gunfire,” Roger said.
“Crap. You were right, something’s going down.”
Roger felt for his pistol before he opened the car door. Mike was around the car beside him before he took a step. Roger nodded to the left and Mike tilted his head to the right. They parted and moved up the street, searching for what they hoped was Craig.
Roger’s heart thundered and his stomach twisted. This could be it. Few people were out to witness their movements, and they were always careful. If they found Craig now, they could easily disappear down an alleyway and no one would know where they’d gone. He’d just be another dead body in the middle of a busy city. Duff would dispatch people to rig the evidence and clean up their trail. They’d get away with it, and Craig would be gone.
It was frightening how much power they had. If any of them were less than honest they could really screw people over, but somehow Duff had gathered a group of men who would never think of doing what they were doing without good cause—except Craig. But that’s why they were on cleanup duty now, and they would get the mess with Craig cleaned up.
A door opened on Mike’s side of the street, and two men exited the building, heading the other way. Roger glanced to Mike then rushed over. The sound of sirens grew closer.
“Think that’s Davis?” Roger asked.
“No clue. You follow that pair, and I’ll see if I can find Craig.”
“He’s dangerous. Be careful, cops are coming.”
“Always.” Mike turned down an alley, disappearing from Roger’s sight. He was about a quarter mile behind the two guys, and he’d have to rush to catch up. But rushing drew attention, and that was the last thing he wanted.
They’d walked for over ten minutes, and he still hadn’t caught up with the two men. For a brief moment, he wondered if he was chasing a bad lead and should turn back to help Mike. If one of the guys in front of him was Davis, he needed to stick close. Roger hadn’t gotten a good look at either man since it was still dark out. His phone buzzed and he glanced at the screen, seeing a call from Mike. God, he hoped Craig was dead.
*~*~*
Mike moved quickly down the alley, hoping he wasn’t walking into a trap. Craig wouldn’t hesitate to kill him. It was disgusting that Craig was still alive. The man had caused so much trouble.
A noise sounded up the alley and he froze, trying to adjust to the dim lighting. The cops were getting closer and he didn’t think even Craig was dumb enough to stick around. The seconds ticked past, and the sirens had grown so loud he couldn’t hear anything else. He moved forward, winding down side streets and away from the sirens. He was separated from Roger, alone in the dark and hunting dangerous prey. This was why he stayed at the ranch. This made him feel alive. He turned down a main street, and four cars passed him. Up ahead, he saw a taxi stop for a guy about Craig’s height and build. Another car approached, the headlights shining on the cab and the man getting in. It wasn’t Craig. The guy was dark skinned, and his nose not at all like Craig’s. The skin tone could be faked, but not that much. On the ranch, they had access to facial prosthetics, but he doubted that Craig had been able to hook up with anyone who could supply what he needed to alter his facial features after escaping prison.
Mike kept walking, hoping he wasn’t going the wrong way. He was lost. This was one of the most fucked up missions he’d ever been on. Of course, since they were hunting Craig it would be fucked up. The man had twisted so much, almost wrecking everything they’d built, leaving them near devastated.
He saw a figure about a block ahead of him and sped up, hoping to catch the guy. The cops were behind them, and though more people were on the streets, heading to God only knows where, he’d still kill the bastard if it turned out to be Craig.
Mike ran when he could, staying as quiet as possible. The man still
“Crap. You were right, something’s going down.”
Roger felt for his pistol before he opened the car door. Mike was around the car beside him before he took a step. Roger nodded to the left and Mike tilted his head to the right. They parted and moved up the street, searching for what they hoped was Craig.
Roger’s heart thundered and his stomach twisted. This could be it. Few people were out to witness their movements, and they were always careful. If they found Craig now, they could easily disappear down an alleyway and no one would know where they’d gone. He’d just be another dead body in the middle of a busy city. Duff would dispatch people to rig the evidence and clean up their trail. They’d get away with it, and Craig would be gone.
It was frightening how much power they had. If any of them were less than honest they could really screw people over, but somehow Duff had gathered a group of men who would never think of doing what they were doing without good cause—except Craig. But that’s why they were on cleanup duty now, and they would get the mess with Craig cleaned up.
A door opened on Mike’s side of the street, and two men exited the building, heading the other way. Roger glanced to Mike then rushed over. The sound of sirens grew closer.
“Think that’s Davis?” Roger asked.
“No clue. You follow that pair, and I’ll see if I can find Craig.”
“He’s dangerous. Be careful, cops are coming.”
“Always.” Mike turned down an alley, disappearing from Roger’s sight. He was about a quarter mile behind the two guys, and he’d have to rush to catch up. But rushing drew attention, and that was the last thing he wanted.
They’d walked for over ten minutes, and he still hadn’t caught up with the two men. For a brief moment, he wondered if he was chasing a bad lead and should turn back to help Mike. If one of the guys in front of him was Davis, he needed to stick close. Roger hadn’t gotten a good look at either man since it was still dark out. His phone buzzed and he glanced at the screen, seeing a call from Mike. God, he hoped Craig was dead.
*~*~*
Mike moved quickly down the alley, hoping he wasn’t walking into a trap. Craig wouldn’t hesitate to kill him. It was disgusting that Craig was still alive. The man had caused so much trouble.
A noise sounded up the alley and he froze, trying to adjust to the dim lighting. The cops were getting closer and he didn’t think even Craig was dumb enough to stick around. The seconds ticked past, and the sirens had grown so loud he couldn’t hear anything else. He moved forward, winding down side streets and away from the sirens. He was separated from Roger, alone in the dark and hunting dangerous prey. This was why he stayed at the ranch. This made him feel alive. He turned down a main street, and four cars passed him. Up ahead, he saw a taxi stop for a guy about Craig’s height and build. Another car approached, the headlights shining on the cab and the man getting in. It wasn’t Craig. The guy was dark skinned, and his nose not at all like Craig’s. The skin tone could be faked, but not that much. On the ranch, they had access to facial prosthetics, but he doubted that Craig had been able to hook up with anyone who could supply what he needed to alter his facial features after escaping prison.
Mike kept walking, hoping he wasn’t going the wrong way. He was lost. This was one of the most fucked up missions he’d ever been on. Of course, since they were hunting Craig it would be fucked up. The man had twisted so much, almost wrecking everything they’d built, leaving them near devastated.
He saw a figure about a block ahead of him and sped up, hoping to catch the guy. The cops were behind them, and though more people were on the streets, heading to God only knows where, he’d still kill the bastard if it turned out to be Craig.
Mike ran when he could, staying as quiet as possible. The man still
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