Do Or Die

Chapter 10

New York City, Three Days Later…

Lincoln swished the Jack Daniels in the shot glass contemplatively.

"Mind if I sit here?" A man, cleanly-cut and in casual clothes, approached him with an expectant look on his face.

"Not at all," Mat replied from behind him. Mat jerked his head in the other direction to encourage Lincoln to meet him in a booth.

Lincoln glanced up and hid his smirk by taking a swig of his drink. He got up from his stool at the bar, and his height and good looks caused the other man to take appreciative notice as Lincoln walked off with Mat.

"No use," The bartender said to the newcomer at the bar. "He's taken and is religiously loyal."

Mat slid into the side booth. He rested his suitcase on the long, obsidian table. The large window that flanked his side was crusted over with frost.

Lincoln, dressed simply in a cream-colored bubble vest over a brown cashmere sweater, slid in the booth, facing Mat on the other seat.

Mat opened up the suitcase, withdrew three thick manila envelopes, and slid them across the table to Lincoln. "That's everything."

Lincoln opened one of the envelopes. He withdrew a photograph of the scene depicting the aftermath of the explosion and Audrianna's kidnapping in the underground carpark two weeks ago.

"What about the girl who died, Lindy, who was a part of the entourage? Audrianna was quite close to all the girls. Is her family getting compensation?"

"Audrianna's taken care of it." Mat drummed his fingers on the polished black tabletop. "Listen, are you going to spend your one and only vacation working?"

Lincoln shook his head, laughing, "I don't remember a vacation where I haven't done anything else but work." Lincoln rubbed his chin. "My son is about her age. Do you know where she lived?"

"The address is included with the report and final findings. It's right around here in Hell's Kitchen."

"Hmm." Lincoln grew contemplative. His phone buzzed and he glanced at the incoming text. "Just a sec." He got up and walked a little way to the entrance, where Mat saw him greet another man before Lincoln was handed a medium-sized black garbage bag. Lincoln walked back to the table to reclaim his seat, placing the bag next to him.

"How are the kids?"

Lincoln sighed. "Think Alvin and The Chipmunks on steroids."

"That bad, huh?" Mat laughed.

"Actually, no, it's not half bad at all."

Lincoln waved to his friend behind the bar, held up his glass and put up two fingers in the air. The bartender nodded and at him and started to fill the order.