He didn’t even let me finish. “Whatever you are offering is fine.” He kept looking around the room and was edging to the rim of his seat, ready to leave.
I made a split-second decision then and quickly put all the money I had, including the $8,000 that Kiki’s transaction had not required, into the briefcase and handed it to him. “It’s been a pleasure, Hugo,” I said and put out my hand to shake it.
He picked up the briefcase, looked at my hand, and then walked away without shaking it. He moved so quickly that he was out the door in a matter of seconds. I felt horrible. He had been terrified, but I couldn’t do anything, not without risking my own safety and his. I just hoped the nice pay day would be some relief for him until he found out he could get his book back.
But at that moment, I
