Cut and Run 1 - Cut and Run

the fact that the serial really was an FBI man.
    "It ain't just us he's trying to off,” Ty said to the younger man. “There was an attempt on you as well, in case you forgot,” he reminded softly. “This boy knows what we're doing before we do it. He knows how to get in and get out without getting on tape. He's a step ahead of us all the way."
    "Look, we're not going back in there, and we're not reporting in again until we get some hard evidence to take to someone high up,” Zane said. “You can get us the information we need from inside—and you've proven you can keep your mouth shut.” He reached out and took up a loaded potato skin. “We'll take care of the rest,” he murmured, meeting Ty's eyes.
    Ty merely sat and stared, and Henninger looked between them with a frown. “I don't like this,” he finally muttered. He shifted uncomfortably and looked away. He had several healing cuts on his face and a laceration that had been stitched up on his neck.
    Ty watched him with a small frown. It had taken a lot of guts for the kid to come out here and meet them, knowing they were AWOL. And he appeared to be legit, which Ty found almost surprising. No tail that Ty had seen. Risking his neck to try and help them just days after getting metal and plastic shrapnel to the face, the kid was earning Ty's grudging respect.
    "Okay,” Henninger finally said softly as he looked back at Zane and then at Ty.
    Zane smiled crookedly. “Good. Here's what we need."
    * * * *
    Standing outside the SUV smoking, Zane waited as Ty finished talking with Henninger before they went their opposite ways. The kid had balls, that was for sure. He still seemed so damn naïve, though. Shaking his head, he leaned back against the door, tapping ashes to float to the ground.
    "That shit'll kill you, y'know,” Ty murmured as he walked up to stand beside the SUV.
    Zane gave him an amused look as he pulled the cigarette from between his lips. “This was the least destructive of my vices. Quit as many as I did and see if you don't need one to keep the others in line.” He thought about that for a minute. “I suppose I could have kept whoring instead."
    "That'll kill you, too,” Ty responded simply.
    Taking another drag, Zane tipped his head. “Maybe I'll think about it when I don't need the stress relief,” he allowed. He blew the smoke up into the air away from Ty and chuckled darkly. “They were all good for that."
    "Why not troll the bars?” Ty asked curiously, unable to help himself. “You're a good-looking guy. Did you just get a kick out of paying for it?"
    Zane smiled. “Did I catch a compliment in there?” he asked, flicking ashes to the side as he looked at his feet. He took another pull off the half-gone cigarette before answering. “Breaking the rules is addictive, too."
    Ty inclined his head slightly and peered at Zane through the dark lenses of his brown aviators. “How in the hell did you make it past the psych exams?” he asked finally in exasperation.
    Breathing in deeply and blowing the smoke out and away, Zane looked resigned. “You're not the only one good at lying through your teeth."
    Ty was silent for a long moment before he leaned closer and lowered his sunglasses enough to meet Zane's eyes. “If you turn out to be the killer I'm going to be all kinds of pissed off, got it?” he warned.
    Zane threw back his head and laughed. “I got plans for a lot more fucking before any mercy killing, man,” he said, taking a last drag of the cigarette before dropping it and grinding it under his boot.
    Ty snorted in response and looked up and down the sidewalk slowly before reaching for the door handle and opening the passenger side door. “Let's get the fuck out of here,” he muttered. “I got a headache."
    Keys jingling in hand, Zane climbed into the SUV along with Ty. “Henninger said he'd put in the paperwork for the car so they won't tag us for it,” Ty said as they both got settled. “He also said I never actually called him about those damn personnel files. I could have sworn I did."
    "I think we got distracted by food, then the NYPD called and off we went,” Zane answered regretfully. “Did he say he'd get on it?"
    "He said he'd need the original files. They're in the old room,” Ty answered.
    "Holiday Inn?” Zane asked.
    Ty nodded. “I want my other jacket,” he grumbled in answer.
    Zane looked down at his dandy new black jacket and smirked. “Off we go, then.” He went quiet for a long minute