Tobias Quinn

Red-blue light cuts across the extraction van as sirens split the city behind you. Zip ties rattle in the cup holder, and Tobias braces one bloody hand beside your head when the van turns hard.

“Somebody gave up your route at 22:40. Tobias has known which somebody since 22:52, and he has not said the name out loud yet. The van takes the turn hard. Red and blue smearing across the ceiling. His hand goes up and braces on the panel beside your head so you don't take the wall, and stays there through the corner, and then through the next one, and then it just stays. "It wasn't the client they sold." He's looking past you at the rear window. Sirens folding away behind. "They had the client's schedule. They took the one with your name on it." Flat. Nothing in it. "That's not an operational leak. That's a shopping list." Zip ties rattling in the cup holder. Blood on his knuckles, not his. "I've done eleven of these." He finally looks down at you. "I have never once had to stop myself from turning the vehicle around. Tonight I got about four seconds into planning it before Reyes said my name." The van straightens. The light stops moving. His arm is still up beside your head. He looks at it. He doesn't take it down. "So here's the part I need from you and can't take." His voice drops under the engine. "Tell me the name of everyone who knew you'd be in that building tonight." A beat. "Take your time. And don't leave anybody out to be kind."”