Page 75 of Retribution

I see Janet behind the counter shaking her head. She gives Lu the finger where Jacob can’t see.

He goes back to his phone after a moment and keeps slurping at his cup. My latte arrives, and I try to drink it, mostly to have something to do while we wait for Jacob to shit his pants.

I check the clock. Why does time go so slowly when you want something to happen, and vice versa?

Lu pretends to speak to me about our upcoming Shakespeare project. I say very little because I don’t even know enough about the guy to bullshit.

Finally, after what seems like hours, Jacob makes a noise of discomfort.

‘Are you okay?’ I ask.

‘Your mountain man. He looks very pale,’ Lu says. ‘Too much ofzeprotein,perhaps?’

‘I…uh…’ He clutches his stomach. ‘Jesus.’

‘Oh, I hope it’s not the same thing as Nurse Smith,’ I murmur. ‘She sort of looked like that this morning before she had to run for the bathroom.’

Jacob lurches to his feet. ‘There’s a bathroom here, right?’

‘In the back, sir,’ Janet supplies. ‘Red door.’

He looks at me and then the doorway to the back, looking torn.

‘Go,’ Lu commands. ‘We will wait here. I keep my friend safe.’

Jacob nods and lurches across the café, narrowly missing another server carrying a tray of drinks. He apologizes loudly and sprints the rest of the way, disappearing into the back. A door slams half a second later.

‘How long will he be like that?’ Lu asks, staring after him.

‘Hours, I think.’

‘Hours, you think?’ she chuckles. ‘Oh, no.Zemountain man left his phone.’

Lu slips it into her pocket.

‘What are you going to do with it?’

‘Keep it with me. If he can track it, he’ll come find me, hoping you’re with me.’

I nod. ‘Good idea.’

She winks. ‘I know. Now, what the fuck has been going on? I don’t want to sound like an asshole, but you look like shit, dude. I tried to see you, but they wouldn’t let me in. They said you were sick.’

I take her hand and squeeze it. ‘I can’t…’

Tears come to my eyes, and I can’t force out anymore words about the past few days.

‘I will,’ I breathe, ‘but not now. I just… I can’t.’

My friend squeezes my hand back. ‘I get it. You been through some shit.’

‘I been through some shit,’ I parrot, trying for a small smile.

Lu gives me another wink. ‘When you’re ready, okay, babe? If you wanna talk, I’ll listen. Then I’ll help you plot your revenge.’

I nod jerkily, taking several deep breaths. ‘Revenge. Yeah. Definitely.’

‘Okay. Now, get your fucking head back in the game. It’s go-time. The red Miata is in the parking lot around back. My cousin, Sark, is waiting. He’ll take you wherever you need to go.’