She felt bad about it really, she’d been totally satisfied with her little encounter and wasn’t willing to put in any more effort being sociable. She really needed to be a better friend, she knew Abbie was eager to meet someone and she should do more to help. After all Abbie did for her to get her out of her shell and meet new people, the least she could do was try and return the favor.
The last thing she wanted to be doing on a Saturday morning was handing out flyers about an upcoming boat festival but she needed the money. The rent still had to be paid and if she was ever going to build up her craft shop empire she needed all the capital she could get.
She had a few hundred flyers to hand out and the quicker she got it done the sooner she could go visit her dad. She didn’t like to go too long without dropping by and tried to call at least once a day.
Sometimes she had the thought that she could just as easily dump all the flyers straight in the trash. Most of the people who took one just glanced at it briefly before dumping it in the next trash can anyway. It could feel like an exercise in futility sometimes but she took it seriously and knew that was why they kept offering her the work.
She also got really nervous at the thought of breaking any kind of rules. The idea of ever getting caught for doing something like that was mortifying, she’d never be able to live with the shame. It was just the way she was, maybe she always took longer to do things because she never took any shortcuts like other people but at least she had a clear conscience and she prized her dependable reputation.
I am my own myth, she thought to herself. A good reputation brings the business back. You couldn’t buy a good reputation you had to earn it, although maybe you could these days. Some marketing or PR wizard could probably manufacture anything with a bit of internet magic.
She hadn’t had breakfast yet and was waiting for when she visited her dad, but she’d brought a big coffee in her 20oz travel mug. She liked to make her own using a French press and bring it with her rather than spend money somewhere like Starbucks.
The coffee was working its magic and with around fifty flyers handed out she was beginning to feel more human and even began to enjoy the harsh morning light as it became steadily warmer. Her better humor brought the smile back to her face and she was able to sucker in even more people to take the flyers from her hand.
After a few more minutes she decided to change her spot and moved a little further downtown. More and more shops were beginning to open as it came up to ten o’clock and the streets were filling up with early weekend shoppers.
She was looking forward to seeing her dad because he cooked the best breakfasts. He’d promised to make them eggy toast with maple syrup and crisp bacon. Her mouth was already watering at the prospect.
Her dad was more active and she was increasingly optimistic that he was over the worst of his depression. The future was looking a lot brighter for both of them than at any time in the last five years. He’d taken up carpentry again and had promised to give her a few more lessons and help her on her next furniture project for the apartment. She wanted a bedside table to go with the bed they’d built together.
It suddenly struck her that her life was finally building up some smooth momentum. Her dad was doing better, her business was taking off and she could even talk to a guy she liked and not feel totally flustered. She thought again of his tight tanned skin and the rippling muscles on his long, lean arms and the way he’d caught her easily as she stumbled.
She was zoning out again and had missed handing out flyers to the last five people walking past. There was no point thinking of the guy too much even if she hoped to see him soon in Bunk’s.
She was just happy she could talk to someone she liked and how easy it had been. He was a bit rough and scruffy and she’d seen the hint of a tattoo at his neck and on his arm. He was probably not her type anyway, she thought, as she tried to dampen her expectations. If they’d actually talked for longer than five minutes that probably would’ve been clear.
She blew air out her nose and fixed her best smile back on her face. It was far too early to be brooding on such things. She needed these flyers gone so she could go and get some breakfast.
She didn’t really notice the car although she supposed later that they must have arrived in one. It was probably their weird hats and the fact they walked in to Appleby’s so quickly that first grabbed her attention but it wasn’t odd enough for her to do a double take or stop what she was doing.
She was close enough to the store to hear the muffled sound of glass smashing and a woman’s high pitch scream. That’s when she realized something was very wrong. The security door blocked out most of the noise but she was so close that she heard it and remembered the two guys in the weird woolly hats she’d just seen rush in.
She quickly put two and two together and realized that Appleby’s was being held up and the woolly hats were rolled up ski-masks about to be pulled into place.
Everything happened so fast after that. She was scrambling for her phone when she heard the first gunshot. It boomed loudly and a big crack appeared in the glass. Two other shots quickly followed before a brief pause and then one final shot.
A car pulled up to the curb beside her with a screech and the rear door flew open. All Chloe could do was stand there with her mouth gaping in shock. The door to Appleby’s burst open and out crashed one of the robbers with a black canvas bag in one hand and a gun in the other. He had the gun pressed tight across his chest and even on his dark, military jacket she could make out the spreading wet patch of blood already staining his hand bright scarlet.
It was stupid really and she should have run but found herself frozen to the spot. The alarm was blaring and her ears still rang from the shots. He stumbled across the sidewalk to the car, his eyes white and wild.
She finally began to back away out of danger, knowing she was way too close to the action, but it was too late. The robber made a lunge for her and she was too scared to resist. It was only when he had a hold of her and was pushing her roughly towards the open car that she felt the scream building up in her throat.
“Shut the fuck up and get in the car,” yelled the raider in her ear. “Do what you’re fucking told and get in there, you wanna fucking bullet? Get in there now!”
He practically threw her across the back seat before diving in after her with a loud grunt of pain. The tires squealed harshly as the driver accelerated fast down the street. The sudden speed caused the door to swing in and the masked man pulled it fully closed with another pained grunt.
“What the fuck happened?” yelled the driver “And why the fuck did you take a hostage?”
“Shut the fuck up and get us outta here, I’m fucking hit and Nick’s toast, fuck! Some fucking hero in there had a gun and saw his name in the papers, shit!”
Chloe cowered in the corner and wondered how hurt she’d get if she opened the door and threw herself out. They were driving fast but if they went around a sharp corner she might have a chance. She’d probably survive the fall but if she stayed in the car she could end up dead.
“Get the fuck down on the floor!” screamed the raider at her. “Get the fuck down and turn you face to the floor, and don’t fucking move or try anything.”
“This is fucked man,” said the driver a little quieter. “Are you fucking out of your mind taking a hostage? We had a good plan, we have an escape route. I didn’t sign up for this fucking shit. Did you shoot anyone back there?”
“I shot the fucking hero, I don’t know if he’s dead. I’m hit bad man, I can feel it. Just get us outta town fast, I’m gonna need a doctor.”
“Keep your shit together for the moment, and take that fucking mask off if the girl can’t see you. No need for us to look even more suspicious. We’re well ahead of any response. Once we’re off the main road we can take a look at it.”
“It’s bad man, it’s fucking bad.”
- 5 -
Chloe
Chloe’s heart was racing and blood p
ounded loudly in her skull. She kept her head down low in the foot well but she’d seen how they’d turned at Brody’s Electric so knew they were heading north. Her mind was desperately trying to cling to facts or certainties to make sense of the world of chaos and noise she’d suddenly been dragged into.
The driver slowed down and she guessed they were back at the speed limit. The car was spotlessly clean which she couldn’t help but notice having her nose a few inches from the floor. She got the impression they were professionals who were used to doing such work.
She was aware of her kidnapper squirming in the seat behind her but she didn’t dare look, especially if he’d taken off his mask. She didn’t want to give them any excuse to use their guns. If two people were already dead then they wouldn’t hesitate to add another to the list.
The wounded robber’s breath was coming faster and shallower and she could hear a gurgling sound from deep in his chest. It didn’t sound good at all, like one of his lungs was punctured and filling up with blood.
An involuntary whimper escaped her lips and she squeezed her eyes tight to try and somehow block out her violent new reality. Just a few minutes earlier life had seemed so good and full of promise and now she was caught up in something almost beyond her comprehension. Nothing like this happened in Ithaca, or to people like her.
A few minutes later they turned left off the main road and were heading in the direction of the lake. There was no sign of pursuit but Chloe didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing. They might still let her go if they thought they were in the clear and didn’t need a hostage. Or they might just kill me. It was impossible to stop the thought appearing in her mind but she did her best to silence it and stay in the moment.
They car was moving slower and it felt like they were driving on a dirt track or badly surfaced road. Her kidnapper’s breath sounded more and more labored and she could sense how his body trembled and shook at her back.
“How you doing man?” called the driver, an edge of desperation in his voice. “Don’t fucking die on me man! Shit!”
The car came to a stop and the driver sprang out to come around and open the rear door. Meanwhile Chloe kept her head firmly down so she wouldn’t have the slightest chance of seeing their faces. She didn’t want to make it easy for them to get rid of her.
“Dimi, Dimi, can you hear me? Oh fuck man, talk to me!”
The only sound that came from the injured man was an even deeper gurgling noise. Time seemed to stop, as if the universe was thinking up the perfect punchline to some bad joke, and then it came, a long wheezing death rattle as the injured man died on the seat behind her.
“God dammit Dimi you asshole! I never wanted any of this shit, what the fuck did you get me involved in, oh man.”
Another involuntary whimper escaped Chloe’s lips and she immediately regretted drawing attention to herself. She needed to be anonymous, invisible, to just merge in as part of the grey carpet on the floor.
“Hey you, girl, you need to get out” the driver then said. “I’m not gonna hurt you but you need to get out. Just keep your eyes closed, yeah? Go on, open the door and just get out and keep your eyes closed and facing away.”
There was an edge of panic in his voice and she sensed that all their best laid plans had come crashing down. She knew she had to obey and maybe then she’d get to live. It didn’t sound like he wanted to hurt her or even want her there at all.
She reached up above her head and opened the door before crawling out and unsteadily getting to her feet. Her first instinct was to run but she wasn’t fast enough to outrun anybody and she didn’t want to piss him off. Instead she began to edge around the car in the direction they’d come, making sure to keep her back to the carnage behind her.
“Look, I’m not going to hurt you,” came the voice. “I’m going to let you go, he never should’ve grabbed you, it was stupid and he was desperate. But he’s gone now, shit! Look, it’s ok, just walk back up the track and get to the main road, and then, eh, just, walk back to town.”
The more he spoke the calmer his voice became but then a strange kind of catch seemed to enter his tone. There was something familiar about it. She’d been so nervous that she’d been attacking her fingers with her nails. Her head was bowed in fright and she was even doing that stupid thing with her foot again.
“Shit,” came the voice again, this time softer again and a little snap of recognition clicked together in her brain. “It’s Chloe, isn’t it?”
She shouldn’t have turned to look but she couldn’t help herself. It was him! He had a cap on and sunglasses but it was definitely him. He took a couple of steps towards her with his palms open but she instinctively recoiled.
She struggled to speak but eventually got the words out from trembling lips. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
He whipped off the glasses and she saw the turmoil in his eyes. Her gaze flicked to the car behind him and she saw the arm of the dead man sticking out the open rear door, blood dripping down to the dirty ground.
“Chloe, shit! Look, I didn’t want any of this, I was just supposed to be the driver. They fucking talked me into it, I don’t do this shit, it’s not me. It’s fine, I’m not going to hurt you or anything, just please, just don’t say you know me. It’s fucked up I know, Jesus Christ, I know it’s fucked up. Please don’t make it any worse.”
He raised up balled fists to his head and paced back and forth, his face a contorted mask of emotions. He was plainly in shock as well but despite her sympathy she knew what had happened was wrong.
“There’s a dead guy in your car. You robbed Appleby’s and people got shot and then you kidnapped me!”
“I know, it’s bad, it’s really really bad, but I’m just the driver. It was only supposed to be twenty minutes work, what the fuck was I thinking, I’m a fucking fool. Why the fuck am I so fucking stupid. I didn’t want to get involved and then I did anyway, what the hell is wrong with me?”
Despite herself, Chloe could feel the tide of sympathy rising. She didn’t believe he was such an evil guy, wild and stupid and impulsive maybe but no cold hearted killer. What should she do, tell the police what she knew and ruin his life? But could she really break the rules like that, for someone she just met?
“You gotta just do what you think is right, I’m not gonna hurt you or stop you from going. I don’t wanna make this any worse. But if you could find it in your heart to give me a pass, I’d be so fucking grateful.”
She started backing away and couldn’t help the tears that sprang to her eyes. “I dunno Vladek, I dunno if I can do that. I’m just gonna start walking back now ok? I’m just gonna go.”
“Yeah, just go, you shouldn’t be here and have to deal with this, it’s my fucking mess. I’m really fucking sorry, and please think about what I said. Goddammit, I was just starting to think my life was finally coming together and then I had to go and get mixed up in this shit. Say we dumped you out further up the road and you didn’t see any of this. Just think about it, please.”
Their eyes met across the chasm and she saw him again as the guy she’d met the night before, so open and confident and who’d made her feel so confident as well. He’d talked then about doing something he might regret. It was a shit show.
“Ok, I’ll think about it, but now I gotta go, I gotta get out of here.” She started to back away quickly, half wondering if he’d follow her to make sure of her silence but he just stood there and watched her go, a faint look of hope in his deep brown eyes.
She turned her back to the bloody scene and ran up the road. She just had to put as much distance as possible between herself and what she’d just seen. She cried and shook as the adrenalin dissipated from her bloodstream and left her feeling weak and emotional. So much had happened and her mind was struggling to make sense of it all.
She ran until she couldn’t anymore and soon after reached the main road back to town. Feeling totally drained and dead inside she walked on in a daze until she was finally broug
ht back to earth by the cop calling to her from his open car window. She couldn’t reply at first but allowed herself to be put in the back driven back to town.
- 6 -
Vladek
What the hell did it matter anyway, thought Vladek to himself. The girl was traumatized and he couldn’t blame her if she ended up telling the cops. Did it even matter if he tried to run? If they knew his name it would be pointless and he’d be better off just denying everything. But a small part of him was optimistic she’d stay quiet.
He’d liked her when they talked at McBride’s and was planning on dropping in to see her at Bunk’s. They’d shared something, had some connection, even if it was for only a few minutes. He couldn’t blame her if she named him to the cops but maybe she wouldn’t. It was a long shot but he dared to hope.
He had to just push it from his mind. He’d follow through with the plan and torch the car before taking the boat to the other side of the lake. After that he’d have to improvise because he was on his own. None of it had been his idea but now he had to tidy things up. He’d been a fool, too loyal to old friends and too easily persuaded.
Dimitri was well built and he struggled to drag his body from the back seat. He couldn’t bring himself to leave him inside while he torched the car. They’d end up identifying him from his dental records anyway so there was no point. Maybe he should’ve been more heartless to protect himself but he didn’t have it in him.
He dragged him a couple of feet off the track and then quickly searched his pockets for any potential evidence. Afterwards he made a sweep of the car and ripped off the special compartment at the back that housed the caltrops. Leaving it there might give the cops ideas and help them connect the robbery to other cases.
He stuffed everything in the bag with the jewels and slung it over his shoulder, before dousing the car with gasoline and striking a match. He was already jogging away through the trees when he heard the first billowing sound of the flames catching hold.
Rough Diamond (A Mafia Romance) Page 3
