Bad People Read Free

wanted to meet in a car, on a quiet street. He was told that would not work, that the man would only meet under these conditions. Here in this unpopular espresso shop.
    “You can’t call it off; it’s already done,” said Luke.
    “It can’t be…?”
    “As good as, anyway. I’m going to do it. Whether you pay me or not, whether you sit down and we finish our transaction like businessmen or not. I’m going to do it for sure, and you are culpable, because I’m here for you. Barry, you are a murderer already. I’m only an accomplice. They always turn the accomplice to get at the guy with the most to gain.”
    “Keep your voice down, will you?”
    The barista-girl was still watching them, he was sure. She probably couldn’t hear; Barry still detected loud music leaking from her earbuds. He wanted to run. He couldn’t run.
    Luke leaned in and pretended to whisper. What do they call it? Stage-whispered. “Sit down, Barry. Everything’s okay.”
    Barry sat.
    “I’m sorry I called you a murderer, Barry. That was harsh. I’m still honing my people skills. You’re an experienced businessperson, Barry. You’ve got that polish, you know how to talk with people, I could learn a lot from you, I’m sure. Given that opportunity I would relish it. However, I’m not going to have the opportunity, because, together, we have this one instead. Your problem person is going to go away. I will never see you again, after today. Give me the envelope that’s in your vest pocket and when your person is solved, I’ll send word what to do with the balance of payment. And that is all there is to it.”
    Barry stole a glance back toward the counter.
    “Don’t worry about Ardiss.”
    “Ardiss?”
    Luke inclined his head toward the back room, and the barista-girl, who had disappeared again.
    “Oh,” said Barry. That explained her flirting, and her breaking into laughter. She was spying on him for Luke. Probably his girlfriend. Barry felt ashamed. It made sense.
    Luke leaned forward. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “She doesn’t know, she won’t ever know, the nature, or the details, of our transaction. I had to check you out. You understand. I waited down the street until Ardiss called me. She vouched for you. If it wasn’t for her assessment of you, I wouldn’t have come in at all. She likes you. I like you. This is good for everyone.” He almost smiled, but wiped it away, steeling his face. “Almost everyone. No! Everyone.” He took out the photo again and unfolded it. “Look at this person. He doesn’t even look happy here. He’s not smiling, and he’s got his woman’s arm around him. Where is this? New Year’s?”
    “Anniversary dinner.” Ten years in business together. Robb and Connie. And Barry makes three.
    “Not even smiling on his anniversary with his wife’s arm around him.”
    Barry was certain that Robb was smiling in the photo—grinning, in fact, on the order of shit-eating—but he would not look at the picture again to be sure.
    “This man betrayed you, Barry. This man betrayed life.”
    Luke might be crazy, which meant that Barry was fucked. What about it? He couldn’t very well entertain bids from several reputable contractors throughout the Pacific Northwest. Barry took the long heavy envelope he’d stuffed down the inside of his vest and handed it to Luke.
    Luke did not check the envelope. He put it away. “Thank you,” he said. “You leave first.”
    “I have a question,” said Barry.
    “No questions,” said Luke. He kept his face even, but put an edge in his voice.
    A heady sensation had come over him, and a twinge in his solar plexus, now that the money was off him, and he couldn’t resist. “How did you know I had the envelope in my vest?”
    Luke smiled. “Oh that. By the way you were wearing it. You were not relaxed before. Now you are.”
    “Yes, I am.”
    Luke smiled with smug satisfaction.
    Barry smiled back. Everything—all of it—would all go wrong in the end.