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BEN SET ASIDE HIS LAPTOP and sighed. “You’re not talking about moving into Full Release, are you?”
“I’m talking about saving Trina and shutting down Hauser.”
“That second part is new,” Ben said.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about since El Guapo kidnapped Carmen. This is real, Ben. I saw the girl they’re keeping prisoner. I got shot at.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know how we got tangled up in this, but it’s real. And I have to do something.”
“Are you going to the police?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know who to trust.”
“You can’t take them down yourself. This isn’t that kind of movie. I won’t let you go John Wick.”
I chuckled. “I wouldn’t try.”
“Then what do you have in mind?”
“Well, I was thinking about it like a game. About what I’m good at and why.”
“Strategy and base-building?”
“Yeah, but... also not first-person shooters.”
“Sometimes you’re good. When you—”
“Know the map,” I said, “When I know how everyone else plays the map. When I can hide and wait for them to do something stupid.”
“So that’s why you started talking about stealth games?”
“Yeah, but it’s not the sneaking. It’s the setup. The clever plan and execution.”
“Okay,” he said. “What does that have to do with Hauser?”
I raised a finger, counting. “Hauser and his thugs engage in illegal activity at the apartment. They have Trina hostage there now. And they have someone on the police force protecting them.”
“So what do you do?”
“Something big,” I said. “Something that can’t be swept under the rug. I get cops at the apartments, but not just a few. Lots. And a news crew if we can swing it.”
Ben sighed. “You’re going to get arrested, aren’t you?”
“Everyone is going to get arrested,” I said. “That’s the best plan I’ve got. Bust it wide open, get us all dragged into court, and trust the justice system to sort it out.”
“That’s... brave?” He didn’t sound certain. “It’s a noble idea, but I wouldn’t trust the courts with my future.”
“It’s not about my future,” I said. “Have you seen my life? I obviously don’t deserve the freedom I’ve got. But I can stain Hauser dark enough he’ll never hurt anyone again. That’s worth the risk, right?”
He didn’t answer me right away. He looked at me, measuring. And then he said again, “It’s a noble idea. Do I have to get arrested?”
“I can’t think of any reason you should.”
“Then I’ll contribute however I can.”
I laughed. “Just help me think it through,” I said. “And bail me out when I get arrested.”
“How does that work?”
“No idea. I guess Google it.”
He nodded. “I’ll figure it out later. Need another drink?”
“Of course I do.”
He grabbed my glass and headed to the kitchen. While he was pouring refills, he called back, “What are you going to do about your Dragon?”
“I don’t have any dragons. It’s not that kind of game.”
He came back from the kitchenette looking confused. “I don’t mean your game. I mean real life.”
It was my turn to look confused. “I don’t have any dragons in real life. They’re not real.”
“It’s a story term,” he said, rolling his eyes and passing me my drink. “You’ve got your main antagonist, the ‘Big Bad.’ That’s—”
“That’s cute,” I said.
“That’s Hauser. He’s your Big Bad, the way I understand it. But there’s often a bully or a thug or a lieutenant along the way. That’s the ‘Dragon’ in story terms. And you do have one in real life, but I can’t remember his name. Dwayne?”
“Derrick. He’s one of Hauser’s goons.”
“But not just ‘one of,’ right? He’s the guy who killed someone with the gun. He’s the guy who abducted Trina. He’s the guy who Hauser set to guard your door after he pulled the work crew.”
“Wow!” I said. “You’ve been paying attention.”
“I’m keeping track of the story. It’s an interesting one. And I know real life doesn’t always behave like it should, but I think you’re going to need a plan for this Dwayne.”
“Derrick.”
“Derrick. Right. Derrick the Dragon.”
“He’s a big boy,” I said, “And he’s mean. Shoot, even Cass seemed scared of him.”
“Yeah,” he said. “You’re going to have to encounter him before you can face Hauser. Got any ideas?”
“I’m getting one now,” I said, pulling out my phone. “I think it’s time for Cass to start cleaning up her mess.”
“Don’t let her hear you say that, though.”
“Heaven help me.”