Bullet Trap

by Mike Ryan

  “Don’t you think you should get down?” Haley asked.

  “Oh, they’re all gone now.”

  “What? Why didn’t you tell me that?”

  “Well I heard someone coming in back here and I wasn’t sure who it was.”

  “You sure they’re gone?”

  “Well, I nailed a couple of them, then the others scattered,” Phillips replied.

  “How do you know they left?”

  “I heard one of them talking about leaving to get some backup.”

  Haley sighed, then walked past him as he walked around the floor, looking for the dead bodies. Then, he found one. He put on the flashlight from his phone, lighting up the man’s face. Haley shook his head. Phillips came up behind him.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Do you know who this is?” Haley asked.

  “No. Why? Should I?”

  “Yes, you should! It’s one of Vincent’s men.”

  Phillips shrugged, not seeming to care. “So?”

  “So, this is the type of thing we were trying to avoid. We didn’t want to get into it with him. Now, you basically just did.”

  “First off, how’s he gonna know it was us? Second, I told you, he’s a criminal. And I’m not discriminating. If they’re on the other side, they’re going down. Simple as that.”

  “You’re too stupid for your own good, you know that?”

  “I think it’s time you stop worrying about this guy. You guys have put him up on such a pedestal, I mean, it’s ridiculous. Just take him out and clean up the streets. That is what we’re here for, isn’t it?”

  “You just don’t get it, do you? Vincent being at the top helps keep things somewhat civil in this city. If he’s gone, you have no idea how many criminal gangs are going to come out of the woodwork and try to take his place.”

  “And like I’ve said before, if they do, we’ll take them out too. They should be fearing us, not the other way around.”

  Haley just glared at him, his nostrils flaring out. He wanted to knock the smug look off his partner’s shoulders right then and there. Actually, he wanted to just put him in a hole somewhere and leave him. But that wasn’t what partners did, whether they liked each other or not.

  Haley continued walking around the room, finding another body a few seconds later. He was also one of Vincent’s men. Haley knew it was unlikely that Vincent would let this go without some type of reply, either verbal or physical. He just hoped that whatever it was, was something they’d be able to work out.

  After the years it took Recker to build up the relationship he had with Vincent, Haley felt a certain responsibility to keep it going in his absence, especially if Recker returned. He’d hate to have Recker come back to find everything he built in tatters and hanging on by a thread.

  Phillips came over to Haley again. “You wanna stay here and wait for them to get back?”

  “No, I don’t. I’m leaving. You stay if you want.”

  Haley stormed off, walking back to the window he came in through. Phillips went after him. He caught up to Haley just before they went back through the window. He tapped Haley on the arm and pointed up to the corner of the room.

  “Look. Security camera there.”

  “Yep,” Haley said.

  Phillips pointed his gun at it and fired. What was left of the camera after that fell to the ground. “Looks like nobody will be seeing us now.” Phillips climbed through the window.

  Haley stood there for a moment and looked around. He knew there were more cameras out there. Vincent wouldn’t have just one. He took a deep breath and shook his head before joining his partner on the outside. He knew there’d be fallout from this.

  “Yep. Nobody at all.”

  3

  Phillips sat there in silence as Haley reamed him out. Jones had never seen Haley as angry as he was at this moment. The veins in his neck were sticking out, and his face was getting red with each passing moment. Jones also sat there, just listening to the verbal barrage his friend was belting out. Jones had already had his say, and though he let his disapproval be known, it wasn’t quite as fierce as what Haley was dishing out.

  “The next time you do something, on your own, off-script, you’re also getting out of it on your own!” Haley yelled. “Because I’m not coming to save your ass again. It’s about time you start falling in line with the rest of us, and doing what we tell you to do, instead of just doing what you want, anyway. You either conform with what we want, or get your ass out!”

  “Chris,” Jones said, trying to calm him down before he said some things that couldn’t be taken back. Of course, there was probably nothing that Haley could say that he would want to take back, anyway.

  Haley either didn’t hear Jones, or was ignoring him, because he continued his verbal assault on the new man of the team. “Ever since you got here, you’ve operated on your own beliefs, on your own time, and your own stupidity. You’ve either ignored or chosen not to listen to everything we’ve tried to tell you. No matter what we say or do, you do what you want, anyway. Well that’s stopping now.”

  Phillips continued sitting there, not muttering a word in response. It was somewhat surprising, knowing his brash personality, and the fact that he did often do what he wanted, regardless of what anyone tried to tell him. Maybe Haley’s words were finally hitting the right note. Maybe he’d finally seen the error of his ways, but somehow, Haley doubted it. But it was still something he needed to get off his chest.

  Phillips waited a few more minutes, letting Haley say everything he needed to before finally responding. “You done?”

  “Why, you got something to say?”

  “Yeah. You already know my feelings about all of this. All I did…”

  “It’s not about your feelings! You’ve been here three months! You don’t have any feelings yet. You don’t know nothing, you shouldn’t think nothing, and you shouldn’t act on nothing. Not unless one of us tells you to. I don’t care what kind of experience you’ve had, how much of a big shot you think you are, or whether you think you know it all. Let me explain something to you, bub, you’re an idiot. A world-class, All-American idiot.”

  Phillips finally got up. His posture looked like he was taking all that he was going to. He took a few steps toward Haley. Jones, seeing what was going on, and fearing that the two men were going to come to blows, quickly hurried around the table and got between them.

  “Let’s everyone cool our heads for a moment,” Jones said.

  Haley wasn’t really interested in that, though, pointing at Phillips. “He better get that head of his in the game, or I’m gonna permanently cool it.”

  “Oh, you wanna play Mr. Bigshot, do you?” Phillips replied. “Because I ain’t gotta take anymore of your crap, man.”

  “Well then there’s the door. Hope it hits you on the way out.”

  “If there’s anybody going out that door, it’s gonna be you after I throw you out.”

  The two men continued moving towards each other, with Jones starting to get squeezed in the middle. Jones put one hand on each of them to try to keep them at bay. He hoped cooler heads would prevail, because if they really wanted at each other, he wasn’t going to be able to stop them.

  “Let’s remember we’re all on the same side here,” Jones said.

  “This guy’s on his own side,” Haley said. “He sure ain’t on mine.”

  “You know, you’re starting to get a big mouth,” Phillips said.

  “Oh, I’m getting a big mouth? That’s pretty rich coming from you.”

  “Let’s just take this outside so I can shut you up for good.”

  “Fine with me.”

  Jones feared he was losing control of the situation. “Gentlemen, gentlemen.” He feared for one of their lives. Two men as skilled as they were, who genuinely seemed to not like each other, going at it in a fight… well, Jones worried that one of them wouldn’t make it back. And he couldn’t have that.

  “Lead the way,” Haley sai
d.

  “Fine.” Phillips started walking toward the door.

  Before Haley was able to follow him, Jones took a firmer grasp on Haley’s arms, grabbing both of them. He pushed him over to the couch. “Sit down.” Haley just looked at him, not sure he was going to listen. But Jones repeated his command, and in a much firmer voice. “Sit.”

  Haley finally listened and sat down. He sighed and looked down at the floor.

  With one of them finally under control, Jones turned around and pointed at Phillips. “You. Sit over there.”

  Phillips complied with his wishes. He hadn’t said much, but Haley couldn’t ever remember a time in which Jones talked in that manner.

  With both men seemingly calmed down, Jones turned his head toward each of them. “Now, there will be no more talk about stepping outside. Whatever our feelings are toward each other, or what we think of each other, we will work out whatever differences we have. We are partners, we are a team, and we will act as such.” Jones then glared at Phillips to let him know he was now talking to him specifically. “Some of us will start acting with more care and thought in regards to our actions. We will take better directions from those who have been around longer, who know the landscape better, whether that jibes with our own personal feelings or not.” Jones then spun his head around to look at Haley. “And some of us will do a better job of actually teaching our philosophies, and instead of getting mad and frustrated, will find a better way of instilling those ideas into newer members of the team.”

  Jones looked at both men, neither of whom were looking at him. The eyes of both men were staring at the floor. Judging by their posture, they had both gotten the message loud and clear. Neither looked very interested in continuing the conflict any further.

  “Should I take it we are now ready to move on?” Jones asked.

  Haley took a deep breath, looked at Jones, and gave a slight nod. He had said all he wanted to say, all he needed to say, and was now ready to move forward. Phillips had the same reaction.

  “Now I want you two to get up, shake hands, and we’ll figure things out together. Understood?”

  Haley and Phillips looked at each other, neither very willing to move at the moment.

  “Come on,” Jones said.

  Finally, Haley got up. As soon as he did, Phillips did as well. Then, the two men begrudgingly moved their feet and started to walk toward each other. Phillips was the first to put his hand out. Haley looked at it for a second, then shook hands.

  “We good?” Phillips asked.

  “Listen, you’ve got all the talent and skills in the world. You can be as good as you wanna be. But you’ve got to start listening and stop being a maverick. That’s gonna get us both killed.”

  “I’ll try to be better.”

  That was good enough for Haley at the moment. He still wasn’t convinced, and wouldn’t be until he saw the words put into action, but at least it was a starting point. It was something to build on.

  Silence filled the room for the next few minutes as all three of them started milling about. Jones went back to his computer. Haley went to the refrigerator and got a drink before sitting back down on the couch. Phillips sat down at one of the desks. It was a strange feeling. There was so much anger and hostility in the air just a few minutes before, and now, now it was like they were in a library. No one saying a word. Everyone keeping to themselves. It was almost like the previous few minutes hadn’t even existed.

  That changed when Haley’s phone began ringing. He took his phone out of his pocket and looked at the caller ID. He groaned, then looked at Jones.

  “Here comes the fallout,” Haley said. Jones immediately knew who was calling. Haley answered the call. “Hello?”

  “Boss wants to meet,” Malloy replied.

  “What for?”

  “Pretty sure you already know.”

  “When?”

  “Right now.”

  “Where?”

  “You know the place.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Bring the other guy too.”

  “I don’t think that’d be a wise choice right now.”

  “Smart move. Because the way I’m feeling right now, I’m not sure he’d make it back.”

  “Jimmy, you and I haven’t had any problems before. I would like an honest answer from you.”

  “OK?”

  “Should I decline this meeting?”

  “You’re safe. For now. You’re highly thought of, but I can’t guarantee how long it’ll stay that way if you keep letting that partner of yours run off his leash.”

  “I understand. I’ll be there.”

  “Good. I’ll let him know.”

  Haley put his phone down and looked at the others.

  “I take it your presence is requested?” Jones asked.

  Haley nodded. “Yeah.”

  “When?”

  “Now.”

  “I’ll come with,” Phillips said.

  “No. It’s better if you stay here. You’re not exactly a friend of theirs at the moment. I’ll try and smooth things over.”

  “Is it wise that you go in the first place?” Jones asked.

  “Malloy said I’m fine for now.”

  “For now?”

  “Right now, I’m good. Tomorrow… that might be a different story.”

  4

  Haley arrived at the warehouse that Vincent usually liked to conduct business in. After being let in through the gate, Haley pulled up in front of the building. As he got out of the car, he saw the door swing open, and Malloy started walking down the steps to greet him. Haley put his hand out to shake, not sure if he was going to get one. He figured that would give a slight indication of how things were going to go. Thankfully, Malloy gave him his hand.

  “It’s not good, Chris.”

  “I know. I’ve talked to him. I yelled at him. We almost came to blows. I’m working with him.”

  “That may not be enough.”

  “I understand.”

  “He’s as mad as I’ve seen him in a while,” Malloy said.

  Haley put his arm out. “Might as well get this over with.”

  Malloy led Haley into the building, eventually finding their way into the small room he’d been inside of before. Vincent was already sitting there behind the table. Though Haley already knew the man wasn’t happy, after seeing his face, there was no doubt of that fact.

  “Sit down, Chris.” As Haley sat down, Vincent looked at his second-in-command. “Leave us.” Malloy nodded, then left the room, closing the door behind him. Vincent then turned his attention back to Haley. “I suppose you know why we’re here.”

  Haley sighed. “Yeah.”

  “You should tell your friend the next time he wants to shoot out security cameras to disguise himself, he should do it before he kills two of my men. And he should find the ones that he missed.”

  “I’m sorry about that.”

  “Chris, I gave you guys a warning when Recker left that I was not going to tolerate a lot of nonsense from this guy. Now, I’ve become more patient as I’ve gotten older, but that patience has worn out. There is no more buffer.”

  “I understand.”

  “Chris, I like you. I like David, I like Recker, you and us, we’ve formed a nice little alliance over the years. We don’t step on your toes, you don’t step on ours, and we’ve helped each other in numerous instances. You’ve needed help, and I’ve given it to you, no questions asked. And you guys have done the same for me. There has been a lot of goodwill between us. And I hate to see that end because of one man.”

  “Believe me, I’m doing my best to rein him in.”

  “Your best may not be good enough. I hate to say this, but his actions reflect on the group as a whole. I have to assume that if he’s gunning for us, that attitudes between our two parties have changed.”

  “They have not. His actions do not speak for the rest of us.”

  “Nevertheless, his actions reflect poorly on the rest of
you. If those actions continue, I have to assume that you’re either incapable of stopping him, or just don’t want to.”

  “Nothing could be further from the truth. What happened will not happen again. You have my word.”

  “I’ll hold you to that word, Chris.”

  “Look, he’s not used to working in a team environment, he’s not used to the way we do things here, we’re still working with him. I think he’ll come around.”

  “You better hope so. Because if he doesn’t, and if something happens like this again, I will not hold back. The next time he is on my property, committing violent acts upon my men, I will bring my entire organization down on him. And that will include anyone who is standing next to him.”

  Haley took a gulp. The implication was clear. “Understood.”

  “I would hate for you to get caught up in something that I don’t think you want to be a part of.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Good. I hope not.” Vincent leaned back in his chair, thinking of his words carefully. “I will let this incident slide. Only because of our past history. But make no mistake, there better not be another.”

  “There won’t be.”

  “I pray that you do. Because if Recker comes back, I’d hate for him to come back to two less partners.”

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  A hint of a grin formed on Vincent’s face. “Good. Now that that’s all cleared up, how is Mike doing?”

  “Good. Still out in Hawaii.”

  Vincent laughed. “Living the good life, huh?”

  “Seems like it.”

  “Is he planning on returning?”

  “That I don’t know. He hasn’t said. I think he’s just taking things day by day.”

  “There are worse places to do that in. I was out there a few years ago. Beautiful place.”

  “So I hear.”

  Vincent leaned forward, wanting to get back to their Phillips problem. “Before we end this meeting, I just want to make clear that we understand each other.”