Black smoke rose from the storage module. I knew that soon somebody would arrive and ask questions. And I had less time for that than I did any further subterfuge. Valez had knowingly led me into the ambush that had almost just killed me.

Now I just wanted to get to the bottom of this. Find Jed Teague and complete my mission. My patience for games had run out. I bent over Valez and slapped her hard across the face. Her eyes snapped open. She looked both startled and dazed at the same time.

I didn't waste a second. I grabbed the woman by her lapels and lifted her from the ground. "Are you with me now?"

"You . . . you hit me from behind," Valez said groggily.

"Too right. And you led me into that trap to get me killed," I said and let go of her.

Valez thudded to the ground. She took in the black smoke piling from the door of the storage module, a fearful expression on her face. "What happened?"

"I killed them all, that's what happened."

Valez shook her head. "Impossible."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Tell that to the burnt brisket on the ground over there," I spat back. "I think it's time to give up the goods, for your own sake."

"I can't do that."

"Sure you can. Just tell me where I can find Jed Teague, for real this time."

"But my employer . . ." Valez began to say.

I grabbed her again, gave her a hard shake. "Refuse me again, you won't have an employer because you'll be dead. Is that something you want?" I asked through gritted teeth.

Valez swallowed. "No."

"Then talk."

She swallowed. "The bar."

"What?"

"He's at the bar," Valez said.

Frowning, I asked, "Kwan's?"

"Yes."

"Where in the building?"

"Out the back. There's a hidden blast door leads to a basement level. He's in there. We've been using that location for years because it's impervious to external scans."

I straightened up. "So he was there all along. No wonder you weren't too bothered when I left there of my own accord, because it meant I had no idea where he was."

Valez swallowed. "What happens to me now?"

"Oh, we're not done yet. Not by a long shot. You're gonna go back to the bar with me and take me straight to him."

Valez shook her head. "I can't. Zel Nekra will kill me."

"Well, if he doesn't, I will. So there's your choice," I told her.

"I'll be finished here. I'll have to leave."

"That's not my concern. Take me to Jed Teague and you just might live to see another day. Choose not to, you won't live to see the end of this one, let alone another."

Valez sighed, resigned to her fate. "Fine."

I helped her to her feet. "You're making the right decision."

"Whatever," Cort Valez said with a scowl.