EGOFALL - Tim Kern

It's a short read, but it will grab you.

***
Richard Bronner had no criminal experience, and he didn't know any criminals, or how to think like a criminal. He didn't even watch crime shows on television, but he knew he was headed down a criminal path. Where would it lead, and how he would get there? He didn't know that, either, but he knew that he was about to go… somewhere, down an unknown, dark lane. And Tommy Burkett was hitchhiking on it. That's it. The damn kid's going to blackmail me! But when? For what – what does a kid like that want?

Bronner's paranoia was building, feeding on itself. When is he coming back to make his demands? What demands? How can I make sure nothing happens? I can get him fired, but what’ll that look like? Would anybody look? HR, maybe? What if he talks – who’d believe him?...

Bronner mulled over a number of strategies. He had no criminal experience, and he didn't know any criminals, or how to think like a criminal. He didn't even watch crime shows on television, but he knew he was headed down a criminal path. Where would it lead, and how he would get there? He didn't know that, either, but he knew that he was about to go… somewhere, down an unknown, dark lane. And Tommy Burkett was hitchhiking on it.

Bronner was there, leaning against a tree. He called out to the janitor.

'Hey, kid!'

...Burkett saw the man, dark, the glow of the cigarette doing nothing to light the face in the hoodie’s shadow. He shielded his cigarette from the rain by pulling his hood farther forward. Tommy approached the stealthy figure…