Devil's Due

"Shredder," she said.

Pansy dragged the device out from behind her desk.

Lucia dropped the envelope in the teeth of the machine, and it chewed it into ribbons in five seconds flat.

"We make our own choices," Lucia said. "deal?"

"Deal," Jazz said, and they shook on it.

They were walking away when Pansy said, "Um…I think there was a check in there."

And Lucia began to laugh, and Jazz joined in, and just for a moment, there was brightness all around them.

"Well," Jazz gasped, "that was hell of a choice."

"Shut up, Jazz."

"Ooh, touchy. Love you too."

"Go earn us some money."

"Somebody's got to, if you're going to shred all our income…" Jazz gri

Lucia sat down at her desk, smiled and resumed work.