Sure. I'll take his offer.

Kenji pushes some snow off the guard rail for his mug before placing it down. He gets a box of matches and lights both of your nicotine treats. After a few sips and puffs, you finally get to hear what Kenji’s questions are. “Amara is probably going to pull out some contracts soon, just as a heads up.”

You blow out. “What about you?”

He shrugs. “I got some work lined up already. I get the luxury of being picky with the contracts I pick at this.”

“Oh, yeah?” You sip at your mug. “What do you pick?”

“I go after cheaters,” he says flatly, not offering more.

“Well,” you begin. “Thanks for the heads up, I guess. I appreciate the warning.”

“There’s more, of course.”

You worry he will grill you about Alexandra or at least poke at you with some questions, but he smokes more and stretches instead. Eventually, he gets in the mood to talk to you about YOUR contracts.

“Scarlet gets the gritty picks,” he finally tells you. “Scarlet and I worked together at the beginning of last year. She gets off on dealing with these subjects. I’m telling you this because it even made me feel awkward.”

You had a hard time picturing Kenji getting grossed out by death, especially by Scarlet, while conducting contracts. “What do you mean?”

“Scarlet’s a strange girl when it comes to doing these opening contracts,” he says. “She gets into this mindset that I can’t relate to. She really likes to test the limits of the people she gets a hold of when their out to be terminated.”

“Hard to believe that,” you reply. Kenji shrugs, smirking while taking in another intake of tobacco.

“You’re going to experience Scarlet at her worst,” he double-checks you. “I don’t know what happened to you and Scarlet when Alexandra got dusted, but you’re going to see another side of that girl.”

…

…

Amara and Scarlet are inside the kitchen conversing with each other, each still adorned with pajamas. Scarlet stops herself short when she sees you. She looks at Amara then, gesturing to you with a nod.

“I guess we’ll start now,” Amara is staring at you. Flora is no where to be seen, but you don’t try looking around or asking any questions. “Warren, I need to talk to you.”

“Work?” You ask.

She nods. “I was just talking to Scarlet about it, and since you’re her partner, you’ll be helping her out. Aw, isn’t that cute?”

“I doubt the ARS is picking up contracts to adopt puppies,” you tell Amara. “But, if you want something cute, I’ll be sure to pick up something while souvenir shopping.”

Amara giggles somewhat cutely while leading you to her room. Scarlet slides in close to you and grabs your shoulder. “Take the job,” she whispers. “Accept the extension.”

She pushes away before you ask what she’s talking about, but she’s already greeting Kenji at the sink. You follow Amara to her room and close the door behind you. Amara sits at the foot of the bed and sighs.

“So,” she says. “Before we begin, I feel like I have to ask you.”

“Yes?”

“Your contract,” Amara begins. “Are you going to be working with the ARS longer, or do you still need more time to consider it?”

“Oh,” you think about Flora and if this’ll reflect poorly on the efforts of getting her out. It seems like progress has been rather slow lately, and you aren’t sure how much knocking Alexandra off the list has done for you. Flora is no closer to getting free than she was the day you met with the TC1 group.