“More serious than ending up dead? I don’t think so,” Rick answered with a smile. “And that’s what I’d be if I hadn’t caught up to your little death messenger and squeezed some information out of him.”

“You received a death note? And you’re still alive?” the dry one gasped, trying to keep his bleeding ankle still. His partner snuffled pathetically beside him.

“Yes. Now if you’d be so good as to tell me who told you to meet Bob here, I’ll be on my way.”

“I told you, I don’t know. We get our instructions by phone.”

Rick reached out and dug in the man’s jacket until he produced a cell phone. He put it into the man’s hand. “Then call them and tell them the job’s done, and you have what you came for.” He brandished his gun, letting it hover near the open wound.

“Okay, okay.” The man hit the redial button and held the phone to his ear. After a moment he said, “It’s Gary. We’ve got the sample and the seeds.” He looked up into Rick’s eyes. “No, Bob didn’t give us any trouble at all.”