Cut and Run 1 - Cut and Run

were working before. I want the manifest lists from evidence, including everyone who's touched every single piece, and everyone who's filed a single piece of paper in this case."
    "And you have clearance from on high this time,” Ty added. “No sneaking required."
    Henninger blinked, looked vaguely worried, and opened his mouth to utter a very obvious word, but caught it just in time. “I don't want to know, do I?"
    Ty just shrugged and looked back down at his untouched food.
    "Just get it. Then call us when it's together, and we'll meet again to pick it up. You've got my number.” Zane scooted out of the booth and stood up, pulling a wad of cash out of his pocket and tossing a twenty on the table.
    Henninger watched him rise with a slightly stricken look and then looked back at Ty, who was still sitting and staring at him blankly. “I kind of liked him better when he was you,” Henninger grumbled to him.
    Ty gave him a weak, sympathetic smile and slid out of the booth. Zane rolled his eyes and nudged Ty to get moving. Ty nudged him back, hard, and snarled at him as they left the restaurant. Henninger turned in his seat and watched them go, frowning at them thoughtfully.
    Zane pulled out a cigarette and lit up as soon as they were outside. “I still don't like him,” he said as they started walking.
    "What do you mean, still?” Ty asked.
    "He's a puppy dog. Didn't we have this conversation?” Zane said around his cigarette. He stopped at the curb to wait for the light to change.
    "I didn't think you had a problem with him?” Ty questioned.
    "At first I didn't, but I think that's because I was so wrapped up in being annoyed with you,” Zane admitted. “But damn, he's eager. I was never that shiny."
    Ty gave Zane a sidelong glance and shrugged. “Guess that depends on who you ask,” he said.
    Zane looked at Ty with narrowed eyes. “You met a caricature. You know that."
    "Yeah, but it's still fun to watch you get all puffy over it,” Ty laughed softly, a glimmer of the man Zane had first met shining through in his eyes.
    Chuckling as they crossed the street, Zane smiled and winked at Ty. “You just like to poke and poke and get me riled up,” he said with a purposeful double meaning.
    "Damn right,” Ty said with a grin, and then he stopped suddenly and kicked Zane in the shin.
    "Ow!” Zane cried, though he was laughing slightly in surprise as Ty turned back around and began walking.
    "I'm gonna start wearing steel-toed boots,” Ty said over his shoulder.
    Zane snorted as they walked. He stopped without warning as he glanced across the street. “Oooh—detour."
    "What?” Ty asked in confusion as he turned and then followed Zane's line of sight worriedly.
    "Come on!” Zane ordered. He actually sounded happy all of a sudden. He pulled Ty along to the corner and then crossed to the other side of the street and walked partway back up to stop in front of the classy storefront window of a privately owned bookstore.
    "What?” Ty asked again as he looked up at the hand-carved sign.
    "I've heard about this place,” Zane said, looking up at the sign. “It's all mysteries, suspense, thrillers.... “He nearly bounced in place.
    "Do you not get enough of that shit in your real life?” Ty asked with a roll of his eyes. “Come on,” he ordered as he turned away. “I don't do books."
    "Well, I do. Get an espresso or something,” Zane said, pulling open the door and going inside.
    "I don't do espressos,” Ty called after him stubbornly. As he stood outside the doors, his shoulders slumped, and soon he obediently followed Zane into the store.
    Zane was already browsing on a table marked “Old Favorites” when Ty stepped through the door. Quiet jazz played in the background, and a slim, white-haired man with spectacles sat behind the counter reading. A full coffee and espresso bar was set up to the side, steaming gently.
    Ty forced himself not to groan. He hated these fucking places. Give him McDonald's black coffee and a copy of Guns and Ammo to read on the john and he was set. He didn't even like coffee.
    "I see you're a man of action rather than one of reflection,” the old man said out of the blue, his twinkling eyes looking over the glasses.
    Ty was slightly surprised to be addressed, but he recovered quickly enough to respond with, “I'm prone to paper cuts."
    The man chuckled and closed his book, using a tasseled bookmark. “Your friend is happy to be here."
    "He's happy to be anywhere,” Ty