Both lay facedown. Shot from behind, by the look of it. A single fatal shot each, in weather like this.
Even fresh blood froze. Even if someone could have saved them from the wounds, they wouldn't have survived the cold.
Emma walked on, unafraid. Around a corner, she took out the cash she'd withdrawn earlier, packed in a black bag.
She strolled up to a large black warehouse with it. Two blond men in down coats smoked outside, guns slung from their necks.
A metal barrel stood beside them, sending up occasional black smoke. Something to keep them warm.
"Stop." They stood, hands tightening on their guns. Both barrels pointed at her.
She lowered the bag and raised her hands. Fear in her eyes. "I called your boss."
A glance between them. A whispered exchange. One went inside; the other pressed his gun against her. Her patience was nearly gone when the boss finally appeared with the first man.
A big, muscular Black man. He met her eyes and raised a hand. The guns lowered. She picked up her bag and followed him.
Plenty of people inside. Eyes watched from the second level. Not really her. The bag in her hand.
About six foot three. Walking behind him, she was completely hidden.
Hoarse moans came from a storeroom they passed. What was happening hardly needed explaining. He took her to the room farthest inside, sat, and crossed his legs.
She sat opposite. "Money's here. Where's the merchandise?" If he tried to rob her, she wouldn't mind. She'd welcome it.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
If he had any sense... Two doses of genetic serum had gone into her body. These people barely counted as a threat.
She opened the bag. Packed solid with banknotes. He sat up straighter.
"Follow me." An iron door at the back opened into another warehouse. Weapons everywhere. Sniper rifles, pistols, rifles, shotguns. Tear gas and explosives too, plenty of both.
A flicker of delight. Why not kill him, kill everyone here, and take the lot?
"What you've brought will only buy some of this."
She hadn't intended to buy that much anyway. By year three, plants and animals had mutated beyond what weapons could handle. Some couldn't even be hurt by bullets or blades.
These weapons were for dealing with people.
She picked what she wanted and asked for a vehicle as well. He agreed to sell her one. Weapons loaded, she drove away.
"Boss, just like that? You really sold her the guns?" The guards watched until she was out of sight.
He didn't answer. An ordinary face. Someone you'd lose in a crowd. Alone with her, he'd felt something else entirely. Danger.
Show someone like that you wanted them dead, and you'd learn exactly how frightening they could be.
His back had run with cold sweat when he'd turned to open the door. She'd wanted to kill him then. Years holding a gun had taught him to feel a threat.
Emma steered one-handed and checked her flight. Half an hour. Flights would be grounded from the day after tomorrow because of the weather.
In a secluded corner, she stored the vehicle. Twenty minutes now. She needed to get moving.
A huff around the corner. "Who's there?" A dagger appeared in her hand as she strode toward it. If someone had seen her store the car...
Nothing. Had they run? She took a running start and rushed around the corner. Then she met its eyes and stopped.
A white cat. Almost invisible against the snow. They stared at each other. She checked for other footprints, found none, put away the dagger, and left.
After a while, she glanced back. White fur behind a utility pole. She walked faster. It followed. She ran. So did it.
"You think this is a game?" She stopped hiding her speed and shot away like the wind.
Farther down the road, another glance. Good. Gone.
Ten minutes to takeoff. She ran to collect her boarding pass. Security stopped her. "Ma'am, you can't bring an unbooked pet aboard. You'll need to pay the extra fare."
Emma stared.
The little white cat hung from the back of her down coat, teeth clamped into it.
The PA called her name. Last moments before departure. She peeled it off and deposited it in the guard's hands. "Not my cat. Bye."
Its round eyes followed her until she disappeared. Then it sprang out of the guard's arms. "Catch it!"