Chapter 2
Shortcut sat in the cockpit and rested his head against the leather seat. The plane changed direction, flying in circles around the ocean. He had time to waste until X needed to be picked up.
A face appeared on the dashboard—a plump man with a chubby face and a mustache. He had greasy brown hair that looked as if it hadn’t been combed in days, and he wore a red sweater vest and a tie with tabby cats painted on it.
“Hey, Shortcut.”
Shortcut sighed and put his hands below the dashboard, secretly flipping the man off. “I’m on a mission.”
“That’s no way to talk to your new boss,” Crandall said. “What did Fahrens tell you? I missed the call.”
“Obviously,” Shortcut said.
“What’s the report? Did you catch him yet?
“We just got here.”
“You have nothing to report?”
“Jesus, did y
