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VINNIE:
I began pacing back and forth in the warehouse trying to kill time. I knew we were in hot water. Well, that was an understatement. We had the cops on our tails and almost defiantly with a description of myself, Vicky and Tony. Not only that there was some major fishy business with this job. First of all it was on the wrong side of town, which is reasonable I suppose for when you need cash quick you come to see the Partenios. But what I cant figure out is why we didn�t just knock over a bank with a smash and grab job then BAM as soon as Vicky gave me the count it made sense. Fifty grand was a lot of money. That was the second problem, if our client knew there was fifty grand why not just say so? He had never stiffed us before. Mr. 14 as we call him in the office is none other than Dave Powers. The owner of a class A restaurant on 10th not to mention one of the most respected businessmen in town. Now that is a laugh. This guy is known for his nickel and dimming. Last time he gave us a job he tried to pay us 1/5th at a time. Of course he wasn�t dealin' with street thugs here, he knew what he was gettin' into. Powers was an averaged sized man with short red hair and usually wore a white suit. He also had an ugly red mustache that stretched to his cheekbones. But this didn't add up, Powers may be cheap but there was no way he'd try to let us out on this much of the cut. Especially after frontin� up a grand in advance. Everything about this screamed �set-up�. The only thing was, no motive. If he gives us up to the cops we squeal on him and he goes from most respected man in town to biggest chump in prison. We have friends in both high and low places as Powers knows almost as well as me and Vicky do. Joey was out getting food so I sat next to Vicky on the back bumper of the car. I spoke first "this doesn't make sense ya know" She looked at me and nodded in agreement "You think Powers is trying to cut us in on the cash?" she asked "I don't think so" I replied but then I stood up with my hands in my pockets "but nothing else makes any sense, I say we stay on our toes for this one" "I don't know Vinnie, Powers may be a rat, but he's no weasel" Vicky replied This is true, while he was a sneaky bastard he had no claws to bear nor was he the type to backstab without valid reason. "You think he may be working with one of our enemies?" she asked. Now this was a concept that didn't even cross my mind. "I don't know but who would want us out so bad they'd risk bringing in the cops?" "Maybe someone who doesn�t have anything to lose" a voice said from behind us. I turned to see Powers standing next to Matt Striker. "You son of a bitch!" I shouted Matt Striker, the little bitch. Striker was one of our former associates to say the least. He used to be one of our lead boys for a while. But about a year ago Striker began taking money off the top of our deals. Vicky noticed first, I tried to ignore it but as time went on he began taking more and more of the cut. When we finally called the bastard on it he tried to take us out. Of course that was a mistake, long story short Vicky capped his right knee with a crowbar. The boy will never run again, not only that, but the cops called in the bastard. Last week there was a huge jailbreak but it never crossed my mind that Striker would get out. Striker stood at 6'4" at least 200 lbs. he had the size and weight advantage on me if it became physical. He also had at least one gun in his jacket. He had long black hair that went past his ears and beady little brown eyes that seemed to mock you. "What the hell are you doing here?" Vicky asked "Hey I'm not here to start trouble" Striker replied "and I'm not even after you two, I just wanted to catch your attention" "Well you got it what do you want?" I asked reaching into my holster for my .357. Powers pointed his pistol at me "I'd like you to keep your hands where I can see them Vinnie," Powers said. "You wanna see my hands?" I said raising them calmly I knew this was a no win situation but I just hoped my spitfire of a sister could keep her cool too "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," Striker said smirking at me while walking towards us "I have a job for you two" "Not interested" Vicky said between clenched teeth "Ah but you haven't heard my offer yet" Striker said I was with Vicky on this one, I didn't trust Striker any further than I could throw him, plus he had this nasty little habit of backstabbing he can't seem to kick to the curb. The one thing that was on my mind though was what he offered to Powers to get his loyalty. He may be greedy but he was by no means brave. He wouldn't risk this unless there was a major profit to be made. "Let me ask you something; do you know how much money is in the Fourth National Bank over on Front Street?" he asked. "For a job? I don�t know a few hundred thousand," I said "That's the problem with you Vinnie, you think too small. I'm not talking about the drawers Vinnie," Striker smiled, "I'm talking about the vault." |