Moving On Up – part two

Stav folded his hands on the desk, with one last question. “So Jackson, you guys had no idea who hired you or why?”

Jackson thought this was already wrapped up, but it was a question designed to test if his story was straight. “Yeah, that’s about the same thing I’ve been saying all along. Anonymous transaction on the undernet bounty hunter board. We got half the crypto up front and were supposed to get half later, after calling in our success. The job needed proof of completion. Something intimate from one of the targets. Some hair, a piece of clothing, a severed toe, whatever.” “And where was this proof supposed to be delivered?”, Res asked. “Dead drop. Some GPS coordinates in a fancy part of town.”, Jackson replied.

“Well, let’s keep this worm on the hook. You’re going to deliver proof after a short call to the client explaining why you’re late. We don’t even need to follow anyone or wait near the location to find out who picks it up. Any slick employer won’t go there directly anyway. They’ll send a courier”, Res said. She turned around, walked into the bathroom, and returned with her bra and a clipping of her hair in one hand. “It’ll grow back,” she murmured, and handed the items to Stav. On her bra, there was a simple identification mark. Her initials, embroidered on the clasp at the front.

Stav began cutting Jackson loose from his chair and instructed him to go down the hall to clean up and change into some fresh clothes. There were all kinds and sizes of clean green and white shirts to change into. Jackson was wobbly on his feet from all the adrenalin and it took him a moment to stand up. Stav told Sharp to keep an eye on him and help him take the stairway up and out of the complex. Before they left, Stav had some parting words for Jackson. “This is goodbye. You won’t remember any of the details of what went on here tonight. You’ll never come within a mile of this place. Our names are all fiction. The only reality you’re allowed is that soon-to-be scar on your shoulder. You were fair with us, and this is us being fair with you. Be a little more cautious of the jobs you accept in the future.” Sharp waited for any indication from Stav that gave him carte blanche on how to exit Jackson, but none was given. They were really letting him walk.

After a few hours of rest, Sheepdog and Res both exited 242 and headed back to the office, stopping by the company gym on the lower level to clean up a little first. It was the safest place to be, considering the circumstances. Stav buzzed their comms with a simple message on a private channel.

“Not a word until we splice the courier footage back to the source.”