Chapter Eight,
Meetings

"To be honest with you, I don't know if there's much of a case," the private investigator stated flatly.

That was the last thing Yuly wanted to hear, especially from one of the only private investigators interested in taking the case. And believe it when she says she tried. For a week straight, she'd been contacting any investigator, from the shady ones on Craigslist to the ones demanding exorbitant payments for so much as a meeting. She'd tried. But once she sent them the details of Gray's case, they ghosted her. Literally.

One woman even blocked her.

And now the only one who answered said this?

"No case?" Gray questioned, clearly just as confused as she was. "What do you mean there's no case?"

"Just what I said, Mr. Doe." Isaac Fern sighed, pressing his bulky forearms onto the desk. Swirls of military tattoos drew her attention for a moment. "When I get new clients, I like to do a quick background check on what they're looking for. If I can, I use my connections at the Police department. I give a quick overview, come up with a plan, and then I let the clients know what they're paying for. It's one of the reasons my prices are what they are. But for some reason, all the files they have on you, John Doe? They've disappeared."

"What?" Her face scrunched in disbelief, eyes crinkling at the corners. "How could the police department lose a case file?"

Gray leaned back into the chair, head angling as his eyes bore into the man. "Disappeared." He echoed the word, his voice low, an unusual tone creeping in, distant and icy. "Right. They disappeared. You want me to believe that files they've had for months vanished without a trace."

At his tone, Yuly winced, sitting straighter in her seat.

"Mr. Fern," Yuly cleared her throat, watching the bulky man slowly tear his gaze from Gray. His dark eyes fell onto her ample chest before dragging up to her face. A nervous smile formed on her face, dimpling her cheeks as she faced him. "What he means is, is there really nothing you can do? We know he was found at a burning building on the edge of the city. We know he was assaulted and concussed-"

From the corner of her eye, she saw Gray tense. "And we know what he looks like. Isn't that a place to start? Can't you, I don't know, make flyers or something? Put his picture in the news? On Billboards?"

Isaac looked at her as though she'd said something incredibly stupid. He didn't get the chance to say what he thought, as Gray beat him to it. "Great idea. Why don't you put a sign on my back and tell them to come finish the job, hm?"

His dry, sarcastic response would have made her eyes roll if not for the implication of what he meant, but all she managed was a low, "Oh."

Her hands kneaded together nervously, eyes drifting to his hardened face for a second before turning back to the investigator. The idea of him dying because of her suggestion made her nauseous.

Gray was insufferable. He was callous, rude, and he grated on her last nerve. He constantly had something rude to say about her, he always had to have the last word, and it was clear he could barely stand her. They didn't get along at all, and she doubted they ever would. All of that was true. But it didn't mean he deserved to die.

How could someone even think to do that to him? To anyone?

"I didn't say there was no case," The older man clarified with a shrug. "Just not much of one." As if that wasn't enough, he'd cryptically stopped there with no elaboration.

"You just said you have nothing to work with. No police, no anything." She pointed out, full lips pulling in a confused frown.

"I've a few leads."

Was he doing this on purpose?

Yuly bit her lip, attempting to suppress her growing aggravation. Perhaps Gray's sharp edges were starting to wear off on her, or maybe it was the lingering effect of his earlier sour mood, but her usually patient demeanor was slipping through her fingers like sand.

The amnesiac clenched his jaw, his patience for the man dwindling dangerously. He scrutinized the man's expensive watch, far too expensive for his pay bracket. The tailored suit screamed affluence he shouldn't be able to afford. It was evident that this man indulged in luxury-fancy cars, perhaps weekend getaways to the Hamptons. But, he mused, he needed clients like Gray and Yuly to maintain that lifestyle. Desperate ones. And Yuly, with her innocent eyes and soft, husky voice, must have appeared as the ideal prey.

All the while, she remained blissfully unaware.

Perched on the edge of the worn leather chair, his legs stretched out, he let out a humorless chuckle, the sound a mere rasp in the air. "For the past half hour, you've been running in circles, old man," he drawled, the tone of his voice sounding bored. "Trying to figure out a way to justify whatever bullshit price you want to throw our way when you have no idea where to start. How to start."

"You're being rude," Yuly hissed under her breath. "Seriously, stop it."

He scoffed, rolling his eyes at her. "And you're being naive." He leaned forward, his cold gaze clashing against the veteran's dark eyes. "Name your price."

Her eyes nervously darted between the men, the silent tension so thick she could feel it. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. Not at all.

When she'd arrived here, she imagined they'd talk, sign some documents, and put down the down payment. The PI was supposed to give them hopeful news, and Gray was supposed to leave here knowing soon, he'd have somewhere to go back to. A name to call his own. And tomorrow, they'd begin their 14-hour road trip, whether she was ready to or not.

But of course, something went wrong.

"Ten thousand down." Isaac said into the silence. "Ten thousand down, and the rest once I finish the job. That's the deal. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Ten thousand?" She blurted out, brows shooting to her forehead. He'd lost his mind. "What? Your-online, your rate was only $79 an hour, and you want-you want ten grand, are you insane?"

Gray was surprised he hadn't asked for more.

The greedy gleam in his eyes showed him all he needed to know. He would never be satisfied; his gluttony wouldn't be sated by only ten grand. He'd probably hold whatever information he found for ransom, demanding a lump sum for his services.

After all, Gray thought, what was ten grand when you could have twenty?

He stood in silence, his hand extended toward Yuly. She hesitated for a moment before tentatively placing her hand in his. "What are you-" she began.

"Get up," he ordered, his grip firm around her hand. She didn't understand why she complied, her body rising before she fully registered the action. What was he doing? "We're leaving. We're done."

Her face plummeted instantly, delicate features marred by a deep frown. "What do you mean we're done?"

Done with the investigator? Or done with their deal? Either way, she tugged her hand back. "We can't go anywhere, do you know how hard it was to get a meeting? Any meeting? I had to use a phone book—I didn't know they still made phone books. He's the only one who called us back, and we don't have time to find anyone else."

"Take your time to decide," Isaac chimed, smugness oozing from his voice. "Don't worry. I'll be right here."

Gray's head snapped over at the sound, jaw ticking at the slight. Yuly was sure he was doing everything in his power not to punch the slimy man in the face or, worse, strangle him. It seemed that even the old man sensed the tension as he stood with a low whistle.

"Alright, I'll step outside and leave you two to your discussion." He rounded the desk with a quickness, shutting the door behind him with a low thud. When he was gone, she could see Gray relax slightly.

"What do you mean we're done?" she repeated, her voice edged with frustration. "You can't just dismiss it like that, not after we've made a deal."

Gray finally shifted his gaze back to her, his eyes focusing on her troubled face. Worry creased her brows, leaving small lines between them. A rosy hue tinged her cheeks, a sign of how agitated she had become due to his comment.

But he had run out of patience.

And for the past few minutes, he'd been debating listening to the thoughts telling him to shove the black stapler on the edge of the desk down the man's throat until he choked.

Oblivious, Yuly shifted on her hip, crossing her arms. Leaning against the desk, the action stretched her thighs in the soft fabric of her dress. Gray grunted. "We're not taking the deal, not with him. So, get up, let's go."

"No," her head shook, stray black curls falling into her sight. "We'll take the deal. I have money, plenty of it. I meant it when I said I'd help you, the price didn't matter to me."

Money was one of the last things her father left her in this world when he died, and plenty of it. The insurance money split between her, her sister, and her moyher was no small amount. Enough to graduate, move to New York, and live a comfortable life with her eclectic bookstore.

Enough to share with a man who needed it more than she did, even if he was sometimes insufferable.

Maintaining his attention on her, he chuckled, the sound devoid of warmth or humor. "You're willingly allowing yourself to be extorted." The word 'extorted' hung in the air like a bitter accusation, and she visibly winced. "Of course you are. Tell me something, bambolina. Is this a regular pastime for you? Walking around, eager for someone to exploit your naivety?"

He didn't expect an answer, the disdain in his tone made it clear. "Figures."

She wanted to protest and opened her mouth to do just that but found she couldn't. The man seemed to have an uncanny ability to get under her skin, to expose her vulnerabilities effortlessly.

She cleared her throat, shifting her gaze to the side. "I'm going to take the deal," she stammered. "Whether you want me to or not."

Silence stretched between them. When she didn't receive a reply, she glanced up, finding his gaze already fixed upon her. FortunUnfamiliar emotions swirled in his eyes, and she waited, unconsciously holding her breath. Finally, he spoke.

"Give him his money then, dolcezza." He uttered coldly. He stepped back, tearing his gaze away from hers. "And then we're leaving."

Before he did something to the man he wasn't sure he'd regret.