighed. They were more than that, though.

  They were a work of art by a young man who had lost the most important part of himself—his parents.

  “Yes,” he admitted. “I’m sorry I didn’t have more.”

  Katie shook her head and put her hands on her hips. She looked around the room, thinking, and finally she turned back to him.

  “Joshua, do you want to do this alone?” she asked. “Or would you be happy with help? And where do you live right now?”

  He clasped his hands together and glanced at the door, then at the floor. Her eyes narrowed, and she thought for a moment before walking toward the outside. She stopped in the doorway and stared at his older work van, which was parked out front.

  “What are you doing?” he called nervously.

  “I’m guessing,” she said, looking back at him with a smile. “I have a feeling, and I think that I might be right. Don’t be scared. I promise I will not do anything to hurt you.”

  She turned back and walked over to the van.

  She peeked into the front seat, but there was nothing out of the ordinary—just a bunch of empty water bottles and fast-food wrappers. She walked around the back and opened both doors. There was a twin mattress and some blankets, and his clothes were meticulously folded next to his sleeping area. He was living out of his van. She turned toward Joshua, who had come outside and was standing next to the van.

  “How did you even get onto the base?” she wondered aloud.

  “I was in this really messed-up bar,” Joshua explained. “I heard about the weapons event there. They had some really bad furniture, like all of it was broken. I wanted to fix it, but they offered me a free beer if I wouldn’t, so…”

  He shrugged and smiled up at Katie for the first time since she had met him. This kid was special—even more so than she thought.

  Apparently he wasn’t as timid as she had believed, either.

  “You have some balls, dude.” She laughed. “But you are under my care now as your employer, and I can’t let you sleep in your van.” She thought for a moment. “I might have a place for you to stay, if you don’t mind a bunch of…uh…noise.”

  Katie really didn’t know what to do, but she felt she couldn’t let Joshua sleep in his van. Hopefully she could work out a space for him when the work area was done, but in the meantime he needed a place to stay. She sighed and shrugged, then pulled out her phone and the business card from the brothel. She dialed the number and turned away from Joshua.

  “Mamacita,” Katie said when the lady answered. “This is Katie, Armani’s friend from earlier?”

  “Hello, Katie,” she said happily. “Good to hear from you again. How can I help you?”

  “I need a favor,” Katie said, glancing back at Joshua. “I have a friend—someone special to me and to the people who worked with Armani. He is an employee of mine. He needs a place to stay, just for a little while, and I didn’t know if you had something there. I’d put him in a motel, but I need to know he’s with people who can look out for him.”

  “I don’t normally do that kind of thing, but for you? Of course,” she said. “Just bring him over whenever you are ready.”

  “Thank you so much,” Katie said, letting out a deep breath. “We will see you soon.”

  Katie hung up the phone and looked up at the sky, whispering a “Thank you” to Armani. She put her phone into her pocket.

  “All right, pack your clothes up. I am putting you up in a…uh….” She raised her hands and made air quotes. “A special hotel.”

  He nodded and smiled, then climbed into the back of his van and put his clothes into a bag. Katie waited outside the van, just glad that she wouldn’t have to worry about him at night.

  “Oh,” she said, turning around. “What was the bottom line on that budget you came up with?”

  “One-point-two million,” he said nonchalantly.

  Katie stumbled over a rock and just about fell to the ground.

  17

  After taking Joshua over to Mamacita’s house, Katie went back to the base and passed out for a couple of hours.

  When she got back up, she felt worse than she had before.

  The figure “one-point-two million” was swirling around in her brain.

  “How the hell,” she murmured, “am I supposed to come up with that kind of money?”

  I suppose pulling tricks is out of the question? Pandora asked, a hint of humor in her voice.

  You suppose right, Katie grumped. I’ve invested everything I have already, and then some.

  She pulled herself out of the bed and wandered out to th
e kitchen, where she made herself a cup of tea and sat down by the window. She glanced out, lost in thought.

  “There you are,” Calvin said, walking into the kitchen.

  “Here I am.” Katie sighed and turned toward him, making an effort to smile.

  Calvin grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and sat down across from her. He looked into her cup and glanced at Katie, then leaned back and took a drink of his water.

  “What’s that?” he asked.

  “An unpretentious chamomile,” she replied.

  “Okay, Katie.” He chuckled. “I think I know you well enough to know when something is going on. What’s on your mind?”

  She pursed her lips. “One-point-two million dollars,” she admitted.

  Calvin blinked a couple of times. “Well, that is definitely a lot of dollars for one person to have on their mind.” He rubbed his chin. “Though from the stressed look on your face, I am assuming it is not you coming into one-point-two million dollars?”

  “I wish.” She shook her head. “No, I need one-point-two million dollars, and I have no idea how to get that. I am sitting here thinking seriously about going out on a demon-killing spree just to see how much money I can make in one night. I mean, if that doesn’t work I might have to take Mamacita up on her offer.”

  “Who?” Calvin said.

  “No one.” Katie waved a hand. “I’m just thinking out loud, that’s all. That’s pretty much the only option I have right now.”

  “What in the world do you need that kind of money for?” Calvin asked.

  “Joshua did the budget for the new company.” She put a hand up to her forehead. “Not including the half-million I am paying for the company, he needs one-point-two to make the company actually run. You know, for equipment, salary, renovations, and whatever else. This kid knows his shit and he is pretty frugal, so I don’t think he is yanking my chain.”

  “Well,” Calvin said, pursing his lips, “do you want more partners?”

  Katie slowly looked up from her tea and raised her eyebrow. She didn’t want to completely give up the company she was buying since it was her dream to have one, but it wouldn’t do much good if she couldn’t afford to get it off the ground.

  “Derek bought ten percent of the company for four hundred thousand,” Calvin explained. “Seems to me that gathering three additional partners and giving away another thirty percent might do it for you. You will own sixty percent, so you still have control of the company, but you won’t have to go into all kinds of debt trying to get it off the ground.”

  “Okay.” She nodded, slowly straightening up. “And who did you have in mind for these three other partners?” she looked at him, a glint of hope in her eyes.

  “How about me, Damian, and Korbin?” Calvin smiled.

  “Korbin?” she took a sip of her tea. “Korbin can’t even decide if he likes me. Will he be interested in doing business with me?”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Calvin countered. “He really isn’t a bad guy. He is just careful, that’s all. Plus, he’s loaded. He not only gets a share of our captures, but he gets money from the higher-ups for being who he is. He never spends any of it, either. That being said, he is a savvy business man, so I am calling dibs for Damian and myself before you go to Korbin. He might offer you more for all thirty percent and I won’t just hand over my chance at part of the company like that. I may be a meathead and a muscle in the group, but I do have some brains when it comes to being an entrepreneur. Number one thing to remember is, don’t hand shit over to just anyone.”

  “Right,” Katie said with a smirk. “But why wouldn’t I just go to him now that you have given me that handy-dandy information? I mean, I wouldn’t be much of a businesswoman if I passed up the highest bid like that, now would I?”

  “I see what you’re doing,” he said, shaking his finger at her and then pointing at himself while making a puppy-dog face. “You wouldn’t want this face staring at you as long as you are alive, would you?”

  “God, I try not to have the other face staring at me.” She wrinkled her nose, grimacing playfully. “Your ugly mug would give me nightmares if I had to stare at it every day.”

  “Hey, now!” he said. “No need to be mean. I think I am quite handsome. I was indeed a ladies’ man in my former life.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you were.” She laughed. “But apparently not a very good businessman, giving the competition’s secrets to me over the table like that.”

  He shook his head, looking hurt. “No, see, that is me showing my moral and ethical commitment to the company.” He put his hand on his chest. “You know you can trust me to tell the truth, no matter what.”

  “Or use that to con me out of something.” She chuckled. “I know you…you are smart, no matter what act you put on.”

  “I would be stupid to con you, since you could rip my head off my shoulders,” he countered.

  “That, sir, is very true.” Katie sighed. “Okay, I’ll go with the three-way split. BUT, the amount to buy in is four hundred and fifty thousand. Derek did the deal without really knowing anything about what he was getting himself into. He took more of a risk, so he got a better deal.”

  “Well, hot damn,” he said, plopping his hands on the table next to them and standing up. “You’ve got yourself a deal, at least on my part.”

  He stuck out his hand enthusiastically and bemusedly Katie shook it, chuckling. She really hoped that he was right about Damian and Korbin, since they were pretty much her only hope of coming up with that kind of money that fast.

  Otherwise it might take her years to save that money, and she didn’t know if she had years. Her line of work was damned dangerous, and the weapons they would build would be instrumental in creating a better environment for everyone involved.

  An environment in which they could stay alive long enough to make enough weapons to…stay alive long enough.

  Calvin sat back down at the table and they talked about the business: her thoughts on it, and the security of it all.

  It looked like things might just be back on track.

  It was late afternoon, and Calvin and Katie were still sitting there talking about the business.

  He was excited; just as excited as she had been when she had first decided to buy the thing. It was turning out to be a bit more complicated than she had thought it would be. Katie was just about to grab a pad of paper and start jotting down notes when Jeremy poked his head around the corner.

  “Hey,” he said. “I was looking for you. Is sparring still on in five minutes?”

  Katie looked at him in confusion for a moment, unaware that the hours had flown by.

  She looked down at the table and then at her watch, shaking her head. She had completely forgotten about training—one of the most important things in the game so far.

  “Shit.” She jumped up. “Uh, let me change my clothes and I’ll meet you down in the training center in five minutes.” She took her cup and saucer to the sink, rinsed them, and put them in the dishwasher. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s all good.” Jeremy laughed. “You are obviously engrossed in something important. I’ll be down there waiting for you.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled as she glanced at Calvin. “We’ll pick this back up later.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He smiled.

  Katie ran up to her room and changed quickly, ignoring Pandora’s yawns.

  When she got downstairs Jeremy was waiting for her in the middle of the pit. They immediately started to spar, and though it was tough at first, Katie started to get warmed up.

  “I learned that I need to move my feet a lot more at that last fight,” Jeremy said, throwing a punch that Katie dodged. “I also need to be okay with falling, bobbing, weaving, or generally doing whatever to get the upper hand.”

  “I remember the first time I went out,” Katie said, kicking Jeremy in the side. “I was terrified to drop to my knees, but now it’s one of my signature moves. I don’t know how
many times I have missed a punch by doing that.”

  “I’m sure,” he said, moving to the side and swiping his leg under hers.

  She fell back, but bounced right back up like a spring and swung her leg high, hitting him square in the back with her foot. He fell forward, rolled across the mat, and slid into the wall. He shook his head and got up, jogging back into the middle panting.

  “How are you so damn strong?” he said. “I mean, damn! It felt like a full-grown demon kicked me in the back.”

  “No, that would feel like broken bones.” She laughed. “But in all honesty? It’s the infected in me.”

  I’m not a virus, Katie, Pandora growled. You didn’t catch me, and you can’t Robitussin me away either.

  Katie didn’t respond.

  Oh, so that’s how it is, she grumbled. Don’t want to talk to me when the beefcake is nearby?

  “You just have to center yourself,” she said to Jeremy. “Try to pull from what’s inside you. There is a strength there you haven’t found yet.”

  I’ll show you strength, Pandora growled. Or maybe Hot Cheeks can. Why don’t you wrestle him back in our bed and get me some ass? I mean, hell—it’s been forever. Or are you still the little prude you were when I met you?

  Cut it out, Katie said to Pandora. I am sparring here. Shouldn’t you be focusing your energy on this and not harassing the shit out of me?

  I should be focusing on getting you a dick. Maybe you will loosen up a bit and have fun. Pandora laughed. Maybe this guy will do the trick.

  Pandora tried to take over her hand but Katie fought back, knowing nothing good could come of it when the demon was in that kind of mood. She would end up forcing Katie to grab him by the balls or something equally mortifying.

  While Katie was busy trying to control her limbs, Jeremy took the shot. Katie saw it coming, but before she could dodge the punch his fist hit her chin hard. Jeremy’s uppercut was nothing to be ashamed of, and Katie found herself tumbling ass over elbow across the floor until she came to a sliding, moaning stop.

  “Shit,” Jeremy said, running over to her. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I didn’t think you would actually let that hit you. I would have never swung that hard if I had thought for one second that you would get hurt like that. You’re fucking bleeding and everything.”