Group Meeting

Tonya was already seated on the couch and was munching the first of two thick sandwiches.

"You seem to be feeling better," I said.

Tonya shrugged, biting into her sandwich.

Chrissie said, "What the hell is in that sandwich, anyway?"

Tonya said, "Pickles, cucumbers and cottage cheese."

The three of us just stared at her.

Tonya said, "What?"

Chrissie rolled her eyes. "Nevermind. This meeting is now is session. First, old business. The job last night was a success...or will be, once Erica stops screwing around and gives us the journal."

I sat back and crossed my arms. "It's safe," I said, "and I'll give it to you when the client comes to retrieve everything. I don't trust you. You tried to double-cross me, and I did too much work for you to try to cut me out."

Well, that certainly set the battlelines. Tonya set her sandwich down, and even Laura suddenly seemed to be paying attention.

Chrissie's jaw tightened and she spoke through clenched teeth. "We did not try to double-cross you! You double-crossed us! You hid the journal!"

Laura's leg was bouncing in a nervous twitch, and Tonya looked uncomfortable. I guessed that the double-cross was Chrissie's idea, although Laura probably went along with it- she and Chrissie were pretty tight. Tonya may or may not have agreed, so she was my only potential ally, and even that wasn't a sure thing. I was going to have to be careful.

I gave Chrissie a flat look. "So you brought the stun gun just in case we ran into some bad guys?" I said, my sarcasm obvious.

"In case the guard found us, you moron!" said Chrissie. Unfortunately, that could have been true. Still, I didn't believe it.

"Whatever, Chrissie. I'll get the journal when the client is coming to meet us. Not before."

There was a tense moment then, and I thought there might be some real trouble. Finally, Chrissie huffed. "Fine. But you'll be the sorriest slut in the world if you try to screw us over."

I shrugged. "Whatever."