{"id":190,"date":"2019-03-15T12:43:13","date_gmt":"2019-03-15T12:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/?p=190"},"modified":"2019-03-15T12:43:13","modified_gmt":"2019-03-15T12:43:13","slug":"samuel-hamrick-roman-trend-the-duties-of-a-criminal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/samuel-hamrick-roman-trend-the-duties-of-a-criminal\/","title":{"rendered":"Samuel Hamrick & Roman Trend – The Duties of a Criminal"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a> 1 \u2013 Crosswalks and crossroads<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Jason stared at his cell phone display with the deceptively simple-looking message: \u201cD-Day.\u201d D as in <\/span><\/span><\/span>d\u00e9j\u00e0-vu or death<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>, he was thinking. Ever since he quit his job at the steel plant and until tonight, he\u2019d been a lowly gofer in Mr. Cooper\u2019s ongoing money laundering operation. Now all of that was about to change because of a pal from way back in high-school. \u201cIf you recognize the guy for sure, give him a bear hug,\u201d his contact had explained. \u201cIf not, shoot him dead point blank, is that clear!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSuppose so,\u201d he\u2019d replied.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSuppose nothing!\u201d his contact had retorted. \u201cFail us, and you can kiss your sweet ass goodbye.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

That was two short weeks ago, and since then Jason had been on standby for the call. Each day had been a negative, and each day he’d been saying to himself: There has <\/span><\/span><\/span>got<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> to be a third way out! Today\u2019s affirmative message made his stomach turn, the third option suddenly seemed glamorously distant.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The girl who unwittingly played a key role in his backup plans was actually quite near. Stella lived across the park, it only took him twenty minutes to get there on foot; 15 if he ran. Jason didn\u2019t want to run tonight; he needed to stay calm, composed with this concealed weapon under his jacket in the left side. His fashion-conscious girlfriend had a full-time job in a hair salon around the corner from where she lived. She usually got off work around 7:30, and sometimes he\u2019d simply stand outside waiting for her. She didn\u2019t mind, obviously, and seemed equally glad and positively surprised each and every time. Her unpretentious nature was one of the things he so loved about this woman.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She shouldn\u2019t be so excited to see him, tonight, because he was carrying this pistol he wasn\u2019t supposed to possess. Not without a permit, for sure. She knew about his collection of firearms, but hadn\u2019t a clue about how hard he had been practicing, how many trips he\u2019d taken to find remote places for an improvised range.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His contact had issued precise instructions. There was a scheduled pickup outside the subway station at 7:20; if Jason didn\u2019t make it for whatever reason, he\u2019d be on his own and have only 90 minutes to make it to Warehouse 11. The designated driver knew the direct route, which went through tunnels and across obscure industrial roads. The regular route was much less complicated but significantly longer \u2013 he\u2019d have to persuade a taxi driver to break the speed limit, and it would cost him a small fortune as well. Showing up after 9:20 would simply count as a deliberate no-show, his contact had stressed.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

That explicit warning had given Jason the idea about a third option. If he met up with Stella, he\u2019d start talking to her, and once they got talking he\u2019d sure tell her everything about his life as a thug. He\u2019d be in a position where he couldn\u2019t make it to the Warehouse by 9:20 even if he changed his mind and wanted to. Then they\u2019d be in this danger together; no longer his burden to carry alone. As he crossed rapidly through the park, he was thinking about that.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Having cleared the park, he stood at the crosswalk waiting for the go signal. What was he going to tell his girlfriend, how was he going to explain? Hesitant to cross the street, he stood there pondering upon that. Suddenly, he felt someone touch his shoulder, turned around, and there stood Slim, one of the guys from the pack.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason had been working out in the gym, and looked tough compared with the average guy on the street, but not compared with his friends. For awhile, he had been hoping to catch up to them, but it had proven a losing battle. Muscle didn\u2019t quite seem to grow on him. The girls liked him, except that those who preferred the real macho type found him too delicate. He was handsome enough to have been called pretty sometimes, and to be honest he wouldn\u2019t like a broken nose or to have his front teeth knocked out in a fist fight. His interest in preserving his good looks could make him hesitate in a dual with a rival, long enough for that situation to become very dangerous for him.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, where do you think you\u2019re going?\u201d Slim said, commanding more than asking.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna go down there!\u201d Jason replied transparently, immediately regretting his words as he pointed in the direction of the hair salon.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGoing there? No, you are not!\u201d Slim said, pulling him closer. \u201cThere\u2019s no time for that. Just come with, we\u2019re parked right around the corner.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve something to do, don\u2019t worry, I’ll be on time!\u201d Jason said unconvincingly. Slim pulled his jacket, and in his left hand Jason could see a knife with an open switchblade. Slim was very good at using those, Jason knew he had no other choice than to tag along. \u201cGoodbye Stella,\u201d he said to himself, thinking he probably wasn\u2019t ever going to see her again.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> 2 \u2013 A suitably obscure site<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Warehouse 11 had been abandoned six years ago, when its former owners – a meat packaging company – went belly up. Now owned by the crime syndicate, the flat 8000 square foot building was supposedly undergoing renovation, which dragged out because of pollutants found in the soil. The place, marred by a funny sweet smell, was unsuitable for storage of almost anything, and no organized worker would ever dream of setting foot there in its present condition.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnit 11\u201d – or simply \u201c11\u201d as some preferred to call it – was abandoned but not entirely overlooked. It was within half a mile of the harbor, where the big tanks for storage of oil, natural gas, petroleum, and gasoline were located. The pollutants had probably been flowing downstream from some leaked tanks, underground and undetected. Several of the units nearby were in use, which generated a fair amount of truck traffic in the area, down the Sutton Lane Parkway especially. The Parkway was like a semi-circle, connecting with the main highway on both ends.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The unit was lightly guarded, with random checks during the daytime and an hourly patrol at night. Even so, it was all but impenetrable. Barbed wire alongside the entire perimeter was reinforced by an elaborate, multi-layered security system that included internal gates, fences, and computerized check-points. Any official looking into it would have had to suspect that the supposedly abandoned warehouse was actually being used for something important, but nobody ever bothered to check.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The main entrance consisted of a double steel door. There was another entry point on the far end of the building, and yet another on the backside around the corner. Those two were for truck deliveries back in the days when the warehouse was being used for meat packaging. In addition to the entrance portal, which accommodated up to a medium-sized truck, there were red side doors for passengers and workers. But the area had been sealed off, with weed and tall grass showing that no vehicles had been anywhere near the delivery facilities for years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Access through the main entrance required a magnetic card to be swiped through a reader mounted vertically on the right side door panel, followed by manually punching in a 5-digit pin code within 30 seconds. This evening, Henry had accessed the building, then disabled the alarms and controls, which had allowed him to keep the door open for up to 60 minutes. After that, the security installations would have to be re-enabled, or a second alarm system for the whole building would go off and alert the private patrol. So this transaction had better be completed before then; the off-duty police officer surely wouldn\u2019t want a dozen people around when the time came to shut the door and put the primary alarm system back online.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Only one person would be able to enter at any given time. Each would have to pass by Rob, who\u2019d check their IDs like some bouncer at a discotheque. The former professional middle weight boxing champion with a checkered past had been armed with a semi-automatic pistol for the occasion, and behind him stood Henry, armed with two handguns as usual. Unless someone managed to enter the property unnoticed, which was highly unlikely, Rob and Henry would be able to shoot down any visitor before they could pull a weapon or do much of anything else.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After the security check, the visitors would be entering a vacant storage room, which had naked walls and merely a single light bulb. This was on purpose: To leave visitors disoriented, while the hosts had the clear advantage of knowing the place. One of five doors would be open, and it would lead to the office where the transaction was to take place. Nobody except Mr. Dimachio knew which office would be used tonight. The Italian-American immigrant, whose Sicilian family had deep Mafia ties, was partner with Cooper, whose business this was. Mr. Dimachio limped, slightly dragging one leg, the carry-over from a bloody motorcycle incident he didn’t like to talk or hear about. Even now, minutes before showtime, his pals didn\u2019t know in which office he sat, or whether he had arrived at all.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> 3 \u2013 Team Meeting<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Jeremy checked through his belongings once more before stepping through the metal gate. He turned back and looked at Henry with the moonlight in his eyes, then muttered: \u201cWaste of time patrolling it, the way I see it; what kind of criminals would break into a warehouse full of meat, anyway?\u201d He began to walk away and wave as he said: \u201cHave fun sleeping during your all-nighter, Henry.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Henry stood waiting for him to be gone, hiding his impatience with an intense expression, and said: \u201cActually, I\u2019ll be staying awake tonight; unlike you, I actually do my job.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremy raised his eyebrows apathetically and turned away, saying: \u201cGod knows how you manage to put up with it. So long.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Once alone, Henry quickly moved to the warehouse\u2019s alarm controls and began disabling them. As he finished working, he noticed someone creeping up behind him, and he turned with a start to see that it was just Suzy; he breathed a sigh of relief as she walked up to him with a clipboard in her hand, looking over his work to make sure it would do. \u201cDon\u2019t sneak up on me like that, Suzy! I thought you were an officer or someone and that we were busted…\u201d She took no notice, and he pulled out a cellphone, dialing a number from his contacts. \u201cDimachio, it\u2019s Henry. I\u2019ve got the alarms disabled, we\u2019ve got a solid hour to sort out the deal before the secondary alarms kick in. Uh-huh. Yeah, we\u2019ll see you in a few.\u201d He hung up the phone, and turned to see Rob take his place next to the warehouse door, and he stepped up behind his colleague to stand guard as well.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Suzy walked up to Rob and said: \u201cNow, you know who we\u2019re expecting tonight and what they look like, right?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rob narrowed his eyes. \u201cOf course I do. Why wouldn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Suzy raised her shoulders. \u201cI\u2019m just making sure.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A little bit later, a dark blue van pulled up next to the warehouse gate and parked there, taking a moment before it turned off and the five people inside got out. They all walked up to Rob, one of them carrying a briefcase, and the one leading them – an aging man with an unrestrained moustache – pulled out an ID card and handed it to Rob, who after handing it back said: \u201cI recognize the rest of you. Come on in.\u201d Rob and Henry stood aside, and they shuffled through the door one by one. One of the men accidentally bumped into Rob with a briefcase he was carrying, and whispered a potent apology as he scurried through.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The men found themselves in a dreadfully dim, darkened room with only one hanging lightbulb giving them light to see by, and silhouetted beneath it was a table seated with three people playing cards. One of the men, noticing the five people assembling in the room, slammed his cards on the table and rose heatedly to meet them. Pointing at them accusingly, he said: \u201cYou…are fifteen minutes late. You do realize that\u2019s 25% of our time gone, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One man, standing to the right of the leading man, said: \u201cWe apologize for the delay, Nathan. We got stopped by the police on our way over here, and had to sort things out.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The other man sitting at the table turned to him and said: \u201cAnd you told him…?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA magnificent lie.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Nathan, still angry, said: \u201cWe don\u2019t want your excuses, Theodore! Thanks to your fashionable lateness, we have 45 minutes to sort out and seal this deal before we\u2019ll have the cops to worry about.\u201d Another of the five men, an old and silent man who\u2019d been standing motionless since he entered, now started fingering the handle of a gun in his pocket, keeping watch for signs of hostility. The lead man gave a subtle signal back to him to relax, and then with a heavy Texan accent said: \u201cFellas, please; we\u2019re the ones who wanted this deal, so if our timin\u2019 causes problems and we have to abort, it\u2019s our own loss, right?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Theodore and Nathan didn\u2019t seem to notice these words. After studying the cards on the table, Theodore stepped into the light and said: \u201cAww, I\u2019m so sorry; did we arrive just in time to ruin your little poker game?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There was silence in the room for a moment, and everyone seemed to be worried about a struggle; but then Nathan turned abashedly away for a moment, and said: \u201cWe have a lot of negotiating to do before time\u2019s up. And for your information, I had a straight flush with $400 to win…\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Another of the men, a casually dressed teenager who\u2019d been looking around the room impatiently, chuckled at this, even when Nathan shot him a dirty look.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> 4 \u2013 Too Cold for Comfort<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Makaya\u2019s nostrils vibrated like they always did when he knew his life might be in danger. He sensed no fear; hadn\u2019t been able to since that great prison riot back in Nevada, which led to nearly two dozen inmates being gunned down. He had been part of a group of seven that escaped, as the guards were either suffering from smoke inhalation or struggling to contain the rioting inmates.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome this way with me, please,\u201d Nathan had said smugly.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat for?\u201d he\u2019d been about to ask, but Joe shook his head and looked directly into his eyes. He always listened to Joe, who knew what needed to be done and what had to happen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Makaya agreed, putting his loaded Winchester rifle to rest up against the wall. \u201cJust you and me, right? Where\u2019s your buddy, the guy with the funny looking nose, Rob is it?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRob went to take a leak, don\u2019t worry my man,\u201d Nathan promised. \u201cI need you to look at something real quick, and tell me what you think. Won\u2019t take even five minutes.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Makaya walked close behind the other man, who opened a thick steel door. They went through a narrow corridor, then another steel door was opened, and they stood inside a huge storage room. Dozens of full-sized freezers were placed alongside the wall.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese here deep freezers used to be filled with meat,\u201d Nathan explained. \u201cCan you guess what use Mr. Cooper has for them now? Go open one, you\u2019ll see. Any one, doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Makaya couldn\u2019t feel fear. He wished he could. Should he be afraid? Joe had spurred him on, but these freezers and this chilly room was a bit too weird. Joe had said\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right.\u201d He went over to the freezer in the middle, opened it, and felt a heavy blow to his neck. \u201cWhat the hell?\u201d he gasped, as he tried to turn around and was knocked half unconscious by Rob\u2019s uppercut. Even as it blackened before his eyes, he managed to unleash the tiny switchblade knife he carried in his belt. It penetrated Rob\u2019s stomach like a silver knife cutting through soft butter, then continued upward toward the rib cage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell done,\u201d Nathan said from a safe distance, as Rob fell to the floor in agony, soon occupying a miserable spot filled with his own blood. \u201cThe job is yours now.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> 5 \u2013 A tense few moments<\/h3>\n

The nine of them followed the sound of Dimachio\u2019s ringing cellphone down a dark hallway, with Joe and his men treading carefully, having no knowledge of where they were going. They arrived in a small office, old and dirty but kept and tidy, and found Mr. Dimachio sitting at a desk patiently letting the cell ring; he gestured them all into the office as Fulton hung up his own cell. Joe and Schylar sat down in the chairs in front of Dimachio, as he said: \u201cFinally got everything sorted out? All right then, let\u2019s do some business,\u201d and lit a cigar.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Henry stood vigil at his post by the door, while Renzo sat in a chair off to the side tapping his fingers with boredom. Fulton was standing in a corner of the office, watching Joe, Renzo, Schylar, and Theodore carefully, giving them deeply suspicious looks. He assumed at first that Joe and Renzo were the ones he\u2019d have to be wary of, that the other two were just along to help with business; but then he saw Theodore return one of his looks of suspicion, and realized that there was probably more to him than he’d thought.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Joe motioned to Schylar, who nervously hoisted the briefcase up onto the desk and slid it toward Dimachio. Dimachio looked back and forth between the briefcase and Schylar, and then said: \u201cWhat, you think I trust that you haven\u2019t rigged that thing with explosives or somethin\u2019? You people open your own briefcase, then I\u2019ll believe it\u2019s safe.\u201d Renzo tensed up a moment, and Schylar\u2019s face fell; he turned the briefcase around and hurriedly opened it up, muttering an apology as he turned it back toward Dimachio; he looked to Joe, who sighed with disappointment, and put his hands together in his lap in embarassment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio tapped his cigar into an ashtray and eyed the stacks of bills in the briefcase, then nodded to Suzy, who picked up one of the stacks and started thumbing through it. Everyone got tense as they watched Suzy check for fake bills, except for Renzo, who pretended to be having trouble staying awake. She finished with the stack, and said: \u201cThis one\u2019s good,\u201d and then traded it with another stack and continued checking.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fulton paced around the room, secretly continuing to keep an eye on everybody, and Joe tried his best to appear as though he had nothing to hide.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s taking Rob so long, haven\u2019t got all night?\u201d Fulton complained while staring directly at Nathan. He sat at the far end of the table looking like someone who didn\u2019t quite fit in. \u201cI need him to vouch for his old cell mate Mr. Makaya.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone looked at Makaya, who sat motionless. \u201cFat chance,\u201d Nathan said, struggling to suppress his discomfort. \u201cRob went looking for ice cream!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio pulled the cigar out of his mouth, and started laughing like someone who didn\u2019t have much lung capacity to spare. \u201cWho killed him? You?\u201d he pointed at Nathan.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did,\u201d Makaya said in a deep voice. \u201cWorking for you now.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fulton went over to where Nathan was sitting. \u201cTell me what happened, in 25 words or less.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d asked Rob to ID Makaya here. Kill Makaya if he didn\u2019t recognize him. He tried, but Makaya was too fast with his knife. He\u2019s dead right now.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWHAT?\u201d Makay asked, as he tried to rise from his chair. \u201cThe job, you said\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSee if you can go get your rifle,\u201d Henry said mockingly, as he pulled out a handgun, pointed at Makay, and shot him straight through the heart. Makay motioned forward, banged his head against the table, and was dead.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese bills are also good,\u201d Suzy said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow about Theodore, who can vouch for him?\u201d Fulton asked.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve already told you, Mr. Fulton, we need your gofer Jason to assist with that.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut he ain\u2019t here, is he now?\u201d Dimachio said, looking at Joe. \u201cEveryone has to be vouched for, or there\u2019s no deal! Those are the rules.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Joe said. \u201cBut why does Theodore have to die because your boy has decided to take the evening off?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy boys,\u201d Dimachio said with menace, \u201calways show up \u2013 and if they don\u2019t, that means foul play on your side, buddy!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/a> 6 \u2013 A Messy Affair<\/h3>\n

Even with Jason walking along willingly, Slim kept a tight hold of his forearm and a continual grip on the switchblade in his pocket. Quickly after rounding the corner, they reached their limo parked right outside a Starbuck\u2019s, and Slim opened the back door of the limo and shoved Jason inside. In the seat in front of him, Jason could see Linus staring at him with a scowl; the two of them had never been on very good terms. As Slim got into the car, he kept rambling on about what an inconvenient time this was for Jason to be going to see his girlfriend.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, seriously, Jason! We need you for an hour, one and a half, tops. Can you really not keep away from your girl for that little bit of time?\u201d Shutting the door, he continued to talk on and on, past what was really necessary to say, which was one of his many bad habits. \u201cAfter this job is through, you can go straight back there and take her out to a nice restaurant… or to the park… or back to your hotel for some R&R, I don\u2019t care! But right now, you\u2019re working with us, and you\u2019re getting the job done. And Dan, why the hell aren\u2019t we moving yet!?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The driver looked up at Slim through the rearview mirror and said: \u201cStill waiting on one more.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Linus scowled and turned back to face Dan, and Slim said: \u201cWe\u2019ve got four people in our group, you forgot to count yourself, dumba…\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason had been watching the Starbucks, particularly a man sitting at one of the tables with a newspaper hiding his face; and Slim turned just in time to see the man get up, walk over to the front passenger side of the limo, and sit down inside, telling Dan to start driving the moment he was in. Dressed in a formal black suit, he was a wrinkling, twitching old man; but the moment his door was shut, he pulled a gun out of his coat and pointed it straight at Linus\u2019 head. Before any questions could be asked, he introduced himself: \u201cDetective Vernon with the FBI, the three of you are under arrest for money laundering.\u201d There was silence in the limo.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason noticed that they seemed to be following the car in front of them closely, and in the side mirror he could see another car following the limo… obviously more agents. Now he was certain he was never going to see Stella again. Slim was the only one talking, trying vainly to bluff them out of this situation: \u201cLook, Vernon, I swear we don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about with this money laundering thing, me and my friends were just about to head out for a relaxing evening, and now you\u2019re about to wreck all our whole night!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Somewhere deep in his subconscience, Jason couldn\u2019t accept that there was no way out of this situation, and he desperately hoped they could pull off some sort of escape; and yet, there were so many things he needed to figure out if they were going to make it out.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With his gun glued to Linus\u2019s forehead, Vernon humored Slim\u2019s little charade: \u201cYou bet your night is about to get wrecked; me and my boys\u2019ve been after your operation for months, do you really think you\u2019re talking your way out of this now that we\u2019ve got you? Well, alright then smart guy, where were you headed this evening?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason felt a sudden, small flicker of hope: He couldn\u2019t be sure, but it sounded like Vernon was trying to get information from them about the location where the transaction was taking place, which he wouldn\u2019t do if he already knew where it was. And if he didn\u2019t know the location… well, then at least they weren\u2019t completely screwed…<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So if they could retake the limo, shake off the two escorts, and make it to the location without running into any more trouble, then they should be all right. Jason didn\u2019t see any other options for them at this point. As Slim gave Vernon a chuckle with his lame Broadway answer, Jason started keeping a close watch on him in the hope that he might slip up.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Finally giving up on the alibis, Slim asked: \u201cOkay Mr. Federal Agent, what makes you think we\u2019re such dangerous criminals? Do you even have any proof?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Vernon just smiled and said: \u201cBetter than proof, we have testimony. I\u2019m afraid your man over here ratted you out, son.\u201d Slim turned toward Dan, seeming to be lost in bitter shock, and Jason wondered how he couldn\u2019t have figured it out sooner.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Slowly, Slim inched forward in his seat, clenching his teeth as he said: \u201c…Dan… you… squealing… little… pig!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Vernon swung his gun toward Slim to push him back into his seat, which caught Jason\u2019s attention squarely; this was just the opening he was waiting for. But he couldn\u2019t take it yet, not while they were still sandwiched between the other agents, there was too much risk to that.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Vernon\u2019s voice nearly growled as he chastised Slim: \u201cYou sit back down and keep your mouth shut, boy!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason glanced toward the road; there was an intersection coming up. \u201cA squealin\u2019 pig don\u2019t cause any trouble…,\u201d Jason\u2019s heart skipped as the escort in front of them entered the intersection, \u201c…but a whining dog is asking to get put down.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As soon as Vernon clicked down the pistol\u2019s hammer, the tension broke loose. Jason seized Vernon\u2019s arm in time for it to fire into the middle seat, and yelled at Dan: \u201cTurn left, if you know what\u2019s good for you!!\u201d Linus impulsively knocked Vernon out with his fist, and Slim pulled out his gun and switchblade in a startled flash. Caught in the panic of the moment, Dan turned left and stomped the gas pedal. Within a few more seconds, Jason and Linus had their guns out, the back escort was tailing them, and Slim was giving Dan the choice of getting shot by the agents now or getting shot by him later.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason\u2019s mind couldn\u2019t make itself up as to what he needed to think about next, and the beeping coming from every direction coupled with the adrenaline his veins were pumping was not helping at all. Slim managed to discuss streets and routes with Linus while simultaneously yelling directions to Dan, driving now at Linus\u2019s gunpoint. Taking stock of the situation, Jason nearly had his head cleared when suddenly the window behind him shattered, and he couldn\u2019t stop thinking about how he was sure he had a knife of glass sticking in the back of his neck but was unable to check. Nearly swallowing some of the shards, Slim yelled: \u201cThey\u2019re firing at us, step on it!!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason turned to start returning fire through the paneless window, but saw that the agents\u2019 car was pulling around up next to them; if he wanted to fire at them now, he\u2019d have to open his window. Seeing the agents pointing to him with their guns, he rolled his window down as little as he could afford to, and stuck his pistol out to try aiming. He managed to shoot first, missing entirely, and over the sound of their gunfire he could barely hear Linus yelling: \u201cThe tires, Jason! Hit the tires!!\u201d Yet he couldn\u2019t help but hesitate when he noticed a bullet hole in the window right next to his face.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Then he kept shooting, doing his best now to aim for the front tire. After shooting repeatedly and getting nearly shot five more times, he finally hit the tire, and a jet of escaping air sent the car careening into a McDonald\u2019s.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> 7 \u2013 Hope against fear<\/h3>\n

The room had fallen silent. Somehow, everyone seemed in agreement that one wrong word could cause a heavy load of unsolvable problems. Two men were dead already, a third\u2019s life hung in the balance, and this transaction – however well-planned – was only an iota from being flushed down the drain. Theodore finally broke the muteness.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“What am I, canned fruit?” he asked provocatively. “Doesn\u2019t anybody care about what I\u2019ve got to say? I know who I am, and you…,” he looked around the table seeking eye contact with his colleagues, “have known me for at least a couple of months, some of you a lot longer than that. I\u2019m for real, you know I\u2019m real, so what\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“The problem is we don\u2019t know you, \u2018Theodore\u2019”, Fulton said. “We\u2019ve only met you just this night; how do we know you are who you say you are? How do we know….,” he paused, choosing his words, “…how do we know you\u2019re really working for our best interests?”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fulton spoke without sarcasm and carefully avoided sounding condescending. But that was merely a matter of protocol: Everyone had come invited, and no one should be talked to rudely, as this might well upset their superiors. The point, as some of the people in the room knew full well, was that there were two kinds of people: Dispensable folks and indispensable folks. Theodore was dispensable. Fulton and some of the other senior members could reschedule this transaction if they really had to, but they couldn\u2019t afford to screw it up, nor did they want to start taking out one another. Someone higher up might get very upset.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Try not to take it personally, Theodore. It\u2019s all about money, anyway. Isn\u2019t that right, Suzy?” Joe asked.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Well, yes, money\u2019s the main thing…” Suzy rolled her eyes, not appreciating what Joe was implying. “…And that\u2019s just the point, we\u2019re here about this money, so our priorities revolve around being sure nothing jeopardizes it.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Thanks for confirming that for me, Suzy,” Joe said calmly. “Mr. Dimachio, I realize we\u2019ve been over this ground before, but could you please reiterate for me what will be the consequences if your boy doesn\u2019t show up within the next 10 minutes to confirm that Theodore is who he claims to be!”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio drew a slow, convoluted breath of smoke from his cigar, seemingly in an attempt to avoid speaking for as long as possible. Despite his adamant claim earlier, a spark of doubt seemed to light his eyes as to whether Jason was showing up or not. “The consequences, plain and simple, is that we\u2019ll have to bail out on this deal. The only way we could access this place was by disabling the security system, but backup\u2019ll turn on in…,” he took his cell out for a quick check of the time, “…fourteen minutes. We need five in order to properly make the exchange, get out, and reset the security system, so that means my boy\u2019s got nine minutes now.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The irony in this situation was obvious. The transaction was huge: The tens of thousands of dollars in the briefcase that lay on the table in front of Suzy was chunk change compared with all the money in sealed boxes, ready to be shipped off on Mr. Dimachio\u2019s and Joe\u2019s joint orders. It all hinged on Jason, a guy Dimachio would have trouble recognizing if they both stood alone inside an elevator. The deep distrust between the two sides was the cause of all these troubles, two men had already died. Jason needed to confirm he knew Theodore, who had been there when the drug money rolled in, and who swore the money \u2013 69 million dollars \u2013 was the same as had now been packed into the sealed boxes down in El Paso.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“So I\u2019ll get to go home with you guys even if my pal doesn\u2019t show up to ID me, right?” Theodore sounded unsure.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Wish it were that simple, friend…,” Fulton raised his eyebrows for emphasis, “…but there\u2019s more to this situation than we\u2019ve been letting on about. Hmm… let\u2019s just say that we don\u2019t allow strangers to know about what goes on in this business.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Theodore looked further down the table at Schylar and Renzo; not exactly his best buddies either of them. Makaya might have lifted a finger to help him, but he was dead, and Joe had already insinuated that he\u2019d go with whatever Mr. Dimachio told his goons to do with Theo. He easily caught their attention; in fact, he now had the sense that Schylar and Renzo had been looking at him for some time. He managed to establish eye contact with Schylar, who was unpredictable but not entirely useless on his best days. Renzo was daydreaming, it seemed, or spaced out one way or the other.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“May I go to the restroom, and where is it?” Schylar asked.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Left as you walk out, go down the corridor and right,” Dimachio hoarsely replied.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Henry gestured to Fulton, and the two of them walked over to the corner to talk privately. “Look, Fulton, we\u2019re in a tight situation here, and I\u2019m not sure it\u2019s going to end well either way if Jason can\u2019t verify. Are you certain we have no other options?”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fulton crossed his arms and gave an upset exhale. “Well, Henry, it was your buddy who gave you a tip about a possible plant, not mine. You think we need to do things differently?”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Well, if he is a plant, then killing him is going to give them a lot more incentive to track us down.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“And you didn\u2019t think to mention that sooner?” Fulton asked.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“I didn\u2019t think Jason would be late!” Henry said, sounding a bit irritable.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Well, if you can think up a better plan by the five-minute mark, then we\u2019ll go with that,” Fulton said. “Otherwise, we are not letting him leave this warehouse alive, knowing there\u2019s a possibility he\u2019s going to leak information about us!”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Schylar, would you mind showing me the way to the restroom?”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

All of this distant talk, people moving about the room, was making Theodore extremely nervous. He had been jumpy for the past hour, but now staying put in his seat was nearly unbearable. How many times does a man breathe each minute? Like 15 times, tops, then he\u2019d have only 90 breaths left for the rest of his life \u2013 in the worst-case-scenario.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason, my man, come on now and save my skin! Schylar sure didn\u2019t seem in a hurry to do anything about helping him; he went to the restroom and returned to his seat without incident.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Theodore remembered when he was still a little boy and ran across the cornfield, a kite flying overhead. He had stumbled and lost hold of the string, so the kite took off and went yonder, never to be seen again. His mother wanted to know what had happened, but he couldn\u2019t bear telling her the truth, so he\u2019d lied and said the string had broken. He\u2019d been eight years old at the time, that had been his first lie, and he\u2019d been lying constantly ever since. Except about this money in the containers, it was true.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fulton returned with Henry from the corner, and adressed Dimachio: “Alright; so, how much time are we working with now?”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Six and a half minutes until the five-minute mark,” Dimachio informed him.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Outside the building, a German shepherd was barking on the inside of the interior fence. A beaten up limo struck its front fender against one of the solid metal posts that formed part of the first checkpoint, and the dog started howling. One of the guards on post pushed a button on his phone, and Henry\u2019s beeper instantly went off.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The crooked cop looked down and touched his device to read the code, even though he knew by the sound that they had company. Who else could it be at this hour than Jason and his friends? He read the code: 493, sure enough, then cleared the beeper, looked up, and proceeded across the floor towards where Mr. Dimachio sat looking tired and thoughtful. Just as Henry passed behind Renzo\u2019s back, the American-Japanese man unexpectedly and abruptly pushed his chair back, sending Henry stumbling to the ground, his right knee screaming with pain.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Renzo, pointing a sharp knife at Henry\u2019s throat, hissed: “I\u2019m your worst nightmare since Pearl Harbor, old chum!”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio rose from his seat, forgetting his hurt leg, which caused him to buckle over for a moment as Fulton and Suzy drew their guns and aimed them at Renzo. Joe and Theodore sat speechless; and after a second of beating back the pain, Dimachio finally managed to speak.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Joe… what the hell is he doing!?”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Mind if I have a quiet word with Renzo here, Mr. Dimachio?” Schylar suggested. “I\u2019ll get him to drop that knife in a second, if only you\u2019ll let me speak with him. There\u2019s been enough blood spilled for one night, don\u2019t you agree?”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Joe, sounding like sending commands to his dog, said: “Sit still! Don\u2019t move a muscle, now is that understood? You get up from that chair, and I\u2019ll shoot you myself.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“No problem, Joe, no reason to get upset over this, I was only trying to help,” Schylar said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019m sorry, Mr. Dimachio, Renzo has always been one of my reliable boys,” Joe injected. “Do with him as you wish, I don\u2019t much care what happens anymore.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio, with little hesitation, growled to Fulton and Suzy: “If he\u2019s going to erupt in violence for no reason, then we\u2019re not going to tolerate his presence at this meeting. Shoot him down.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A pair of strong hands lifted Renzo\u2019s body off Henry. Fulton and Suzy had both fired their guns within a split second of one another. Renzo had finally made a half-hearted attempt at piercing his knife through Henry\u2019s throat, where it barely made a dent before the clumsy attacker fainted and then died.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“That does it for me!” Henry said. “I\u2019m not going to trust Theodore, no matter what Jason says. Did security even let them through? I hope not!”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When Henry said this, everyone in the room snapped their heads around to look at him. Theodore seemed to get swept with a wave of relief.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Henry, you\u2019re saying that Jason has arrived?”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Dimachio\u2019s tone of voice left no room for doubt or interpretation. Henry knew that he had to pass on the plain truth, even if it meant swallowing his pride and telling his gut instinct to shut up.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Sir, my beeper said it was a friendly vehicle, whatever this means. It could well be Jason, yes, but we\u2019re within a minute or two of having to vacate this building.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Well then, we\u2019d better get them in here quickly!” Dimachio retorted. “You go down to the entrance and get ready to reactivate the security system.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Joe said, speaking to his men: “Alright, everyone, let\u2019s be ready to leave as soon as we\u2019ve made the transaction!”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> 8 \u2013 The Long Way Out<\/h3>\n

Jason stumbled out of the limo, then he and Slim ran across the yard to show the guard their IDs. Linus, of course, had to stay behind to make sure Dan didn\u2019t try to run for it, and to keep an eye on Vernon, who was still out. Even as they approached the guard, he admonished that they were needed quickly and to hurry inside. So Jason let Slim lead the way through the warehouse, since he knew better where they were going.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As they resumed running, Slim looked at his watch and muttered: \u201c\u2026oh God, three minutes left\u2026,\u201d then told Jason: \u201cRemember what you\u2019re here for, right? Soon as we get there, either greet Theodore if you recognize him or pull out your gun if we\u2019ve got a fraud.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWon\u2019t it be more important to tell Dimachio about our Vernon?\u201d asked Jason, who really didn\u2019t want to be in a position of being forced to kill anyone.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As they ran down the final hallway toward the door of the meeting room, Slim said with finality: \u201cFirst we finish the job; that other stuff can wait until we\u2019re all out of here.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On entering the room, Slim and Jason were greeted with words like \u201cFinally!\u201d and \u201cWhat took you so long!?\u201d Everyone seemed to be frantically packing things up and getting ready to leave. Theodore was standing in the very center of the room, placed there so that he\u2019d be the first thing Jason noticed. After just one quick look, Jason felt a wave of relief rushing through his veins and stomach; he wouldn\u2019t be killing anybody tonight.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Theo; long time no-see!\u201d Jason said with a wide grin. He\u2019d never been so happy to meet an old buddy, whose hand he quickly grasped to shake. Theodore, of course, smiled back; with his life saved, he was even happier to see Jason. The group\u2019s tension toward Theodore turned to apathy, and they all started worrying more about finishing the transaction and getting out of there. As Jason and Theodore had a little chat in the background, Joe and Dimachio at long last finished the transaction by swapping briefcases, shaking hands, and offering to do business with each other in the future. Everything the group had been working for the entire night had finally paid off.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone immediately began running, quickly as they could, to get out of the warehouse in the one and a half minutes they had left. As they ran, Slim tried to talk to Dimachio about Vernon. \u201cSir, we\u2019ve got a big problem I need to tell you about\u2026\u201d Dimachio responded in an agitated tone: \u201cLet\u2019s take care of one problem at a time, Slim; tell me about it once we\u2019re out of here.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One by one, everyone filed out of the warehouse, last of whom was Henry, who feverishly worked to try and reinstate the security system. Everyone watched him tensely, the time ticking down from fifty seconds to forty-five, then forty, then thirty-five\u2026and then, with a flourish, Henry pressed the last button, smiled, and said: \u201cGot it!\u201d and they all breathed a sigh of relief. Thirty seconds to spare! Everyone lightened up a bit at that point, except of course Slim, Jason, and Dimachio, who were now discussing Dan and Vernon.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFBI!?\u201d Dimachio exclaimed silently, \u201cYou mean\u2026they\u2019ve identified us!?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason responded by saying: \u201cI\u2019m afraid so; Slim, Linus, and I, at least. Dan betrayed us, and we have no idea how much he told them.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As Jason talked, Dimachio cupped his hand over his eyes; they had gone through all that trouble of identification and verification, and yet one of their biggest worries still managed to materialize.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe agent got knocked out when we took back the limo; when we got here, we left Linus to keep an eye on him and Dan.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio finally removed his hand, and was ready with instructions. \u201cAlright, good work you three. Slim, take Nathan, Fulton, and Linus with you, then go take care of those two: If the agent\u2019s still unconscious, just dump him off somewhere; if he woke up, dispose of him more permanently. Then take Dan over to The Shop; I\u2019ll let the boss know what\u2019s happened and let him deal with that jerk, personally\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With a quiet \u201cYou got it,\u201d Slim motioned Nathan and Mr. Fulton over and started explaining things. At that time, Dimachio turned his attention to Jason: \u201cHere, I\u2019ll give you a ride; just give me a moment to explain things to Henry and Suzy.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason stayed where he was, and simply observed the heavy shift in attitude as Slim and Dimachio explained the situation to everyone. By this time, Joe and his group had left; there was no need to let them know since they weren\u2019t the ones Dan knew about. Dimachio\u2019s group, on the other hand, had probably been completely exposed to the FBI, and they would need to discuss very soon about how they would dodge this intractable bullet, which could very well turn out to be harder to dodge than a real bullet.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The group had decided a place to meet with the rest of the organization to discuss what they should do next. Then, as Dimachio and Jason began walking over to where Dimachio\u2019s chauffeur was parked and waiting, Dimachio abruptly said: \u201cKid, we\u2019ve got a major problem on our hands.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason\u2019s relief plummeted back to panic, which he\u2019d had just about enough of for one night. All he could do was timidly answer: \u201cOh yeah?\u201d to which Dimachio bluntly stated: \u201cYeah. You don\u2019t seem to have any concept of deadlines.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason, who had feared that Dimachio would bring up how he\u2019d tried to ditch out on his job earlier, simply kept quiet and let his boss continue. \u201cJason, our line of work requires people we can fully depend on, people who can not only get the job done but who actually show up for work. Trying to skip an assignment as important as the one tonight is almost as bad as turning traitor; because if you miss or are even late to any assignment, everything could fall apart. Get the picture?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason nodded callously, simply hoping that \u2018skippers\u2019 and \u2018traitors\u2019 weren\u2019t punished in the same way.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio moved on: \u201cFortunately, things only came close to falling apart tonight. But if we can\u2019t count on you to get the job done, do the work we’ve given you, then we\u2019re going to have to get rid of you, one way or another.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As Dimachio paused to take a draft from his cigar and to see how Jason would respond, Jason knew of course that there really wasn\u2019t any \u201cright reaction\u201d in this situation. If they thought he should die, then nothing short of a miracle would ever change their mind. All he could do was continue in silence, avoiding obviously incorrect responses such as attempting to flee.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But things took a relieving turn after Dimachio exhaled. \u201c\u2026Luckily for you, Jason, Slim tells me you did alright tonight.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After a short pause, Jason broke his silence quietly: \u201cHow so?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio gave a subtle chuckle. \u201cDon\u2019t act ignorant for the sake of modesty; Slim\u2019s account clearly shows that it was your quick thinking that ultimately kept you all out of the hands of the authorities. Most people wouldn\u2019t be able to keep their cool in that kind of situation.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason smiled a little. \u201cHeh, I sure couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio’s mood seemed to lighten up, which Jason took as a good sign. The veteran criminal chuckled a little bit more, and said: \u201cWell, in any case kid, such quick and effective action is the sort of thing we’d be rewarding you for, especially knowing that it\u2019s given us the chance to save our whole organization. We would be rewarding you for it\u2026if you hadn\u2019t been trying to ditch out on us beforehand.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell then, what are you going to do with me?\u201d asked Jason, who couldn\u2019t stand being uncertain of his fate any longer.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio took one more draft from his cigar, and finally answered: \u201c\u2026Alright, here\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do. Taking into account how much the FBI knew about us, I\u2019d say Dan\u2019s already told them too much, and even though we haven\u2019t met to discuss anything yet, I really don\u2019t see how we\u2019re going to get out of this one without completely relocating, probably to a different country entirely. Since you\u2019ve bought us the chance to do that, we\u2019ll take you along as well and make sure you get out of harm\u2019s way. And since your disobedience didn\u2019t cause us any trouble in the end, I think we can keep the boss in the dark about it.\u201d His tone took a sharp turn, and he pointed his finger accusingly at Jason: \u201cBut once we\u2019re in the clear, Jason, we\u2019re through. We can\u2019t depend on you, so we\u2019re kicking you out; no more jobs, no more contact, you\u2019ll have to start a new life for yourself.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason was finally relieved; he couldn\u2019t think of a more favorable outcome. After all, wanting to start a new life had been one of the reasons he tried to run in the first place. The only downside was, he still didn\u2019t want to lose Stella\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, he said: \u201c\u2026Well, I guess I can deal with that. But\u2026 do you suppose I could bring someone else with us?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio sighed: \u201cThat girl from the hair salon?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason felt disappointed over being that transparent, but nodded.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dimachio thought a moment, and then said sounding disgruntled: \u201cAs long as it\u2019s just her, and you can get her to agree to go, fine. But that\u2019s the only favor you get. And don\u2019t you dare tell her more than she needs to know, which is very little.\u201d Jason understood perfectly, and nodded so as to make that clear.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As they were nearing his limo, Dimachio said: \u201cWe\u2019ll drive you over to her place right now, so you can talk it over with her while we attend the meeting. Of course, relocation is pretty much the inevitable conclusion\u2026 But if you can\u2019t convince her to go with us, tough luck; we can\u2019t afford kidnapping in this situation.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jason wouldn\u2019t have wanted to resort to kidnapping her, anyway, so he just shook his head and said: \u201cOkay.\u201d As they got into the passenger seats, Dimachio\u2019s final words were: \u201cI\u2019m thinking we ought to relocate someplace nice and tropical, we\u2019ve been working in this uptight New York atmosphere for way too long. See what your girl thinks about Cuba\u2026 I\u2019d love to have hands-on access to some Cuban cigars\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The car drove off as Henry inconspicuously finished out his graveyard shift at the warehouse, wondering if he really would be able to stay up for the whole rest of his shift.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

They drove along quietly and thoughtfully, yet that didn’t have a relaxing effect on Jason, who wondered to himself anxiously, still not knowing exactly what he was going to say to Stella.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \u2013 Crosswalks and crossroads Jason stared at his cell phone display with the deceptively simple-looking message: \u201cD-Day.\u201d D as in d\u00e9j\u00e0-vu or death, he was thinking. Ever since he quit his job at the steel plant and until tonight, he\u2019d been a lowly gofer in Mr. Cooper\u2019s ongoing money laundering operation. Now all of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-container-style":"default","site-container-layout":"default","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-transparent-header":"default","disable-article-header":"default","disable-site-header":"default","disable-site-footer":"default","disable-content-area-spacing":"default","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-quarterly-magazine"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=190"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}