As Niki slipped her panties on, her phone rang. "Uh-oh."

     "What?" Big Wally asked as she put her own bra and panties back on. 

     "My phone only rings like that when there's an emergency. A friend of mine's in trouble." 

     "That's her on the phone?" 

     "It's a him, not a her, and he's not calling me. He sent a mental signal that triggered...I've got to get going." Niki checked to make sure she wasn't about to accidentally leave anything, although she couldn't imagine what that might be, she traveled so light. 

     "Well, I guess this is it," she said. 

     "You believe in fate?" Big Wally asked. 

     "Sometimes"

     "Do you believe we were fated to meet today?"

     "If you'd like." 

     "You're a tough one, aren't you?"

     "Tough as I need to be, I guess." 

     "You're one of them." 

     "One of..." 

     "Part of that group that got everybody killed last year, that stole everybody's money at that phony amusement park a couple of years ago, that..." 

     "Okay. Okay." 

     "Every cop on the planet is looking for you, and they're not the only ones. There's this one really rich guy who's paying a hundred grand for every one of you that can be tracked down and brought to him." 

     "Sounds good. I might even turn myself in for that kind of money." 

     "So you admit it." 

     "What would you do about it if I was?" 

     "I could set myself up for the rest of my life if I turned you in right now." 

     "I'd kill you first." 

     "You going to kill me anyway?" 

     "Of course not." 

     "You never told me your name." 

​     "I didn't think you really wanted to know it, and I didn't want to lie."  

     "I don't know if I do want to know it." 

     "My name's Niki. Niki Creole." 

     "When they find you, they'll kill you." 

     "I'll just have to keep moving, then." 

     "You got a couple of bucks I could borrow, Niki?" 

     "Sure." Niki had eight, one-hundred-dollar bills in her wallet, along with some twenties and some other, smaller bills. She handed four of the hundreds and one of the twenties to Big Wally. "We never met, right?"

     "Oh, we met."

     "You know what I mean."

     "You don't have to worry about me saying nothing. You can count on me."

     "I know."

     Big Wally grabbed Niki to give her one last, full kiss on the lips.  

     "I promise I'll never talk about you," she said. "but I will never forget you. You be careful, Niki Creole."​    

END OF CHAPTER FOUR

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