I’d been playin’ them all from the start.
I took a drag from my cigarette and kicked Tanzmetall in the ribs. Nothing but a bloody death rattle from him. He was a goner for sure, and by lucky chance he had saved me some work. NDP was down, and I made sure he stayed down for good.
They were in the palm of my hand the whole time. I let NDP think he was gettin’ away with murder, and two-timed Tanzmetall like a pro. The shmaltzy galoot. I had him thinkin’ I was really carrying a torch for him.
My MoatJon mask and overcoat I dropped in the drink. I wouldn’t been needing it anymore. With Grabass and Burpen under my control and Tanzmetall and NDP out of the way, the game was mine. Men are so easy to play, when the money is good and the sex is better.
I slid the snub-nosed back into my garter holster and pulled my sunglasses and driving scarf out of my bag. With the money I had embezzled from the Project Wonderful and merch account, it was certainly going to be a wonderful trip for me: all the way to Argentina. I already had the forums under my control, and once the website had collapsed, I had plans to open the floodgates to buyers: flash ads, porn sites, popups and viruses from China: you name it. It was gonna be big. And it was gonna be all for me.
My stilettos clacked against the wood pier as I walked. I dialed my contact at main Clunkline HQ to get the ball rolling, get the party started, all that jazz.
“Burpen. I need you to change up how the articles display.”
It was our signal for an unsafe phone connection, he was gonna put through the money from his credit card for my plane ticket when I gave the go-ahead.
“Transaction finished in 10 seconds,” he replied. “See you soon?”
“Always,” I said with a smile. “Give my regards to Grabass.” Sucker. I let the time run out before I pressed the detonator button on my belt. So much for soon, sweetcakes. I didn’t want you or anyone who could spill the beans on my operation lying around. So I blew him and Grabass sky-high, on a little permanent vacation of their own. The forums server was safe and sound in my hotel room, ready to go.
I beat it back to the sleazy joint to get my stuff. You could see the smoke from here, hear the sirens rushing to the other side of town. I flagged a cab, convinced the cabbie to get me to the airport double quick. People would do whatever you want, for a double peek down the ol’ low-cut blouse.
Now it was nothin’ but blue skies, white beaches, and a blown kiss out the plane window from my first-class seat as I left that old life behind.
