Shoot the Woman First Read Free Page B

showing through. A bricked-in fireplace in one wall, a wide staircase that went up into darkness.
    â€œI know,” Glass said. “Sorry. Best we could do on short notice.”
    â€œYou ought to put something over that window,” she said. “The light.”
    â€œDoesn’t matter,” Cordell said. “No one around here to see it.”
    A plastic vial crunched under her boot heel. She swept it away with her foot. “Whose place is this?”
    â€œNo one’s now,” Glass said. “Cordell found it. This block, you can take your pick. Plenty to choose from.”
    â€œNo one’s been here in a long time,” Cordell said. “No neighbors, either. Every house on the block about the same as this. Mayor’s been trying to get people to relocate closer to the city center, so they cut off services to some of these outer neighborhoods. Didn’t take people long to get the message.”
    Larry had moved to her right. Without a word, he’d taken the lead when they’d entered the house.
    â€œWe’re going over some street routes,” Glass said. “Can’t be sure on the drop-off point until we get word, but it’ll likely be in the same general area.”
    â€œUnless Marquis changes up,” she said.
    â€œHe won’t,” Cordell said. “He’ll stick to somewhere he knows, and he don’t know anything but downtown. He’s the king there, that’s the way he thinks. That’s his kingdom. No one will mess with him there.”
    There were two metal folding chairs leaning against a wall. Larry opened them, dusted off the seats, set them near the table. A moth fluttered around one of the lanterns.
    â€œMore beers out in the kitchen,” Glass said. “If you want one.”
    â€œSounds good,” Larry said, and went back out. He’d take his time, she knew, look around. She sat. Glass pulled a lantern closer, then turned the map around so she could read it. There were three routes traced on it, one in blue, one red, and one yellow.
    When she looked up, Cordell was watching her.
    â€œProblem?” she said.
    â€œJust surprised is all. When my cuz said he could bring some people in, I didn’t expect a woman.”
    â€œGot an issue with that?”
    â€œNot at all. Like I said, just surprised. But it’s all good.”
    Larry came back in with two Heinekens. He put one on the table in front of her, then turned the other chair around, straddled it. He set his beer on the floor.
    â€œWe need to take these bottles with us when we go,” she said. “And you-all need to wipe down anything around here you may have touched.” She was the only one wearing gloves.
    â€œWe will,” Glass said.
    She picked up the bottle, took a sip. It was lukewarm. She rarely drank beer, but better to go along with everyone now, keep them comfortable.
    Larry pointed at the map. “If the drop-off’s near where it was today, how long to get out of the city, back here?”
    â€œThat’s what I was just working out,” Glass said. “Couple ways to go. Way I see it, we keep a transfer car close to the drop site, wherever that turns out to be, then switch over. We’ll be out of the city itself in fifteen minutes, maybe a little more. Then we meet back here, do the cut.”
    â€œSo we need two vehicles,” Larry said.
    â€œThat’s right. The jump-out car, then the transfer.”
    â€œThree,” she said.
    Glass looked at her.
    â€œWe don’t want that Armada chasing after us,” she said. “We need to block it off, disable it. Someone has to do that the same time we’re pulling the money out of that car. So we need two vehicles going in. Probably a good idea to have two transfers afterward as well, so we can split up faster, head back here.”
    â€œSo four cars altogether,” Glass said.
    â€œBetter a van for the jump-out,” she said.