Dark Road Rising Read online

"

  "And you, too. "

  "What's the big deal? Fix this mess, then take a vacation. Retire if that's what you want. "

  Kroun stared like I'd gone around the bend. Retirement in his line of work nearly always involved a funeral.

  "You'll have to do the fixing anyway," I went on. "Odds are they're already wise to there being no body in that car, and they've been asking questions. My way they go home alive. Your way, they either get killed or kill other people, making an even bigger mess, and-"

  He held a hand up, forestalling further persuasion. "Yeah- yeah, okay, enough already. I'll put the fix in. But you are going to owe me. "

  I worked hard not to show too much relief. He'd made a choice I could live with. I'd worry about the debt later.

  "But not like this," he added.

  "Like what?"

  He gestured at himself. "Looks are everything in this game. "

  What?

  "You want me to play? Get me cleaned up first. "

  He had to be kidding.

  "Use your noodle. I'm not going anywhere fast looking like a train wreck. "

  I got my mental gearbox shifted. Finally. He did look pretty ridiculous. He must have clothes back at his hotel or wherever he'd stayed before the explosion. We could go there and pick them up.

  "What about him?" I pointed to Handsome Hank on the floor.

  "You got rope, don't you?" Kroun turned and went upstairs.