229 A Clear Message (part one)

"Nix!" Shana charged across the room and flung herself at him. Her curly brown hair covered her face as she hugged him tightly.

Nix picked her up and sat her on the counter. He turned to face Lela who was walking in from the backroom. "What's going on here Lela?"

"Wait please." Lela walked to the front door and put up the closed sign before shutting all the blinds in the display windows.

Nix leaned against the counter, Shana had an arm around his neck. He noticed right away that Lela seemed gaunt and stressed.

Lela stood in front of him a moment later, gripping her hands tightly together. "It started a few weeks ago. Some bad people started hanging around in front of our shop, scaring customers away."

"Provost Marshal didn't do anything about it?'

"They did, but they can't be here all the time." Lela's eyes stared at the floor. "It was my idea to pay them, we were making lots of profit. Only..."