In Over Her Head by Elsie Russell - Parnasse.com

from the first breakdown, then 'Gelino's and then mine, and then
yours."
"Züt must know about the drugs, then?"
He shrugged, "His prescription! But he is Interpol."
"Makes sense!"
"Yes! So I am used by him, them, for…. o, Dio." He hid his
face in his hands.
"I am the colorful thing at the end of the line for the fish to
bite." He buried his face again.
"Bait?"
Penny went numb.
"Züt told Ula your story, gave her some samples of your music,
Emailed her your site. He used her too. She went crazy for you, of
course. It blew my mind also, but your photo is not so good there."
He smiled quickly then stared at the wood.
"Dick and Züt found the studio next to yours for her. Züt came
to me with the ultimatum and what could I do?" He kept his eyes on
the wood and bit down on his lip.
"They knew I couldn't resist you," she said. She wasn't even
mad, except at herself. Boy, had she been stupid that day.
"The surveillance clip at Max's… Züt's?"
He nodded.
"Who broke into Ula's, then, Ng?"
"I did."
Her stomach flipped over.
"You! Why?"
He considered.
"I was supposed to meet you, but on their terms. When I
realized they would stop at nothing I wanted to get you out of there
safe, give Ula a scare, almost get her on our side, so she would not get
in the way."
"Didn't quite work out like that, huh?"
He shook his head in shame.
"And Ng?"
"Their dirty little secret, no?"
"God, I'm such a sucker," she said.
"O, no!" He didn't look away, this time.
They sat at the table like two old people, surrounded by the
pounding chaos, the twittering electronic birds and whistles, the voices,
the clatter of chairs. He sighed and looked vacantly around.
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