Telling Fortunes in Phoenix

Johni

At the ranch Viktor sat on Johni’s couch grilling her.

“You lose my children but you kept the adults. I should have checked on you before. You run a sloppy operation.” He tapped at his forehead. “Up until now you’ve been skating along. You have a policeman to help you get Mexicans. You have me to move the kids. What are you doing with those guys?” He cocked his thumb in the general direction of the bunkhouse.

Johni scratched at her arm and squirmed on a chair. She sniffed.

“You could disappear.” Viktor smiled and a gold pre-molar gleamed in the darkened room. “But that’s up to you. If you don’t accept my generous offer, you will disappear, but not before I find out your business. You’ll tell me everything first.”

Johni jumped up from the easy chair. Viktor jumped up, too, pointing the gun at her midriff.

“Yeah, Viktor, that’s fine. We’ll be partners. But right now,” she glanced into the kitchen, “I need to go the bathroom.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, I need to take some medicine. I’ll just be a minute.”

“Aaahh. Medicine.” Viktor nodded his head. “I’ll come with you.”