Ghosts by Matt Rogers (ap literature book list txt) 📕

have too much heat on them. Might be easier to just kill them, but I’ve found they’re more useful to me alive than dead. They can be set up with new identities after everything dies down, and then I can put them back to work. I’m playing the long game here.’

A spear of hope hit Violetta hard.

She thought, Elsa.

She didn’t let it show on her face.

Kerr said, ‘I think I’m understanding how you want this to work.’

Violetta raised an eyebrow.

Kerr said, ‘All these questions about establishments.’

Silence.

Violetta waited for her to continue.

Kerr said, ‘I know every corner of this city. I know where people can be hidden. I know the typical customer like the back of my hand — exactly how much they’re willing to pay, and what sort of lengths they’re willing to go to to get what they want. I know exactly how to maximise profit. You’re new to Las Vegas, but you have an army. I’ve been forced to rely on gangbangers for my security. Men exactly like the four you killed. I think you’ve exposed the flaws in that approach.’

Silence.

Kerr said, ‘So this is a merger, right? You bring all your people in. That’ll allow me to expand what I’m doing, and I’ll have adequate protection to start the sort of city-wide operation I’ve always wanted to put into place.’

Violetta saw Kerr sense weakness in what she’d said.

So Kerr followed it up with, ‘But I have to warn you, if you’re even thinking about a hostile takeover, it’s not going to work. I’m the Clark County DA. That makes me vulnerable to public scrutiny. There’ll always be journalists and activists on the fringes, ready to pick up the scent of corruption. I’ve planned for that. I can make my whole operation disappear like that’ — she snapped her fingers — ‘which means I can do the same to you. If you think you can slip in here and force me out, I’ll snap my fingers. Everything will be gone. I have enough money for ten lifetimes. If I need to, I’ll get out and vanish and you’ll be left sitting in the ruins wondering why you wasted such a good opportunity.’

Violetta said, ‘I understand.’

‘Then let’s meet again. Somewhere more private next time. Now that we’ve reached an understanding.’

Violetta nodded. ‘Name a time and place, my dear. I’ll be there.’

She realised she’d slipped up.

“I’ll” instead of “I will.”

Kerr didn’t seem to notice.

The DA leant forward. ‘I assume until then you won’t do anything stupid to try and intimidate me?’

Violetta cocked her head.

Kerr said, ‘I’m a public figure. I have a family. It won’t be hard for you to track them down if you wanted.’

‘Your family is perfectly safe.’

Kerr nodded. ‘I’m glad.’

For the first time Violetta noticed a couple of framed photographs on the cabinet close to the desk. Adding a touch of personalisation to the otherwise-cold office. She knew it was manufactured. Kerr didn’t give a shit about sentimentality. But people came into this room all the time. They had to see she was a human being. Which is why she’d brought it up in the first place, because her family were right there in full view. A good-looking husband, a beautiful daughter, and a cute little boy. Kerr was there in the pictures too, smiling warmly, a world away from the ice statue sitting across from Violetta.

Violetta regarded the photos one by one. ‘You have a nice family, Ms. Kerr. Someday I might too.’

Kerr nodded. ‘That’s my husband, Robert. My son, James, is four.’

Violetta turned back to the photos, looked at the kids.

She said, ‘And your daughter is, what, fifteen?’

Kerr’s beady eyes bored into Violetta.

She said, ‘Yes. Her name’s Melanie.’

32

Shit, Violetta thought.

Kerr had laid the bait with the expertise of a practiced sociopath.

Violetta couldn’t hide the hint of a reaction. She did everything in her power not to let it show, but something flickered in her eyes — she was sure of it. The tiniest flash of recognition. The intrusive thought — She’s pimping out her own goddamn daughter — couldn’t be masked in its entirety. Milliseconds later it was gone from her eyes, and with her heart rate slightly elevated she prayed Kerr hadn’t noticed.

But Kerr had been manoeuvring her that way the whole time, ever since she’d unnecessarily brought up her family.

Violetta adjusted herself in her seat. ‘Your children are beautiful.’

Kerr stared at her.

Half-smiled.

She said, ‘Your accent slipped, darling.’

It had.

Not enough for most people to notice.

Kerr wasn’t most people.

Violetta knew she could lunge across the desk, send Kerr tumbling out of her chair, choke her unconscious before she could so much as make a sound.

But what good would that do?

The only option was to stonewall and counterattack.

Inwardly, she thought, This woman loans her child out to pedophiles for profit. She herself admitted she has more money for ten lifetimes, and still that’s how far she’s willing to stoop. For what? Why?

A million questions burned inside Violetta, but she couldn’t crack.

Not yet.

Outwardly, she said, ‘You’re hearing things.’

‘And you’re contracting words. You were not doing that before.’

Violetta said, ‘I speak however I want to speak.’

‘I can see that,’ Kerr said. ‘Even if it means faking an accent.’

Violetta scoffed.

Kerr said, ‘I’m not easy to manipulate. If you wanted to try, you had to do a whole lot better. I’m afraid you failed.’

Exit, a voice in Violetta’s head screamed. Now.

‘Do not forget what I said,’ she said. ‘I will be in touch.’

Kerr smiled, and her eyes were perhaps the most wraith-like they’d been. ‘No you won’t.’

Violetta rose from the chair.

Kerr hissed, ‘Sit down.’

Violetta thought about it.

The door would be locked.

The ex-spec ops ghosts would be outside.

No hope of running.

She had to comply.

Tough it out.

She sat back down.

Kerr said, ‘What were you hoping to achieve here? You’re a journalist?’

Violetta maintained the accent. She wasn’t sure why. ‘No.’

‘You’re not wired,’ Kerr said. ‘My men made sure of that. So it’s your word against mine.’

Silence.

Kerr said, ‘But, if I’m being honest, I’d rather it didn’t get to that in the first