Mafia (A3)

A3. For the last time, I'm not interested!

“For the last time, I’m not interested,” She says. Her lip trembles but her voice is steady. She clenches her hands to keep them from shaking.

“I don’t think you fully understand your situation Ms. Lopez.” He says, but it’s as playful as it is threatening. This whole time he’s been calm and collected in front of her. “We are a group of people law enforcement can never get their hands on, and you’ve already been implicated as being our associate.”

“Maybe,” her voice cracks. She lets out a deep breath and clenches the armrests next to her. She’s surrounded by men with guns and has no escape, but she may have some power here. “But the way I understand it, all your money handlers just got arrested in that FBI raid, and you’re sitting on a couple hundred thousand dollars that need to move now, and I’m the only hope you have for moving it.”

He looks her up and down, sizing her up in a way that makes her want to shrink into the chair cushions. He grabs his chin before nodding.

“You’re right. What you failed to consider, is that my men and I can drop you off in front of any police station on our way out of town and you’ll be in prison faster than you imagine. A mockery of a trail where they’ll only offer you a deal if you give me up, which you can’t. Then, you’ll spend time in prison for a crime you didn’t commit, and I’ll have to find another person with your skill set.”

“I don’t want to go to prison,” she says, horrified, “I didn’t even do anything.”

“You’ll never convince them of that,” he says. She suddenly stands up. The men around her reach for their holsters but don’t draw their guns yet. The man in front of her has his hand raised. He looks up at her calmly and her hands tighten on the table between them. She can’t breathe.

“Are you interested, Ms. Lopez?”

“I-” she stutters, “I don’t know.”

“We are leaving in less than 5 minutes.” He states. “You should figure it out quickly.”