May 3
Intersection, 57th Street At Park Avenue
Midtown Manhattan
New York City
5:49 P.M. EDT / 4:49 P.M. CDT
As he had told the President, Billy Carson was busily engaged in the settling of minor details; as he had decidedly not mentioned, those details specifically involved his not-yet-resolved problem named Shane Yerkey.
“I need you to neutralize the Yerkey situation, Ms. Lothlorien,” he said into his cellphone. “I do not—repeat: not—want any future blow-back from any of this.”
Elle knew the dangers of cellphone conversation; arguably, she was instrumental in much of that danger herself, at least as part of her often-interesting job.
For that reason, Elle made it a practice to avoid both discussion of unnecessary details and excessive minutes used whenever possible.
“Yes, sir,” Elle said. “Do you have any preferences as to how I should proceed?”
“Use your own judgment, Ms. Lothlorien. That’s what we pay you for.”
• • •
May 3
Camp Stanley – ‘Midwest Depot’
Southern Texas
4:57 P.M. CDT / 5:57 P.M. EDT
“She says to clean him up,” Third Man told the others.
“Permanently?” asked Loser, who had continued to mainly do so over the wearying hours the three had spent playing hearts.
Winner—also a name still apt—tossed his card hand to the discard pile.
“I hate this part of the job,” he said, rising.
“No, no,” said Third Man. “Clean him up, as in get him ready. She’s coming out here, herself.”
“Good,” said Winner. “I mean, I feel sorry for the guy. I don’t want to, you know…”
“Fuck him,” said Loser. “Long as we can get out of this goddamn dump, who gives a shit?”
“Let’s go,” said Third Man. “Bring some scissors. That duct tape is too damn hard to peel off without ’em.”