Chapter 24 – Lily #2
The call drops, and I release a shaky exhale.
I don’t know if they’ll follow through, but it was worth a try.
My eyes fall to the novel in my hands, homing in on the tagline: Reader beware…
you choose the scare! A tinge of grief twists in my chest. If only finding Violet’s killer were as simple as these choose your own adventure books.
I return the new signed first edition to its place on the shelf.
Hell, I should probably put it in some type of protective casing.
If I were ever really desperate, I bet that thing could get a pretty penny on a resell site.
Expelling the thoughts about the crazy caller and their little gifts and games, I slip under my covers and navigate to the Karma portal on my phone to check for requests.
The plan for the day is to rest and then hopefully enact a punishment tonight to distract me from waiting around with buzzing anxiety for a tip from my anonymous caller.
Or doing something idiotic like showing up at Aster’s house.
Twelve new requests have been received since yesterday.
Karma Request #2854
Crime: My in-laws keep telling my husband and me they’re going to take our kids from us
Evidence: (14) screenshots, (6) videos, (8) photos, (5) documents
Preferred Punishment: Relocate them to Oregon
Payment Offered: $20,000 + $10,000 moving costs
How To Find The Target: [Shown after job is accepted]
While I respect the payout and agree they sound like psycho level in-laws, I think they might consider a restraining order for that particular situation.
Coordinating a move across the country is going to require manipulation and planning, for which I don’t currently have the energy.
Although “you’ve won a six month stay at a time share” could be an easy start…
I mark it to return to later when I have more mental capacity.
Karma Request #2855
Crime: My co-worker keeps stealing my yogurt
Evidence: (1) photo, (1) audio recording
Preferred Punishment: Dump yogurt on his car
Payment Offered: $100 + unlimited yogurt budget
How To Find The Target: [Shown after job is accepted]
That sounds more like a practical joke than karma, but it would be an easy one. Continuing to the next request, I shoot straight up in bed.
Karma Request #2856
Crime: Landlord threw a rock through the windows of most tenants on 58th Street because we wouldn’t pay the rent increase. Last week landlord informed us of the increase (which is unlawful) and since most of us couldn’t afford it, they threatened us
Evidence: (10) photos, (1) video, (3) emails
Preferred Punishment: Karma’s choice
Payment Offered: $1000
How To Find The Target: [Shown after job is accepted]
Jabbing the screen with my finger, I swipe quickly through the photos of the bar near Amara’s coffee shop.
The next request is eerily similar. Ten minutes later, and I’ve confirmed the rest of the posts received are the same. Broken windows or graffiti, and a shitty landlord as a target.
On the final request, I freeze on a photo of Mocha Muse with the window smashed in, glass everywhere, and the last photo causes my jaw to clench. There’s a massive rock that says, Pay up bitch. The background is the familiar black-and-white checkered floor. Why did she keep this from me?
Guilt settles inside. It’s my own fault.
I can’t expect her to share these things when she doesn’t know I’m Karma.
I’ve wanted to tell her desperately, but it’s never felt like the right time.
And the less she knows, the better. Plausible deniability and all that.
Besides, I would never ever ask her to lie on a witness stand for me.
Amara offered $500, and while I can’t take the money, her sleazebag landlord will not get away with this.
Karma Request #2868
Preferred Punishment: Karma’s choice
Payment Requested: FREE
Within seconds, my counterproposal is accepted.
Karma Request #2868
How To Find The Target: Frederick Vetrel—owns Vetrel’s Bar. He’s usually there every night after seven
My heart stops. Isn’t that who Aster visited the other day after Karolyn was murdered? So much for sleep.
I roll off the bed and dig the burner out of my bag.
Gnawing on my cheek, I remind myself I’m doing this for Amara and hit the call button. He answers on the second ring.
“Hey, birthday girl,” he says, tone cheery, and I hate to be the one to ruin his day.
“Hey…”
“Everything okay?” he asks, too easily able to read me even through a twenty-year-old phone.
“Yes. Well, not really.”
“Do you need me to co—”
“No,” I cut him off. “I just have a question.”
“Okay.” Silence falls between us. “Are you going to ask it?”
“Yes.” I clear my throat. “So I’m doing a Karma request, and I…” How much should I share? “Didn’t you say something about Frederick Vetrel? That he was into some shady stuff?”
“Yeah.” His tone is pensive. “The shadiest.”
“Lovely,” I grumble, picking at my nails.
“Why, what’s up?”
“Not much,” I say, forcing confidence. “Just need to pay him a little visit and remind him he can’t treat people like garbage and get away with it.”
“Lily,” Aster warns. “This is not a guy you want to mess around with. He’s ruthless and so are all the men who work for him. Why do you think I haven’t taken him out myself yet?”
“So, what?” Anger thrums through me. “Just because you haven’t managed to control or dispose of him, he should be able to do whatever the hell he wants?”
“No. But this is a delicate situation.”
“Stop patronizing me,” I snap, fully aware I’m exhausted to the bone and possibly taking it out on him.
“I’m not.” His tone softens, and while I believe him, I’m still frustrated by the situation. “I swear.”
“He can’t just mess with people’s lives and get away with it.” I shake my head, crawling off the bed to kneel on the carpet, and tug out my supplies box. “It ends tonight.”
Aster releases a heavy sigh. “You can’t let this go?”
“No.” I unlock it, throw off the lid, and sift through the contents.
“Then I’ll come with you.”
“I don’t need your help.” My hand lands on a brunette wig, and I pull it out. “I’ve got this.” Don’t I? “Besides, you said he didn’t take too well to your questioning when you interviewed him after Karolyn died. I don’t want him to be on edge.”
“I can blend in,” he assures me. “You need to wear a disguise too.”
I bark a laugh. “You’ve never blended in a day in your life.” My eyes fall to the wig in my palm. “And I’m already on it.”
“Lily. You’re not ready for this.” His tone is pleading, but I can’t find it in me to listen. “He’s dangerous. You need a plan.”
“Well, then I guess I better get to work,” I say, then end the call. Damn me and my stupid pride.
My attention turns to the request once more.
Karma’s choice?
Game on.