Malachi Blackwood leaned closer to Lyra, his breath heavy with the stench of alcohol. His weathered face took on an eager expression as he prepared to reveal his supposed bombshell.
"A hundred thousand dollars," he announced, his voice low and dramatic.
Lyra stared at him in disbelief. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. A hundred grand for what I know," Malachi repeated, swaying slightly on his feet. "The fifteen you sent? Consider that a down payment."
"You just agreed to twenty-five thousand," Lyra said through gritted teeth. "And now you're demanding four times that amount?"
Malachi shrugged, a sly smile creeping across his face. "What can I say? I undervalued my information. This is the kind of secret that changes everything."
Before Lyra could respond, a sharp voice cut through the tension.
"Well, isn't this cozy? A family reunion in the hospital parking lot."
