Fred slipped a cigar from his pocket and lit it up. "A bad guy, you say? What makes him so bad?"

"He..." Mya hesitated, her lips parting for a single word before she changed her mind. "Look, we hardly know each other. I'd rather keep it to myself and handle it my way."

A subtle softness crept into Fred's otherwise intimidating face. "How can I help if you don't share the details? If he's done something awful, I can take care of him for you."

Mya was still somewhat skeptical of him. She pursed