Flit’s hand slid up to her neck. “Come now, Jule.” His fingers dug in until she winced. “No need to get cool with me.” She tried to twist away but he yanked her back. “We got work to do.”
He turned down the alley between Two Pints and its neighboring building, dragging Juliet along by the neck. She stumbled in trying to keep up and knew her only chance to get away unhurt was to play along.
“How am I supposed to do any job with you knocking me around?” she said gruffly. “I’m coming, ain’t I?”
He looked over his shoulder at her and then got her in front of him with another mighty heave. “Then come on in front of me.”
Where you can keep an eye on me? she thought, but kept her silence and walked. They went on for several blocks until her feet and nerves were wearing down. “Where is this job?”
Flit poked her in the back. “Keep walking and you’ll see.” Instead she stopped and backed up, bumping into him. “What are you doing?” Instead of pushing her away, he took her arms and pulled her closer. “Want to pay me now?”
“I saw something,” Juliet said. “Curfew started—I think it’s a Sweeper.” His grip slackened and her heart thumped at the prospect of an escape. She shook him off. “Go on ahead and I’ll—”
“Hold it, honey.” He put out a hand to stop her. “That ain’t a Sweeper.” He took her elbow and tugged. “That’s who we’re looking for.”
Juliet had an uneasy feeling. “What do you mean, we were looking for him?”
“Is the cathouse kitten getting nervous?” he sneered, and she clenched her jaw. “This is my new man for the good jobs.”
“What happened to the old one?”
“He wasn’t a fast enough runner, and this one pays half upfront. So I’ll get my pay now,” he smirked at her, “and yours after—just to make sure you don’t skive off.”
A cold sweat prickled down her neck. She knew Flit too well to believe him. She had to get out of there before whatever trap he was planning was sprung. “Fine. Just hurry up and talk to him. I ain’t standing out in the open after curfew like this forever.”
“I got a better idea,” Flit said in the tone Jule knew meant he was going to do something he thought entertaining. “How ‘bout I bring him to me?”
Flit lifted his ringed hand, and Juliet realized what he planned to do.
