With that, he passed the check over, then sat back to watch my reaction.

“25 fucking grand?” I sputtered as the zeros raced through my mind.

“No, you only asked for Lotus Coffee, you were here when I ordered it. If you wanted a candy bar you should have asked sooner!” Mogwai said more focused on the coffee than who was sitting around, as she strolled back into the room with what looked like a cardboard box of coffee.

“Besides, I think it’s called a 100 Grand bar, 25 grand might be the fun size.”

Totally oblivious to our conversation, she strolled by and set the coffee on the counter, then went to rummaging around for cups.

Henry remained impassive as he watched me, but It took a force of will to just pry my eyes from my prize. “You’re serious, this isn’t some kind of a joke?” I asked.

“Why, Porsha was a class D-level threat. She might not have been Godzilla, but she’s not someone I’d send a mundane after,” Henry said and reached up to roll his mustache.

“I must admit that your payment was for an unsolicited bounty collection. While you get to retain the entirety of the bounty, you are not entitled to any bulletins of future bounties posted, or agency protection,” he explained, “but it should still help cover you and keep your partner in cheesy kimchi fries for a bit,” he chuckled.

Which brought me back to Marv. I really didn’t know that much about him. I had no idea where he worked, if he had health insurance, or if he was going to hold me liable. If he sued, I could easily end up giving the whole amount to him, or worse, end up owing him money.

“Suppose so,” I said, my eyes still glued to the check, but all the excitement was draining away.

“I see it in your eyes,” Henry said and I knew if I looked up he would have a wide cat-like grin on his face.

“I can see that flare of excitement dying out, is something wrong, Ms. Remington?”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Glancing up, I found out I was right as rain about that grin. Henry was a Cheshire cat just waiting for his chance to lay something on me.

“Marv. I was just thinking about how much that ambulance ride would cost, that and his hospital bill. I doubt he has insurance,” I grimaced.

Mogwai walked over, sitting down a glass of iced mocha, and before she moved away, I could smell that she added a touch of cinnamon, just the way I liked.

“What will he do?” Henry asked, still playfully, but I knew he was about to stop dangling bait and try to set whatever hook he had in the water.

“He has Liberty Consolidated whole life insurance. He is covered for ambulances and life flight,” Mog popped in, as she slid her laptop onto the table and took a seat to my right.

Relief washed through me, but Henry was left with his mouth hanging partially open.

“You can’t be certain,” Henry said without conviction.

“Policy number 3548872190. He’s paid up through the end of the year. I looked him up while you were sleeping. He’ll be fine,” Mogwai said already typing on her computer and seemingly putting us out of her mind.

“Well, I suppose that makes my recruiting a little more difficult,” Henry laughed and pushed back from the table.

“I bet wants you to hunt down Unnaturals and collect the bounties on their heads for him,” Mogwai said as if she were explaining a damn paper route.

“Wait, what? You want me to actually hunt down more Monsters?” I asked off balance.

“Leave it to our new friend here, to succinctly get to the point,” Henry nodded, “but we can only speak of it further after you sign the NDA,” he explained and pulled the folded paper from his jacket pocket and slid it across the table to me.

Turning it toward myself, I leaned over to read it, when Mogwai once more butted in. “Doesn’t matter what it says, sign it. You know Holliday will have an ‘or else’ if you don’t.”

“Sadly, she is not wrong on that account,” Henry sighed, "the truth is that you are now a liability to the agency and while they won't act, officially, convenient accidents have occurred."

I lowered the page and looked at him with a cynical glare, "Accidents?"

"That's only those with a grudge that doesn't get to you first. At least if you sign the contract, we can prepare you for the job."

I looked down at the paper and sighed as Henry handed me his pen.

"Just sign and date and we have a deal, Rhett."

I refused his pen, but I agreed to read the contract.