Dual Minds: Deep Web

Aaron sighed as he got his backpack quietly putting a few notepads and pens in it quietly not sure what to expect on what he'll find. "I hope the library does have some information I mean... it could be all over the place..." He sighed as he started to leave his home quickly. "I do hope I figure out any information maybe i'll meet one of them... but what were those masked people I hope they didn't see me..." Aaron says walking outside his room and home quietly heading towards a library in the town quietly watching around worried and scared that in the darkness of alleyways he would see something bad happening

 

Tina Sharp, detective with the Great Barrington Police Department, sat on the edge of her desk in the privacy of her own home. In her tan hands she held a hot cup of coffee as she studied the white board in front of her. It was covered in pictures and notes, case files and question marks. Lines connected circles but there were more questions than answers at this point. This whole thing with Laplace was another mystery to add to her growing list of unresolved cases. This was one case she was determined to solve if it killed her. Kubi’s safety depended on it.

Assassins. The Problem Solver. Who is he? What is he solving? Supposedly an urban legend…all legends have some truth. Maybe the GBPD has some information on him.

Random murder at the high school. Why? Were they aiming for those of involved in the events from 16 years ago? But not aiming for Stella….

Stella working for Laplace, with a hired gun, Jacks, protecting her. What is she doing that is so important Laplace would protect her with an assassin? Is he blackmailing her? Jacks…that woman must have a file with the department as well. No doubt she’s as much Stella’s jail guard as protector.

Stella…targeted for revenge? By whom? The former owner of Vector Corp…Doreen? She's gone to hiding last I checked. Probably time I started looking for her harder.

The Devil Dove...How does the Devil Dove fit in? Why would he think it was us? What information does he have.

Tina took a sip of her coffee as she looked over the white board. This mess is a deep web; And Laplace and Stella are right in the center of it. I need to talk to her…without Laplace knowing.

Tina picked up her phone and started to make a call when it began to ring. It was the Police Department. "Detective Sharp." She said.
"Bodies...where?...Motel 6? Which street?....alright, I'm on my way." Tina sighed and hung up the phone. No rest for the weary...yet another case to add to her growing pile.

 

"EEEEERrrrrnnnnnn!" Nick continued screaming as the pain began to set in. He knew he would need to stop the bleeding, but he was in a panic. His mind could not focus on the important matter at hand. Nick's hand shot out to the side, looking for something, anything he could put pressure onto his wound to halt the rushing stream of red, but his hand was met with nothing but the cold asphalt.

He got an attack of common sense, and ripped a piece of clothing from his shirt, clumped it into a ball, and pressed it against the sword wound in his leg. This helped his injury, but his eyes slowly closed. As he heard the faint sound of sirens in the distance, Nick passed out.

 

Back in Business .....which is shooting

"Wow…." Garrison said, eyeing the assault rifles in his partner’s trunk. “Where the hell did you manage to get M4’s from?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Make any dangerous friends in prison?” Garrison picked up the weapon aiming it carefully and checking the side.

Jesus Christ…..

It was fully automatic.

Silas wanted these people dead, talk about a waste of freedom.

"Hey man." Garrison yawned. "We really gotta do this?" He asked his eyes shifting to the hotel building that they'd parked in front of.

"I mean...this whole kill people from the past thing, is like...a lot of work." He frowned. "Plus since we have bad luck this is probably all gonna backfire."

"As they say shoot first, ask questions later, man." Silas said as he looked over his own rifle. "It's better that way."

"Yeeeeah...." Garrison said nodding. "That's what all the menacing bad guys say before they die, you should really be more careful with your words."

They both drew nearer to the building until Silas came to a complete stop. "Shut up and shoot!" He yelled and squeezed the trigger, firing at the building left and right. The roaring of the gun mixed with the sound of shattered windows and splintered wood in perfect harmony.

"Grease ball maniac." Garrison muttered and followed Silas in turning the building nightmare. The hotel though small was far from empty, immediately screams of terror and shouts erupted from the building as bullets decorated the walls and blew through.

Couldn't we of thought of something more subtle!? He shouted mentally. This shit is gonna wake the city but Garrison continued hammering away in small short bursts into the various doors in front of him.

~~~~~~~
Well, apparently she couldn't visit Great Barrington without the place being cursed by her presence. After what had occurred at the school, she predicted this would happen. She just didn't think an attack would come again so soon.

Stella held her gun close; the gun she'd been forced to carry for a time like this. She still hadn't used it to kill, unlike the majority of Laplace's employees. Jacks for example. One of the gunshots in the distance was hers, no doubt. That infuriating woman. Their afternoon together was definitely one she didn't wish to remember.

Stella sighed as she crawled closer to the front of the room, listening for pauses in the gunfire. When she felt the moment was right, she lifted herself to look out the motel door's peep hole. Clouds of smoke filled the night air but squinting further, she managed to locate the outline of two bodies pacing in the parking lot.

As if on cue, another bullet shattered her room window, piercing through the opposite wall. Stella immediately dropped back down and shuffled over to the bed while she thought on the right way to approach the situation. No way was she going to charge out there in the open, demanding for them to stop. Neither could she charge out there expecting them to not murder her at first sight.

Oh the joys of business.

Stella came to the conclusion to wait, still holding tight to the hope that she'd never lost all those years ago. “Fuck!” Garrison snapped taking cover around the corner as someone returned fire at them.

“I’m going around!” Silas shouted and Garrison sighed as he watched his so called friend vanish around the other side his gun raised. Garrison fired back at unknown gunman’s window several times before the sirens of police sounded throughout the night.

Sure enough within five minutes multiple red cop cars appeared in the distance. “Shit, I am not a combat kinda guy.” He removed a clip and inserted another sending a few more bullets at his unseen enemy and began backing up along the walls his rifle raised.

"Hey Stella bella!" Garrison called out. "Just so you know when we fail this is nothing personal on my end!" He said his eyes narrowing as cop cars began to surround the front of the building.

Goddamn Silas.....

 

Jacks kicked out the back window, her gun cocked as her boots his the back pavement. She had set up mics around the front of the hotel and knew that one of these fuckheads was heading to the back. After setting up her self propelled rifle stand to keep shooting at the man in the front, she moved outside, her body lightly brushing the back of the building. She didn't see the other guy, so she set her eyes and moved slowly towards the front. She eyed the cops, with hesitation and anger. If she was arrested for this, Laplace was gonna get a bullet through the throat. She then eyed the gunner, a smile working her way up her lips as she listened to him speak to Stella.

Without warning she yelled from her position aiming her gun at his form,"Shame your talking to the wrong girl asshole. Because on my end, you and I are going to get very fucking personal."

She let forth a few shots to the back of his legs, hoping to hit an artery while he was focused on the opposite window.

 

“…The joys of business…” mumbled The Valentine while fixing his hat position.

The information that The Magician provided to him was little to nothing, yet useful. One thing he had learn on this business was that urban legends were not something to just ignore and throw away, although most of time exaggerations, in the same proportion there was a bit of truth on them.

The Problem Solver… it either targeted Stella or the complete opposite and to find it he decided to ask the famous herself.

Little to no surprise emanated from him as soon as he found the police cars stationed in front of the hotel where she supposedly resided for the moment. The sound of gunfire and the fresh essence of gunpowder told him all about the situation.

I can’t go in with all those cars… Thought the man looking for another way, for a moment he glanced at the rooftop.

I’m no Batman or Spiderman, but that’s a feasible option.

With a bit of speed and skill he could reach in about ten to fifteen minutes…

Too much time…. Thought

How about the back entrance, if he moved quickly he could force his entrance before the cops, estimated time, three to five minutes.

That will be then…. Thought again and then with a devilish speed he sprinted yet careful enough to not be noticed by anyone.

Don’t make your file more shady.

 

Another Happy Reunion​

She should've never come back to Great Barrington. At this rate, more innocent people were going to die. Not again. She didn't want this. Not for herself, Cole, or her child. Since that day in 1996, she'd been running. Running from the past while trying her best to make something good from what was left. And right when she'd thought she'd almost succeeded at a happy life, everything caught back up to her.​

The gunshot that suddenly blasted through the door across her motel room, sticking a perfect landing into the wall above her head, proved her point. Stella bit back a scream. Immediately she scrambled under the bed to hide. Then, footsteps.

"Could I get an autograph, Ms. Colt?"

A man's voice. Stella froze.

"Come on, I'm your number one fan! I watched one of your movies a few days ago. Good work too, gotta admit. Or maybe it was that high definition stuff."

It was him. Years later and she still recognized the voice. A chill went through her at his tone. She didn't dare speak. Maybe if she waited long enough, the sirens in the distance would scare him away.

"I know you're under the bed. So, you can either come out and talk to your old friend here or ruin our happy reunion."

Well, there went that solution. Holding tight to her pistol, Stella left her hiding spot and into the sight of him. Silas Rivera. He was older and his hair was longer, but it was still the same Vector Corp employee who had hurt her friends and murdered countless others. The same man who had almost killed her. And, she'd almost killed him.

Silas grinned. "Ah, there she is. Now, about that autograph..."

"Shut up!" Stella yelled, taking aim at him. "Why are you here? How are you even here? I thought you were still in prison."

"Cute gun you've got there." Silas said, nodding. "I like the pink."

"Answer me or I'll shoot!" Stella tried again, her hands trembling.

Silas' gritty laughter filled the room. "Wow. Does this seem like déjà vu to you too?"

Despite his playful jeering, the killer's brown eyes were dark and hollow. It was easy for her to see the pain inside of them. Much like her own on certain occasions. Stella swallowed back her fear as she studied the fine lines etched on his tan skin and her gaze drifted to the large rifle in his grasp. He held it at his side, but that didn't mean anything of course. She hadn't forgotten his lethal accuracy.

"You're talking to a free man now chica." He continued. "Been traveling around, getting used to the futuristic life of the world wide web, smartphones, and worse music than the 90s. But when I heard about my favorite celebrity being in town, I had to pay a visit."

Stella glared at him, her aim unmoving. "The law may say you've served enough time for what you did, but you should die for all the lives you've taken."

"Like you've never killed anybody." Silas said as a nasty smirk crossed his face. "By the way, how's that sis of yours doing?"

Stella flinched. "She's fine."

"Well, last I heard, she wasn't doing so well. I come back to find nothing else about her. No records. No drivers license. No graduation. No nothing. Almost like she doesn't even...exist."

"She's not dead."

"Might as well be." Silas shrugged. "We're both murderers here, Stella. That brave choice you made, way back in the day; people were killed because of you. Your school, your friends, your parents. If it weren't for you, they would all still be breathing."

"No!" Stella's red cheeks glistened with tears as she shakily raised her pistol higher. "No, that's not true. You killed them!"

"Don't lie to yourself, Stella." Silas shook his head. "Now are you gonna shoot me or not? If I remember right, you didn't have the stomach for it last ti---GAH!"

A roar flew from Silas' throat as he collapsed to the floor, blood seeping from the wound on his kneecap. Stella didn't look back and bolted for the door, though her enemy was faster, firing after her.

She cried out as a bullet grazed her arm, but through the pain she managed to return shots in quick succession. Thoughts of all the crime shows she'd been a part of played through her mind while she sped out the entrance and into the night. The flashing lights of police cars reflected in her watery eyes, but all she could do was run.

 

99 Problems

“Uhhhhh!!!” Garrison cried in more surprised as he scrambled out of the way just in time to have the bullet graze the back of his thigh sending him spilling to the ground. The adrenaline kicking in forced him to move to cover blood trail beginning from his leg.

"Not...." He muttered. "Shit, not really for personal." Garrison squeaked

Jacks smirked as bullets flew after him, as he darted for cover. She yelled out to Stella,"Dollface? You hurt???" Jacks took a few steps out from behind the corner, as she began to follow the blood trail at a slow pace, cooing to the man,"Little fucker...come out come out wherever you are..."

"I like it right where am actually." Garrison responded from his position. "Have you ever heard of non violent communication." He sighed. "I've been practicing it...."

Jacks followed the voice with her eyes and moved very softly towards him,"I can always communicate with my gun if you prefer shitbag. The level of communication becomes very intimate I assure you."She was close, probably within shooting range, which is why she turned silent the sound of her body almost non-existent behind the cop alarms and her rigid control.

“Freeze.” A voice reached Jack’s ear and two police officers their guns drawn stood before her. “Drop your weapon.” The pudgier one said his eyes narrowing on her. "On the ground, face down." The thinner one shifted closer to her, he swallowed his hand shaking.

Without warning Jacks pulled out a second gun and gave a brief smile and screaming at the top of her lungs,"I TOLD THAT FUCKING DIPSHIT THAT IF HE DIDN'T PAY THE ALLIMONY BILLS HE WAS GOING TO GET A BULLET UP HIS ASS. WHAT HE GETS FOR SLEEPING WITH A TWO TONED BLONDE BIMBO WITH BIG TITS AND A NICE WIDE..."

She used there shock as a instinctual block, before shooting both of them in the kneecaps. They went down bullets flying awkwardly as she darted to the side,"YOU ARE GOING TO FUCKING SUFFER FOR THIS..MAKING ME SHOOT A COP. LIKE I NEED ANOTHER DEMERIT ON MY RECORD."

She jumped out again kicking one of the cops guns away, while flipping to kick the other officer square in the face, hopefully knocking him out.

The cold steel of an assault rifle barrel pressed itself against her skull. “You’re a damn psychopath.” Garrison’s voice huffed. “I’m not really into shooting women by the way….” He admitted.

Jacks could feel a painful smile cross his face. “Then again….I am kinda still bleeding from that wound you have me.” His eyes shifted down to his leg for a brief moment. "Could a been worse though, hurts like..h...hell but ya just winged me." He spoke with gritted teeth

He’d managed to wrap it while this maniac was playing lets shoot the police whom were currently very, very, very,unconscious. “Also if you didn’t want to be wanted by the police you should of practiced a more peaceful solution.”

Jacks stood up slowly, after feeling the barrel on her head and began to turn the barrel lightly grazing her forehead, her guns left on the ground as she faced the man,"I don't care if I'm wanted. I care that these pricks saw my face. I like my wanted poster to look as little like me as possible jackass."

She eyed him over, measuring him up evenly before giving a wide smile,"I should have shot ya in the skull. I think a bullet hole would make you a tad more attractive."

"Well that's what years of drinking will do to you kiddo." He replied his gun still raised. "Well this has been a fun little date but I think we are about done here, no? How about a cease fire maybe you can just buy me a drink or something."

A laugh erupted from her lips and she gave a mischievous smirk,"You know what..Fuck it. I can always kill you later, and I did shoot you. Not saying you didn't deserve it, but as one scumbag to another , I guess a drink could be in you future. Have to move your gun though."

"Wellll if I did that something tells me that you'd probably feed me my own already destroyed liver." He sighed. "Didn't even want to be here to be honest. I'm trying to be more about peace ya know?"

Jacks cracked her neck laughing,"Peace is for pussies grandpa, but your right. Smart of you to keep your gun trained. I would have gutted you the moment it was gone. So you better fucking shoot me soon, or I'm going to start getting impatient and be a bit more frisky."

“Alright….” Garrison frowned. “Sorry about this.” the loud crack of the butt of his rifle smashing into her jaw echoing into the night. Jacks’ head snapped back before she collapsed out cold on to the ground, her body still as blood dripped from her lower lip.

Garrison sniffed and looked over to the now passed out police officers, Silas and Stella and lord knows who else must have been keeping them busy from proving back up. His eyes shifted to Jacks and back to the officers…..

Garrison scooped up the obvious psychotic, who weighed surprisingly heavy with a figure like she had, she should lay off the greasy foods. “If you having gal problems I feel bad for you son…” He sang calmly as he sauntered over the nearest dumpster and dropped her inside.

“I got 99 problems but that bitch ain’t one.” He chuckled. “Right now anyway.”

---

"Dude...." Garrison said his gun raised as he'd entered the building from behind before the police could fully close in, they'd be fully surrounding them any second now. "Dude." He said again staring at the blood trail on the floor and his very angry looking Mexican friend who looked to be missing some of his knee.

"Well this was a poorly thought out plan." He lowered his weapon and shook his head. "Told you this wasn't going to work."

"Did you kill the bitch?" Silas growled.

"Silas, I don't kill anymore it just makes you feel empty and guilty." Garrison replied. "But nope I'm pretty sure she got away......"

"Damn." Silas spat. "But I wonder how we are gonna get away." Garrison pointed out at the small army of police officers outside their guns ready to mow down anybody who exited ready to fight. "Told you this was a bad idea."

 

As The Valentine moved avoiding the glances of cops into the back entrance of the building he visualized the actress running away right in the opposite direction.

“Great….” Mumbled the man. She took the most complicated of all routes.

The sound of gunfire assaulted his ears again, luckily the cops will be distracted with whoever is inside the building.

The voice of Silas pierced the walls even through the gunfire and reached the man.

“That guy…. Seriously?” mumbled as his eyes widened behind his long bangs.

The name of that person was famous among the Deep Web. The Valentine knew how troublesome he could be and considered that the best course of action would be to put him down as soon as possible.

He shook his head though.

Forgot about him, gotta get the woman. Thought and then sprinted taking cover on thee shadow of the buildings, yet one thing he did not forgot and was to write a mental note.

Silas is free….

Despite his careful movement, he couldn’t avoid the big cross that was the cops filling the street, thus one caught glance of him and screamed.

“Hey you! Freeze! Hands in the air!” as he pointed his gun at the figure. This of course made several cops turn their heads toward The Valentine, however also gave a chance for the criminals to freely fire their guns.

“Take cover, take cover!” screamed another cop as they kneeled behind the cars. Of course The Valentine did not stop his track and disappeared as quickly as he appeared, his target, Stella.

 

Garrison blinked several times watching the police officers get distracted, despite their wondrous weapons there wouldn't be much hope fighting through them all.

Besides Garrison wasn't too keen to go and murder some police officers, he’d need to be in good standing with them after they got arrested. Before Silas could pull himself back to stand on his crippled knee he found the long barrel of Garrison’s rifle between his eyes.

A small smirk played on his friend's face. "I think its time we left."

"What else are you thinking?" Silas said, his brow furrowed in anger as he stared at the gun.

"You're my hostage." Garrison beamed, hoisting Silas to his feet and jabbing the gun into his back. "Now walk, the police won't gun down us as long as you do your job as the scared and injured captive."

Silas groaned. "I've got a blasted knee, idiot! I'm losing blood, how can you expect me to...no, this is stupid!"

"Shut up." Garrison said coldly. "Now walk bitch." He nodded. "That's right Silas, you're my bitch." He said and forced him into the hallway, Garrison's weapon still stabbing him in the back.

"Will you stop doing that!" Silas shouted, while awkwardly limping in slow steps. "It's not even necessary!"

“I’VE GOT A HOSTAGE!!!” Garrison proclaimed loudly, getting the attention of the police as they exited the building. Every officer in the vicinity lowered their weapons seeing Silas’s bloody knee cap and mixture of shame and rage on his face.

"If anybody follows me he's dead!" Garrison yelled making sure to be heard over the sirens and chatter of onlookers. "You got that!?" Garrison backed them up to their car and flung the door open, pushing Silas into the passenger side.

He cried out, writhing in pain as he landed on the vinyl seat. Blood continued to gush from his wound and already he could feel his strength fading. Silas gritted his teeth; his breath growing frantic. "H...hey...man, give me your shirt or something."

Time seemed to come to a halt at Silas’ plea.

On one hand the guy had been a good drinking buddy but on the other he’d dragged him into this mess to kill a famous actress who they’d tried to kill sixteen years ago and still managed to fail.

Sooooo

Let him die or let him live?

Live or die?

Live or die?

Live or die?

Garrison gave a lazy smile as he took off his jacket. He swerved and dodged traffic with police cars hot on their asses and he swore the sound of a helicopter was coming from the distance somewhere. "I pick live." He said, tossing Silas the clothing. Instantly, he began to tie the clothing around his wound.

"Shut up and drive!" Silas shouted and the two drove off into the night with half the police following.

------------

Oxygen burned against her lungs as she slowed to a stop and leaned her back on a brick wall. Stella hadn't gone far, but she'd gone far enough. Sirens still lingered down the street and she raised her head to spot an aircraft soaring through the dark skies.

Question upon question came to her mind, but only one thing was for sure. No matter what Laplace wanted her to do, she was leaving Great Barrington. She had to.

 

Jacks grit her teeth as her boots hit the concrete. Fury was the closest definition of what she was feeling right now. The only solace she found in the situation was the fact that the guy was too much of an idiot to kill her. Now the hunt was on, and vengeance would taste bitter sweet. She moved over towards the cops, grabbing her guns and whatever cash they had on hand before moving away from the seen. She wiped her bloody lip on her jacket, then pulled out a cigarette and lit it diligently.

As she worked her way down the street, she pulled out her phone, and checked Stella's location. She was pleased to find the girl located just a few blocks down the road. Good meant she was alive. She also wasn't moving so it seemed that she isn't being jetted away at a fast pace. She looked back towards the motel, and decided to head that way. The others were also under her protection but she couldn't recieve any info until the fucking pigs vacated. She walked at a fast pace, pushing past citizens who were trying to get a view of the madness that had just ensued. Suddenly she caught sight of Stella in the background and yelled out,"YO DOLLFACE! YOU HURT?"

She ran up quickly doing a look over before crossing her arms,"Well whoever wants you dead toots is willing to risk public eye to kill you. Didn't think the bitches had the balls. Luckily for us, I got a shot in, and one motherfucker is going to feel pretty damn wretched tonight. I like putting some Botulinum toxin in the cavity of a hollow point and cover the point with a thin layer of soft material that would rupture and kill the fucker over time unless treatment is available."

She took a puff of her cigarette and let out some smoke before giving a sharp smirk,"Just a backup in case I die. Job always gets finished. You can count on that."

 

Before the actress and her bodyguard could move out of the scene the tall figure of The Valentine imposed in front of them. The long dark coat that reached his knees together with his fedora and long bangs that covered half of both eyes which deeply pierced through Stella’s eyes gave him a menacing appearance, like a merciless beast about to hunt its prey.

“Hello Mrs. Colt…. Mrs. Xalider, which one do you prefer?” Asked in a deep tone that only enhanced his menacing posture.

Her bodyguard of course readied but before it could do anything the man opened half of his coat revealing a gun.

“Chill out… I’m just here to ask some questions. Though if you want to make this harder and bring the cops, be my guest”

He turned toward the woman and said.

“I would like to talk about a few things. About the man who calls himself the Problem Solver, and about the events that happened sixteen years ago in this cursed town.”

 

A Side: Real Folk Blues​

BEEP

BEEP

BEEP

BEEP

Dexter let out a low groan, he knew those sounds, those dull beeps from the heart monitor were all too familiar from when his eye had been blasted out of his skull. He blinked away sleep several times, adjusting to the darkly lit hospital room. It didn’t take him long to remember what had happen.

The stinging pain on his bandaged chest was reminder enough, like a million super brush burns had been raked across it. That guy had left him with a nasty injury and likely an even nastier scar, a tingle traced its way up his spine.

Burned alive.....

Breathing was an exercise all on its own, every breath felt like a dragon had been living on the inside of his body for a couple days now.

"Fuck." Dexter forced himself up. "Guess nobody wanted to kiss the sleeping prince." He muttered.

"Nobody wanted to watch you either, so they left me here in a disgusting hospital." A voice grumbled from the chair at his bedside.

Dexter’s eye widened in surprise at the cold glare he met and even more surprised to find it coming from his own daughter. Jesus, that was creepy. Is that what he looked like when he was bored? Ugh...those dead blue eyes.

It suited her well though.

At least it would have if she wasn't glaring.

"Oh....ummm." Dexter hummed. "Hi kiddo."

"Don't call me that." Harley said as she tapped her black fingernails on the armrest. "I'm not a kid, I'm sixteen."

"Sixteen is kid enough for me kiddo." Dexter replied. "Shouldn't you be at home?" He asked raising an eyebrow. "Where is your mom?"

"I couldn't go home, I'm stuck here. Well, I could've walked but it's farther than I even want to go." Harley sighed. "My mom is...out somewhere, but she said she'd be back. She better be."

Dexter’s gaze shifted to his hands, several seconds of silence came next neither interested in making things anymore awkward then they needed to be.

"Sooooo Harley." He forced a smile. "How are you?"

Harley folded her arms, slouching further down in her seat. "You don't wanna know."

Dexter grit his teeth together. His ass should have just stayed gone for good, but nope that Silas guy was gunning for his baby. He snorted as terrible as a father as he might be.

Always protect your own.

"Why don't you go and like buy a drink or something? I got money in my jacket I think....wherever it is."

"Yeah, I emptied the pockets yesterday when no one was looking." A smirk appeared on Harley's lips for a split second. "Heard about what happened, by the way. And I'm not talking about saving kids from a burning building."

Little shit.....

Dexter beamed. "Ah, well that's okay you can keep it."

Crafty though just like her old man! "Well besides saving those poor children from that fire what else do you have questions about?" Dexter asked.

"Shep." Harley said the name with disgust as she stood. "Did...Mom kidnap him?"

Dexter didn't skip a beat. "Who's Shep?" He asked with a chuckle. "Also really? Your mother kidnapping someone.....you a writer or something? Your mom used to tell me all the time that you were the creative type ya know?"

"She sure didn't act like she'd talked to you all these years. Or, do you not remember that either? Is that what you do...forget the truth?" Harley scoffed. "That explains a lot."

"You have absolutely noooo idea how much that explains..." He rolled his eyes. "Very forgetful person, but come on your mother is a sweetie does she really seem like a gal with a violent bone in her body?"

Harley clenched and unclenched her fists as she scowled at him. "No. But something still happened at that lake. Lacey told me the details, so the liar is either you or her. I'm betting more on you."

Dexter folded his hands. "Sorry to disappoint you Harley." He shrugged. "But I'm telling the truth about this, this Lacey must of been mistaken." Dexter smiled showing teeth. "Trust your mother."

And, the short fuse was lit. 3...2...1...

"Stop talking like you know her, you don't! She's my mom and I know her better then you do, I've lived with her my whole life!" Harley's shouts echoed in the hospital room, loud enough to flow out the open door. "You don't love her either because if you did, you would've came back! You would've been here! But now...now it's too late!"

"What is going on here?" A panic-stricken nurse said, rushing over to them. Harley didn't pay any attention to what she said and stomped past her, pushing the nurse out of the way. She didn't look back once as she took off running down the hall, her feet hitting the floor in anger with every step.

Dexter let out a low breath as Harley’s words shot through him like a bullet through his head.

Good.

It was as expected.

He turned his head away from the door his daughter had fled through and his eyes closed tightly before any rain could fall. “That’s right Harley, hate me.” He smiled a bitter smile. “Then you’ll stay away from me.”

---------------------

Rain was coming down hard which was a nice break for most adults away from the heat of a Kentucky summer. Thomas Woodrow had found himself living alone again after a short time, living with a demon from his past.

The appearance of this demon was an omen for bad things to come he’d said. When the door to his apartment buzzed on a mucky day like this he'd figured the demon had come back to stay. He opened the door. "Dexter," Woodrow said sullenly, like man resigned to his fate.

But there was no response to that name instead the figure in the hall stepped closer and indeed was a familiar face but one much younger then Dexter but older then Woodrow remembered.

Cole Colt stood in the doorway, sunglasses obscured his eyes and light brown beard was kept clipped close to his face. Other then this he looked the same for the most part and at Woodrow's surprise his mouth spread open into a jovial grin. "Not Dexter I'm afraid but I still like to think I'm cooler." He chuckled.

There was another man in the hallway behind Cole leaning against the wall.

Shep Nelson….

The meth head who’d attempted to kill Harley and brutalized Dexter in front of the library. Though of course even before that he’s had the entire county scared of him or trying to get rid of him for the last two years.

Unlike Cole though Shep wasn't looking as well off his face covered in bruises and cuts, his lip split open and a nasty scowl on his face.

Cole's smile never faded. "Well you gonna say something teach?"

Woodrow raised an eyebrow slightly, "Cole...Shep...there something you gentlemen need?"

Cole frowned, "Really?" He said. "You haven't seen me in years and that's your greeting? If its because of that psycho behind me don't worry about it. Me and him aren't friends.....like at all." Cole snorted. "But still not even a hi.....ouch much."

"Excuse my manners. I'm afraid its been a long week. So, hello." Thomas tapped his finger on the door frame. "What brings you to my door after all this time?"

"Murder." Shep smiled. Cole held up his hand and for a rare occasion Shep back downed a look of uncertainty crossing his face. "Nope. None of that." Cole sighed. "These types are really uncool to hangout with. Anyway, I wish I was here to catch up, but I came here to warn you."

Cole's expression became stoic. "Avoid Dexter and his family. All of them."

"Oh?" Thomas cocked his head slightly. "What makes you say that?"

"His estranged daughter has put herself in a dangerous position." Cole sighed. "She made an enemy of Shep which I can perfectly understand but she's also caught the eye of Shep's .....boss.....I guess." Cole looked at the drug dealer.

"Not my fucking boss." Shep gritted his teeth. "Business partner. I do the killing and crime and he handles the business and politics aspect. He is not my boss."

"Yeeeeah suuuure." Cole turned back to Woodrow. "Anyway that is my reason to be here, well there are a lot of reasons why I am in the county but sadly one of them calls for speaking with Shep here about things."

Cole swallowed, his eyes shifting away from Woodrow's. "Shep's partner considers himself a very close and personal friend of Laplace Damon and Harley's actions against Shep have made his business partner take notice."

"So you're saying a teenage girl has made enemies with a murderous drug-dealer and LaPlace Damon himself. And you're warning me cause you don't want me caught in the cross hairs." Thomas sighed deeply and cursed the fatherly side of him that was already ignoring Cole's warnings. "What did she do anyway?"

"Oh Laplace actually doesn't care very much." Cole said. "This man isn't even a member of The Web but he just happens to consider himself a friend to Laplace."

Shep snorted. "The two been doing some serious fucking business." He nodded. "We've been able to expand our territory thanks to his help but his stuck up ass won't let us join that super club or whatever the fuck it is."

"I can't imagine why Shep." Cole replied. "Anyway Woodrow, like I said Laplace doesn't care about the girl and this other guy doesn't either. Laplace isn't the type to act in situations unless he has a reason to."

Cole shoved his hands into his pocket. "Shep's bos- I mean Shep's friend isn't so much interested in killing Harley but he does want Dexter and Trisha. He wants them to pay him back." He nodded. "Wants work done for him and then the score will be settled."

"That little bitch stole money and drugs from us." Shep growled. "Its only fair." He grinned. "That or I should be able to smash her little head in with a brick."

"How have you not been arrested yet..." Thomas wondered, shaking his head at Shep. He looked back at Cole. "I'll keep your advice in mind, Cole. And I suggest you take it yourself. The company you're keeping..." He gestured with his head to Shep, "It won't lead to good places."

"I have to keep it." Cole sighed. "For Stella."

"Tell that friend Dexter's of yours to call this number." Shep handed Woodrow a piece of note paper with a badly written cell phone number on it. "Give it to him."

"You can find him at the hospital recovering from injuries." Cole said.

"And whenever he calls tell him to have a crew ready." Shep said. "What we want is gonna require a team of ...." He smiled a yellow toothed smile. "Talented people."

Woodrow took the number and stuck it in his pocket. If he was surprised that Dexter was in the hospital he didn't show it. "Watch yourself, Shep." He said while closing the door. "Evil people always get their due."

--------------------

A soft knock sounded on Dexter's hospital door.

"I thought you went and stormed off?" Dexter voice called from the other side of the door. "Come back to yell some more?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Craftian." A soft female's voice came in reply. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just here to check your vitals." The voice came from the red-headed Abigail who was looking through papers attached to a clipboard. She lifted her head, a pretty smile on her face. It lasted all of three seconds before she recognized her patient. "You..."

"Oh..." Dexter blinked. "Woodrow's niece." He smirked. "Sorry I was um saving a life....I think....I'm not really sure what I'm doing." Dexter leaned back. "Didn't expect to see you here though and looks like the feeling is mutual."

"Well, I do work here..." Abby murmured. She looked back down at the chart. "Looks like you've got 2nd and 3rd degree burns all over with the majority on your chest and torso." She set the clipboard down and looked up at him. "What were you doing? Running through a burning building?"

Dexter coughed, pain flashed through his bright eyes. "Yeah I was saving some children. I'm a superhero if you don't remember."

"I do...actually." She replied softly, a look of sadness on her face. She walked over to the monitor near Dexter's bed. "How is your pain level?" She asked her tone suddenly very much like a nurse. "Do you need more morphine?"

"Pain? Intense....very very....intense but pain and me are old friends." He forced a nervous smile. "I'm surprised your uncle hasn't visited me or well then again not many people know I'm here." Dexter shook his head. "No morphine, pain helps me think."

"Hopefully it'll help teach you a lesson as well." Woodrow said coming into the room. "Like not getting into bed with criminals. Literally." He sighed and took a seat in a chair next to Dexter's bed.

"Getting into bed with criminals?" Dexter scoffed. "You should probably warn the criminals about getting in bed with me, besides Trisha kinda started this mess this time around."

"Well, Trisha might have started it, but you and Harley are now right in the middle of it." He looked up at Abigail. "Give us a minute, Abby?"
"Sure." She nodded, her red curls bouncing.
When she was gone Thomas continued. "Got a visit from Cole and Shep. Said to give you a message." He pulled the number from his pocket and relayed what had happened. When he was finished he sat quietly waiting for Dexter's response.

Dexter was silent for several seconds his hands resting on his lap. “I see.” He replied. “More problems." He raised an eyebrow. "What do you think I should do? Though there isn't much point in me asking that. It looks like I'm going to have to do this job they want."

"Fucking Cole." Dexter snorted. "The hell is that kid doing working with guys like this, you saved his ass back in Great Barrington." He needed a smoke. "Fuck, I don't wanna do some crime job bullshit but I will for ...for her."

"Cole is doing it for Stella. I have a feeling he's wanting to do it as much as you want to do this job. But like you, there is a loved one in the cross-hairs. Leaves little choice." Woodrow sighed and ran a hand through his graying hair. "So, you do this job...but you pull a fast one on them. Make 'em wish they'd never crossed you. And if possible, get the authorities involved."

"I wonder what the job is." Dexter hummed. "Well considering that they need a crew I can guess what they want us to do or well I'm pretty positive."

"And what's that?"

"Some kinda heist?" Dexter he guessed. "That's my bet, that's what it normally is anyway when you get a crew of criminals together. A big theft, that or a terrorism plot but Shep and company don't really seem the terrorist type but he does seem greedy."

"Well, whatever it is...I'm sure you'll figure something out." Woodrow stood and slipped his hands into pockets of his coat. "What landed you in here anyway?"

"Oh ya know the usual. Trisha kidnapped Shep and invited people to execute him and then some people who wanted to kill me showed up and lit me on fire, ya know? Same ol stuff as always." Dexter snorted. "I guess better think on a crew."

Shit.

Shep probably would want in and he probably has that sidekick of his somewhere.

That's two.

Brice was probably still in town and there was that totally not corrupt banker he'd met, oh and fuck....that kid his contact from around Malcom. He was a fellow thief and had conned Dex himself a few times, he might want in on this...whatever this is.

Trisha too and maybe some others.

"Alright I got some ideas." Dexter said. "Mind if we use your apartment as a meeting area? Not that I'm going to leave you much of a choice."

Thomas threw his hands in the air. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, right?" The ex-teacher opened the door. "But when this thing goes south, Dexter...and it will...I'm calling the police and telling them everything."

-------------------

3 Days Later......​

“Don’t you think you’re acting just a little paranoid?” Gale asked.

“Paranoid!?” The Word snapped, pacing back and forth outside his garage. “Harley’s mom is a government assassin for the reptilians!”

Gale took a puff from his cigarette. “And Lacey saw this to?”

“Yeah! Did you call her and Joe and the detective chick?” Word asked. “We are going all our contacts to get to the bottom of this conspiracy.”

"Yeah, yeah." Gale nodded. "They are all coming and what not, well except Harley she was out but yep everyone else is on the way."

Right on cue, Lacey rolled up in her red pickup truck, music blasting out of the open windows per usual. She sent them a wave as her boots hit the concrete.

"Hey y'all!" Lacey said, flicking off her sunglasses. "The traffic today sucks! I don't know how the heck people can be drive SO SLOW! Probably not from 'round here, but seriously, I was this close to gettin' out at a stop sign and..."

Her words came to a halt at the sight of her friend's dumbfounded expressions. "Anyways." She cleared her throat. "Got new theories on the situation?"

 

A sunny day, perfect to pay a visit to a certain someone.

It wasn’t the kind of friendly visit of one or two guys to a friend’s house but instead the business’s kind, and there wasn’t just a couple of guys but around ten of them.

And perhaps you wouldn’t even call it business’s visit as what they carried wasn’t the kind of elements one would use to talk about business.

However, for the underworld, business has a total different meaning.

Messing with the Mafia was never a good idea

“C’mon Shep! Get out! You’re done for, perhaps if you come peacefully the spawn lady will forgive you!” exclaimed a man with a very unrestrained look on his face.

The group wasn’t what you would expect for mafia’s mobs. They weren’t wearing suits or fedoras, they were dressed like normal citizens on a summer’s day, and they would look like them weren’t for the fact they carried each one a weapon in hand, not your classic tommy gun, but contemporean semi automatic machineguns and shotguns.

No response…

“All right guys, get ready… 3 seconds.”

No response…

“2 seconds…”

No response…

“1 second…”

No response…

All men readied their guns.

“If ya wanna hate someone, hate miss Dream in hell Shep!!! All right guys, let’s get done with the fucker!!!” Exclaimed the unrestrained man.

And then a chaotic mixture of gunfire pierced the empty air. The weak structure off Shep’s house was no opponent for the fierce barrage of bullets.

In just seconds pieces of wood exploded, windows broke into pieces. The decrepit door was blasted and fell into pieces.

No element inside the house withstood the assault, everything tore apart, and what used to be the house of the most famous delinquent at Kentucky and also his laboratory was reduced to nothing in a less than a minute.

No one stopped shooting their weapon ‘till their bullets ran out, and after the violent assault a cloud of dust covered it all, then for a moment all fell into silence. A small yet eternal silence.

“We probably shoot down the asshole, it was a shitty house anyway, hey you!!” exclaimed the man to one of the mobs.

“Go check inside…” ordered.

“Huh?... why me.?...” replied the man scared by the fact Shep may still be alive. The reputation of that guy was such enough to make him dwell into fear of being killed.

“Just go inside ya fucking pussy!!” exclaimed the violent man at which the scared guy feared more.

“All right, all right…” said still scared. He readied his gun and entered the wasted house now filled with holes.

A minute later the man exclaimed.

“I don’t see Shep’s body anywhere!!!”

The unrestrained man stood in silence for a second, after that he facepalmed and mumbled to himself.

“That fucker…”

 

A Crew

Fuck, this still hurts." Dexter shifted as walked around Woodrow’s apartment, he’d of been shirtless if not for the bandages still around his body.

He’d been released yesterday and was told specifically to have plenty of bed rest but instead here he was. In a room full of colorful people whom he’d come to know.

Trisha the psychopathic bitch who’d had him shot in the face by a little girl and raised their child.

Shep, the angry meth head who had a grudge against his daughter, was currently at his side giving the ugliest stare at Trisha, probably because she’d kidnapped him a few days ago. And then there was Brice the assassin who’d never had the balls to kill someone but still sold himself as an assassin.

And Dexter still owed him money.

Yep instead of recovering, he was having the time of his life among the most important people to him, yep.

"Can we please start this fucking thing?" Shep growled.

"Not everybody is here yet." Dexter sighed. "I put a call into that Lincoln guy and Malcom isn't that far away, they'll be here soon."

"But I'm bored!" Shep snapped.

Dexter rolled his eyes. "Were you able to get any people? This is at least a seven or eight man job."

"My boy Mikkish will help out and my partner got some bitch or something from some kinda crime family to assist as well."

"Good, so we are waiting on three or four." Dexter said. "Then we will get to explaining what is happening." Dexter turned to Brice and Trisha. "Sorry for the wait."

"It's alright. I'm free all day, so I have time!" Trisha said as the corners of her red lips turned up into a grin, obviously not the least bit fazed by the situation. Or, the fact that her previous victim was still staring at her. "Lots and lots and lots of time." she added, looking directly at Shep.

"You two know each other?" Brice asked and then glared at Dexter. "Does this snake ever pay his debts?"

"Look Brice." Dexter sighed. "If this goes well then you'll be paid very well." He turned to Trisha. "Behave yourself."

"Who, me?" Trisha's menacing expression instantly flipped to the picture of innocence. "Oh Dexter, you're too funny." she said, with a preppy flip of her hand. Before Dexter could finish there was a knock at the door stopping him from chewing her out anymore. “That will be one of the others.” He sighed and quickly made his way to the door, opening to more.....guests.

 

The figure of a tall blonde woman dressed in black with a pale skin and facial characteristics that suggested a foreign origin entered the room.
Her eyes stood for they were of a intense red color, and her naked forearm had a characteristic tattoo of what seemed to be a cocoon.

Certainly The Vampire was tasked with aiding Marie on her little squarrel against Shep, however as things ended in their last encounter, Marie's leg was wounded and thus she rested on her home at Kentucky. Even with that, she did not expect a job like this to show up too soon.
And the crew was a particular one. A colorful cast and some familiar faces.

Shep, the man who sold drugs in their territory. He certainly looked like a despicable scum just by appearance. There was no one at Kentucky who didn't knew his name.
Tiffany Sugar. A very particular person with a very particular past. Although not a real threat, the family had keep an eye on her activities. She happens to be Trisha Sparkles.

And...

Dexter Craftian. A lowlife whose name is written with blood in capital letters on the family's black list. The prime cause of Marie's suffering. Even with that, Mother had ordered not to bring harm to the man. Didn't The Primal burned him?

She bit her lower lip for an instant.

What is exactly Mother planning by sending me to work with this particular group?

The Vampire didn't pronounce a single word. Simply entered into the room and picked a safe spot, far from them.

 

Malcum pierron a conman by any other name got a call about a heist a few days ago he wasn't really sure if he would take such a thing but he needed the money well he didn't he had a lucrative business himself well business in the loosest of terms more illegal business but the lure of money drew him in and if this was big the pay off would set him up for a while. "Why did they have to call me when I was in the middle of a goood game though? heh ruined my chances of getting the best payout as they got suspicious of me..." He was behind the Vampire curiously looking at her waiting "Ahhh Dexter this better be worth it you know? And no need for shoot outs and stuff I've had enough of those with corrupt men losing a lot of money in card games they play against me... all of them lose... hehe guess they've never played a fair game and lost before." he laughed heartily stretching. "Of course they'd cheat but you can never out cheat me." He smirked and sighed walking in to.
"So who's that cheery woman and everyone else here?" He asked curiously

 

Zurich, Switzerland

"NO NO NO! YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE MY CODES!" Jeff Martowski yelled at the top of his lungs as he sat in front of his computer screen within his countryside estate. He stood in a crisp Gucci shirt, with slick black grey hair, sulking green eyes and the composure of a man who enjoyed the better things life offered. He got whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it, and if he didn't, people either ended up losing some limbs, or ending up in a ditch. Helplessness wasn't something he was used to, in fact it was something the heights of his toleration couldn't accept or allow. Yet as he slammed his fingers into the keyboard of his household in Zurich Switzerland, the codes to the mainframe of his companies computer were being not only taken, but saved copied and deployed to various address' moving across the screen so fast, he couldn't even get exact numbers. He was about to scream again when music erupted from his speakers. "Reptile!" The music got better as the voice from Fatality erupted in loud spurts, "F..F..F.FF Fight!" Suddenly Viagra and Gilf adds appeared on the screen to only increase his fury. He stood, separating himself from the desk as the music got louder and then with an abrupt halt, the screen twisted into black and a skull with fire red eyes and blood flowing from his lips cackled, as a single word in bright lime green appeared on screen, "with love AXESS!" The words synced up perfectly as the beat rose to a certain tone preparing to drop, as two words echoed across the room, "Flawless Victory!" The power instantly depleted and with that the codes and the hacker were gone, leaving nothing behind but a long rage educed yell.

Kentucky, United States of America

"Should have invested in Norton." Eliza spoke to herself, after she gave a soft giggle and slurped back a few noodles from a takeout Chinese place three blocks away. She placed the box back onto the book covered desk and jumped onto her feet. She shuffled past the notes, books, and trinkets that had seemed interesting for a few minutes. The place was methodically messy. Every item is accounted and noted for, except for the Twelth Grade paper from Ms. Matheius' science class. It was a while ago, so she figured that one slip could be barely untraceable after all this time. She grabbed a coke from the fridge and shoved a straw inside, before grabbing her ramen and moving to the wide balcony. The apartment itself was gorgeous. It was a penthouse in one of the tallest buildings in the state. Perfect wifi, central to various Food delivery services. All pre-planned before the selling of her house and the increase in funds from her job. She moved to sit on the concrete ledge, a chill wind brushing past her pajama shorts and warm sweater. Two side buns were curled by her ears and as she leaned against the gargoyle she dreamt of flying. It was her favorite spot in the world and as she contemplated her work, and the new book from amazon on the latest Microsoft systems, she felt calm. She knew that trouble was occurring down below her, but from this angle she felt unstoppable and untouchable. No one knew who she was, what she did or where she went, because she rarely left her apartment if necessary. She took a sip of coke and dropped a leg off the edge, daring fate to push her to a swift and painful death,"You know what Newman...you maybe the only thing in the world who understands me and you are completely made of stone."

She looked to the thick rain beaten gargoyle who's thick lids hid sullen red eyes and a ferocious expression. "Now we wait Newman..now we wait."

 

Before Dexter could greet Malcom his vision blurred at the faces around him his chest throbbing, each tremor of pain like a making his legs buckled under his own weight.

He went down on all fours.

“Shit.” Brice said standing up. “What’s wrong?”

“Injury.” Dexter wheezed. “Only been five days….shouldn't of left the hospital….but needed to schedule this.” Dexter bit his lip gripping the side of the couch his breathing heavy. “Just give me a minute.”

"Fucking hell." Shep rolled his eyes. "The guy get some severe burns on his chest and he acts like its ends the of the world, what a pussy."

Brice’s gaze shifted to Trisha and to The Vampire then finally settling on Shep. “Can someone please just explain to use why we are here!?” He spread his hand. “Didn’t come here to be cursed at and watch Dexter writhe in pain.”

There was a five second pause of awkward silence before Trisha cut in. “You must be new.” She beamed at Brice, patting the still pale in the face Dexter on the back. He might as well have been dying at the moment.

Shep shrugged. “Fine.” He grunted. “Not everybody is here but might as well get down to the business before ol crybaby passes.”

“Bastard….” Dexter muttered trying to stand. "I don't really give a fuck who you are or where you come from." Shep said. "In fact if we weren't about to work together I'd probably be trying to kill you and in fact got a grudge with some people here."

He gave a wolfish smile. "That's how I got Dexter and Trisha here to help me with this." Shep put a dirty boot upon Woodrow's clean couch. "Now despite what we may feel towards each other.....I'm sure we are all willing to overlook that....for money, right?"

"Money as in roughly ten million dollars worth of diamonds as the target score." He said. "All of us and a couple of others working together to pull off a big score, its gonna be a very healthy investment."

 

Over the past few days, I had been living with Jess. When the cops had come around trying to get me to come home, I had invented a quick lie to appease them. I was now Jess's live-in assistant. She worked all hours of the day and needed someone there to have meals cooked for her, clean her living area, organize her notes and take messages for her. I explained to them that my father must have forgotten and that I had taken the job to take some stress off of him, after all it wasn't fair for him to have to take care of a teenager all by himself and it'd take a lot of financial stress off of him. He'd have to accept the lie, there was no good reason for him to be able to deny my being here.

I wasn't ready to press charges, not yet anyway... I still needed to do a few things... clear what little I own from the house and prepare myself mentally for the charges I was going to press. Once I did all hell would break loose... for me at least. His pals might try something or he could locate me and butcher me if he somehow managed to make bail, or his church friends would be after my head, saying that I was just a liar. My father planted the seeds beforehand, I knew it for sure, my claims would come under severe scrutiny by anyone that knew him, I'm sure he had given most that knew him well enough sob stories about my disobedient and hateful behavior to make anyone sure that he was telling the truth.

But... overall, I was much happier. I had three meals a day, I had my own bed to sleep in, the work I was doing for Jess was entertaining, I was able to have money around freely without worrying it was going to be taken, I had even expanded my wardrobe somewhat, since the few clothes I had were still in the trailer, I wasn't being beaten, I was cleaner... while I had done my best to keep clean while living with my father, it'd be difficult to shower if he was drunk or hungover. He'd complain about the shower's noise and then when I got out he'd proceed to beat me, or he'd even go in there and yank me out of the shower and beat the crap out of me if I didn't hurry fast enough. Though, I was still on edge at night. I'd wake up at the tiniest of sounds and wouldn't go back to sleep until I found the source of the noise. I was afraid he'd come and take me back.

I was especially cautious at school. I'd always blend in with a group of people whenever outside, making sure to be in the center. If I was called to the office, I'd sneak there and ensure that he nor one of his friends were there. If I even thought that he or one of them were there for me, I'd just go straight back to class and if someone came to get me, I'd suddenly get 'sick' and rush out of the school before they could catch me and not return for the rest of the day. I'd get reprimanded of course, but I they'd understand once I pressed charges. I'd use back roads, alleys, and side streets to traverse the town doing my best to stay away from the trailer park.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I was sitting in the hotel room on the phone, I was listening to a request from a guy named Gale to meet with him at the home of some guy nicknamed the Word. "Yes, I will be sure to give her the message." I said, I then hung up after writing down the address. "Oh... this seems a little shady... but I do have to relay any requests that she receives." I mumbled quietly. I would just have to wait for her to come back.

Jess had been trailing a cheating wife, taken a couple of pics, broke the news to the husband as gently as she could, then had to endure a fight between the two spouses, where it wound up the the husband had been cheating on his wife... with another man. Jess had waited until she got to the car before lighting up her e-cig. All in the days work.
She managed to get home with little trouble, stopping to buy something sweet for Joe. Working with him had woken something up in her... but she wasn't sure what. In the meantime, she mentally went over everything she knew.
His grades are excellent, and there's a dance coming up. She thought. Maybe he should go, expand his social life... he might need a date...
She opened the door to her temporary office, knocking.
"Joe, I'm home!"

I smiled at her as she had walked through the door, I was really grateful to her for what she's done for me. "Welcome home Jess." I said, I stood up. "Don't want to bother you right when you get in, but some guy named Gale called, he said he wanted you and me to meet with him at someone named the Word's house." I said, fiddling with the note a little nervously.

Word... there's that name again...
Jess took the note, read it briefly, thought for a second, then smiled.
"Want to come with me?" she said. "I don't think it'll be any trouble. We can pick up a pizza and a movie on the way back. Maybe some ice cream and popcorn. Make ourselves fat." She grinned at Joe, and started gathering her work gear.

"S-Sure." I said smiling, I went over and picked up a small shopping bag, I had bought a few things while I was out... they were kind of an impulse buy. But I thought it'd look good. I pulled out a black trench coat and a pair of black leather gloves and put them on and turned to Jess smiling. "How do I look?" I asked tilting my head.

"Like you walked out of a detective novel," Jess said, grinning. "It looks good on you. Now, let's go, Mr. Dresden. Murphy's waiting for us." She affectionately ruffled Joe's hair, and walked out the door.

I chuckled and smoothed my hair as I followed. After a little bit of driving, we reached the address listed on the paper and got out of the car where a few people were already meeting up. "Why do I have a bad feeling about all of this...?" I muttered.

"Because, you're completely sane," Jess said. "Insane people would be "hey, this is cool!" But, you're sane." She chuckled a bit, then sat back. "And now we wait."

 

"Right. Healthy. I wouldn't exactly call robbing someone a healthy investment." Woodrow said as he came into the living from the kitchen. He wore one of his old teaching suits. White shirt, brown slacks and a dark brown coat, and to top it off a tie that looked like a noose around his neck. How very fitting.

In his hand he held two mugs of tea. He handed one to the wheezing Dexter. He'd added brandy to both their mugs, figured both could use the alcohol if they were going to survive this with their sanity in check. Abby would kill me if she knew.

"I may not know much about pulling heists." Thomas said addressing the group. His look was both stern and bored. "But I do know this. If you kill anyone during the heist. Hell will rain down upon you. I'm sure none of you want that. So, lets all agree right now, no one will be killed." He stared steadily at Shep, a strange look in his eye. "Trust me, you wouldn't like the alternative."

---
Tina lay as still as possible in the attic of Woodrow's apartment listening the conversation. She squished a spider as it crawled across her hand. Couldn't have found a better hiding spot for me, teach? Geesh...it stinks up here. Woodrow had invited her to the party, as long as she promised to play ninja for the time being. The life of a child was staked on her remaining hidden and the job getting done. Now they just had to figure out a way to bring these bas****s down before anyone got hurt.

 

Malcom thought quietly seeing Dexter get down on the ground coughing and spluttering. "Imbecile..." he muttered under his breath worried for Dexter. "If you're hurt maybe you shouldn't be planning a heist like this... we can't have you collapsing half way through and ruining our chances you get that right?" He added to him leaning on a wall shuffling cards quietly. "I mean diamonds are nice and all though I see why you have the idea of stealing all of it... we can't have you dying at the first time shit hits the fan." He sighed quietly looking down quietly and looked at the others.
"To be honest, we need to know everyones skill sets at what they're good at and use them at an advantage and then choose where we need to heist... I mean it's obvious that we're a bit of a rag tag group at the moment... and we'll need to sort this out and quick because I bet the window for this heist isn't going to be long."

 

Lincoln Anderson

The last week had been a blur of booze and angry phone calls with his lawyer. There may have also been a girl or two, Lincoln wasn't sure. He was sure that he was gonna fire his f***ing lawyer when this damn mess was mother f***ing sorted out and it had better be god damn soon otherwise he was gonna burn this whole f***ing s*** town down.

Lincoln had the habit of swearing an inordinate amount when he was drunk, or angry. But especially when he was both.

Somewhere in the blur of the past week though, he had gotten a call from a man who said they had met in a library parking lot asking if he wanted in on something big. At the time, Lincoln had said something to the effect of "Hell f***ing yeah! Lets do this s***!" without even knowing what it was he was agreeing to.

Now, he was mostly sober and walking up the sidewalk to a house that looked surprisingly un-abandoned to be the locale of a meeting about 'getting in on something.' Lincoln was surprised.

He on the other hand was a mess, and he didn't particularly care at the moment. Unshaven, rumpled, and with his clothes smelling of cigarettes and stale alcohol.

Lincoln figured that he had nothing to loose by just walking in.

"Hey Dipshits! I'm Lincoln, I'm kinda still drunk, and I was told there would be 'something to get in on.'

 

"Jesus…." Dexter croaked at Woodrow. “These are exactly the people who are gonna listen to you.” He pushed himself, putting his back up against the bottom of the couch near Trisha’s leg. He’d probably get the most protection out of her if everybody broke out into a brawl.

Shep barred his teeth at Woodrow. "If somebody gets in my way, they're getting out of my way."

"Look if things go bad then we have to be able to defend ourselves." Brice pointed out. "But even though I'm a dangerous killer and Canada's best hitman, if we are pulling a heist there should be no bloodshed."

"How about we make no guarantees? We wouldn't want to jinx it." Trisha said as her smile landed on the ex-teacher, who happened to also be her ex-almost-but-never-happened-because-Dexter-got-to-her-first lover, and formal rival. Yeah, those were the days. "Seems much more productive if we'd focus on the task instead, right?"

“A train.” Shep replied in a dry tone. “A cargo train passing through the county early next month on the 3rd to be exact.”

“My partner has the info on this kinda shit and he knows the time and place its coming in.” He chuckled. “Like I said the cargo is diamonds and its going to some airport or some shit, either way if we don't stop it, it will just end up in India and back here as jewelry.”

"I'll be fine, Malcolm." Dexter grunted. "Heist ain't for awhile anyway like Shep said." He sighed. "You just be ready to work your magic and swipe that ice."

"Oooooooh!" Trisha exclaimed and jumped up from her seat, accidentally kicking Dexter in the process. "Ah...sorry, Dexter..." She stepped to the side as he groaned in response, his face contorting in pain.

"Anyway, Thomas!" Trisha said, gliding over to him. "A friend of mine that I work with wanted me to give you this." She slipped him a small piece of paper, which held a name and phone number scrawled in nice penmanship. "She's a real sweetheart. I think you'd get along wonderfully!"

"Hey Dipshits! I'm Lincoln, I'm kinda still drunk, and I was told there would be 'something to get in on.'

Shep’s eyes flared at Lincoln. “You!?” He stomped up to him. “What are you doing here you lying fucking snake you?”

“He’s the banker.” Dexter mumbled.

“This lying piece of turd.” Shep pointed at Lincoln. “I fucking hate liars.” He snarled.

Brice blinked. “Wha…wha? He’s only been here like four freaking seconds man.” He looked between the two. “You two got history?”

“I mistook this snake for Joseph Gordon Levitt.” Shep replied. “Well that makes sense.” Brice nodded. “But what d-“

“Tried to kidnap and rob him to make Hollywood give me money.” Shep smashed boot into the wall shaking the room. “But it wasn’t him! You're not JGL” Shep got close Lincoln’s face. “You're an ASSHOOOOOOOLE!!! You liar!”

 

“But it wasn’t him! You're not JGL” Shep got close Lincoln’s face. “You're an ASSHOOOOOOOLE!!! You liar!”

Lincoln looked at the man for a moment. Now, being only mostly sober, he was not thinking as clearly as he should have been.

"Well, you lied to me by saying that I lied to you... Since I never actually lied to you, you're the f***in liar. And I don't like liar's either..." he said and stepped right up into Shep's face. Then he kicked him in the shin.

“Gah!” Shep growled pulling his leg back. “Argh!” Before Lincoln could make another move or witty reply Shep’s hand closed around his throat slamming into the wall.

“Fuck you!” BAM! Shep’s fist collided with Lincoln’s jaw and before the JGL look alike had any time to recover Shep grabbed Lincoln's head with both hands driving the back of his skull into the wall not once not twice but THRICE until Lincoln dropped to the ground.

"Who the fuck do you think you are!?" Shep turned to the others. "That goes for the rest of you assholes!" He snapped. "Now somebody pick this fucking trash off Dexter's boyfriend's floor!"

Brice swallowed his eyes wide from what had just transpired but….well….he wasn’t about to go near this Shep guy to help out the actor looking guy.

“Dexter’s um….gay?” Brice asked.

“Of course he is!” Shep’s voice grew louder and his face redder as he sent a vicious kick into Lincoln’s gut. “Look how Dexter and fucking um fucking Woodhard or Cockblock or whatever his name is look at each other.” He pointed at Woodrow.

“They’re queers and you and all of you.” Shep pointed at them. “Retards! You made me have a tantrum…” He breathed slowly. “I need to go….I’ll be in fucking touch. Better not ruin my score.” And with that Shep stomped towards door leaving with a slam.