4.01

“You actually showed up,” Emma sneered, interrupting my self-study. It was just like her to kick me while I was down, reminding me of our cringy past friendship. I retorted, questioning her supposed maturity, and she fired back, criticizing my lack of achievements. I laughed, thinking of the twenty-five thousand dollars I now had, then told her, “Fuck you, Emma,” and walked out, knowing I’d pay for standing up to her.

Despite the looming threat of Emma’s revenge, I felt better than I had in a long time. I’d actually gone to school, breaking my pattern of skipping, and Brian had treated me to coffee and muffins on the beach. Our robbery hadn’t made the front page, with the bank downplaying the losses, and the news focused on the property damage caused by the heroes.

I met Brian, Lisa, and Alec at the Lord Street Market. We couldn’t bring Rachel, as she was too recognizable and had a tendency to go ballistic over mistreated dogs. Lisa mentioned that Rachel had a history of violence related to her powers and a dead dog, suggesting she was wanted for serial murder. One of them is a murderer.

Alec got a Kid Win shirt, and we discussed our next steps. We’d hand the money to our boss, who’d launder it and pay us. I questioned trusting him with so much, but Brian reassured me, citing precedent and the boss’s investment in us.

Lisa dragged me off to go shopping, separating from the guys. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and I found myself smiling, even as I reminded myself that one of my companions was a murderer. We were to meet up for dinner at Fugly Bob’s, and Brian warned us not to spend conspicuously.

The market was a mix of everything, from cheap crafts to discounted designer goods. It was a place where you could find anything, and where the north end of Brockton Bay came to shop. I was feeling conflicted about taking it easy after the robbery, but also relieved at the break. It had been an intense week, and a little downtime sounded good. But I also wanted to learn more about our boss. I’d just have to hope I could find something out tonight.