Fire Point by Sean Black

Krank. Fingers spread out at the two upper corners of the map, he went back to his studies. ‘You ready for tonight, MG?’
    Marcus had hoped that Krank had changed his mind and decided to let her go. After all, she had never actually done anything to Marcus. Not like that stuck-up little bitch Stacy or his mom. He should have known better. Once Krank had decided on a course of action that was it. There was no knocking him off course.
    ‘You want me to do it?’ Marcus said, looking at Loser.
    One of them was busy chopping garlic. He lifted the knife from the cutting board and made a slashing motion in the air. ‘It’s easy, dude. Just slice her carotid. She’ll be done in, like, five, ten minutes.’
    ‘Yeah, I want you to do it,’ said Krank. ‘You’re the only one who hasn’t popped his cherry. How can we take you along on this,’ he stabbed a finger at the map, ‘if you’re still a virgin? Blood in, remember.’
    ‘I thought that maybe taking that shot at—’
    He was cut off before he could finish. Krank was getting pissed. He stood up and glared at Marcus. ‘What’s “maybe”? What does “maybe” count for? No. Tonight you do her. She goes. We shouldn’t have kept her here this long in any case. Too risky.’
    Marcus was cornered. He swallowed hard. He really didn’t want to do this. He wasn’t sure he could, even if he’d wanted to. As ever Krank sensed his unease. Krank always picked up on weakness.
    ‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘You’ll have some help.’

32
     
    There was a Toyota Prius parked at the front of the Griffiths family home as Lock arrived back. Any other unknown vehicle might have raised his heart rate by a few beats per minute, but Lock had yet to encounter a Prius driver capable of providing a credible threat to someone he was charged with protecting. He got out of the Audi and walked to the front door. Ty opened it as Lock approached and he went inside.
    ‘Visitor?’ Lock asked.
    ‘The father,’ said Ty. ‘Showed up about a half-hour ago.’
    Lock could see him sitting in the living room with Tarian. Her first husband, Peter Blake, was perched next to her on the couch. A tall, thin man with greying hair and frameless glasses, he was, according to Forbes magazine, worth somewhere north of half a billion dollars. He took off his glasses and sat rubbing his eyes. At least Lock now saw where Marcus Griffiths had got his social awkwardness. Everything about Peter Blake, from his body language to a slight stutter as he spoke to Tarian, indicated a man who was far from comfortable in his own skin, never mind the world.
    ‘Where’s Teddy?’ Lock asked Ty.
    ‘Sulking in his den with a big ole glass of whisky. You find anything out?’
    ‘Not really,’ said Lock. ‘Spoke to the girl at USC. Told her to be careful. Guard at the apartment complex is going to see if he can get us some actual names for Marcus’s buddies.’ Lock nodded at Peter. ‘What’s his deal?’
    Ty shrugged. ‘You jealous?’ he said.
    Before Lock could respond, Tarian called, ‘Mr Lock, would you join us?’
    Lock made his way over.
    ‘This is Peter, Marcus’s father,’ said Tarian.
    Peter got up to shake Lock’s hand. He had the grip of a recent stroke victim.
    Pleasantries out of the way, Tarian gestured for Lock to sit down. ‘I’ve already told Peter that you’re helping us try to figure out what might be going on with Marcus.’
    Lock felt that was a stretch but he let it go. He wasn’t a shrink, and he had no desire to be seen as one. He was interested in psychology in as much as it would allow him to assess whether Marcus was a danger to himself or others. That was where his interest began and ended.
    ‘When did you last see him, Mr Blake?’ Lock asked, taking a seat across from them.
    ‘See him? A couple of months ago. But I speak to him regularly.’ Peter glanced over at his ex-wife. From the way he looked at her, it didn’t take a genius to figure that he might have gotten