Children of Paranoia by Trevor Shane Page A

people were watching us. We all began acting as casual as possible. Only our words were full of panic. We just had to hope that no one was listening.
    â€œNothing specific. She was smooth about it. That’s what worries me. She kept asking me about how much time I spent in New York and then she just slipped in how much she loved Brooklyn and asked me if I’d ever been there.”
    â€œWell, that doesn’t tell us much,” Michael replied. “Sounds like normal conversation to me.”
    â€œYeah, it sounded that way to me too. But it didn’t feel normal.” I looked at Michael again. “What’s she doing now?” Michael was the only one who could watch her without it being obvious that we’d spotted her.
    â€œShe’s sitting at the bar. She ordered a drink.”
    â€œWhat’s she drinking?” It was an important question. If she was drinking alcohol, then we would know that I was overreacting. If she were on the job, she’d stay sober.
    â€œClear drink. Regular glass. Lime,” Michael replied. “Could be gin or vodka. Could be club soda.” Michael knew the score too.
    â€œWhy didn’t you say something last night?” Jared asked.
    â€œBecause last night, it didn’t feel right. Tonight, two nights in a row—tonight it feels dangerous. What’s she doing, Michael?”
    â€œNot much, just sitting there, nursing her drink. A couple times, though, she’s made eye contact with the big black dude in the corner.”
    â€œYou ever see him before?” I asked Michael.
    â€œNope. First time. Can you make him out?”
    I picked up my beer, pretended to take a sip, and leaned back in my chair to see if I could get a good look at the man standing in the corner. Then I saw him. I recognized him immediately. “We’re made,” I said.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Michael asked. “You know that guy?”
    â€œYeah, that’s my cabbie. He drove me here from Atlantic City. We’re made. No doubt about it.” I nearly took a real swig of beer. It was a reflex. Instead, I just pressed the bottle to my lips, not letting a drop slip through. Then I placed the beer back on the table. I didn’t know what would be in store that night, but I knew that I needed to keep all my faculties. “So, what’s our plan?” I asked. Michael and I both looked to Jared. That’s how it was. Michael was the party. Jared had the plans. I still haven’t figured out what my part was.
    â€œDoes she know about us?” Jared asked, motioning to him and Michael.
    â€œWell, if she didn’t before, she probably would have guessed by now since we’re sitting at the same fucking table.” I said. “But, yeah, I told her last night that you guys were my friends.”
    â€œWe’re going to have to split up,” Jared said without any hesitation.
    â€œThere’s another guy at the other end of the bar,” Michael interrupted. “He’s definitely with her too. Late thirties, white, gray before his time but in pretty good shape, small scar under his left eye.” I again took a fake sip from my drink but I couldn’t get a good look at the new guy. From what I could see, I didn’t recognize him. “Splitting up sounds like a bat-shit stupid idea to me,” Michael said. His face betrayed his emotions for the first time since we’d started playing our little game of pretend.
    â€œEasy, Michael,” I said. “Let’s not give anything away just yet. Why do you think we should split up, Jared?”
    â€œIt’s the only chance we have here. We can’t fight them. We have to run. If we run together we all get caught.”
    â€œI don’t see why we can’t fight them,” Michael replied. “We split up and the odds of all three of us making it out are pretty slim.” Michael looked at me when he said this. We all figured the same