13. The Warehouse
The Warehouse
“You guys ready? Do you have the stuff?” Cameron said as he holstered his pistol.
“Yeah, man, I've got it with me,” Kevin said, flashing his own weapon.
“I meant the package.”
Kevin looked away and shook his head.
“Where’s the hard drive?” Cameron yelled, smacking his hand on the dashboard.
“Relax, bro! Do you think I’m an idiot? Huh? You really think I’d walk into this place with the shit they want without some insurance? No!” Kevin said. He grabbed the black canvas bag that was behind him and brought it forward. “Here, see? I brought some of this instead. As proof.”
“Proof of what? That you’re an idiot?” Cameron said, grinding his teeth, and squeezing the steering wheel. “These guys are serious. They don’t play games, Kevin. This isn’t the time —.”
“My point exactly. We don’t know them. They’re not even from around here, man.
Jason met the dude at that crap restaurant he kept going to because of a girl.
The guy caught him red-handed swapping the license plate tags on a car in the parking lot.
Practically blackmailed him into robbing APOLLO.
Don’t you find it odd he gave us fifty grand just to steal this stuff and promised half a million upon delivery? ”
“I don’t trust the man, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do business,” Cameron said.
“He’s got money; we know that. He gave us fifty stacks up front and told us what to do and where to go.
Gave us all the instructions and promised to pay us upon delivery.
Who does that? Give away fifty thousand dollars to a complete stranger in some random parking lot? ”
“Heavyweights. Top-level stuff,” Jason said. “He gave us information about the security guard, too. And sent us those photos. And burner phones to communicate.”
“I agree, but I think it’d be smart to have an insurance policy,” Kevin said.
Then he looked at Jason and patted him on the shoulder.
“Just in case things go south. I hid the flash drive in the motel air vent above the bed. Mixed it with some jewelry in a small bag and taped it to the wall. It should be fine there. They’ll arrive soon, so when we go in, let me do the talking. Alright?”
“You’re going to talk? You’ve done so much blow, I’m surprised you can still walk,” Jason said.
“I’m fine. Just let me handle it. I’ll ask for the cash up front. One of us stays with them, they can hold on to the jewels I brought in this bag, and the other two can drive on down quickly to grab the package. Done deal,” Kevin said.
“That easy, huh?” Cameron said.
“Yep!” Kevin said. The three men exited the van and tucked their weapons under their shirts. “Maybe we should take a vacation after this, visit the Bahamas or Vegas?”
“This isn’t a game, Kevin. Alright! Like this isn’t funny at all.
The past several weeks hasn’t been easy, man, and you’ve made things worse.
I’m sorry, but I don’t see this working out,” Cameron said.
He shook his head and let the weight fall into his hands.
“We’re done after this. We’ll split the cash three ways and I’m out; I’m leaving town. ”
“Really? After all we’ve been through, you’re just gonna chicken out and abandon us?” Kevin said. “Can you believe this, Jason?”
Jason said nothing. Cameron neither. Cameron had spoken about retiring in the past, but Kevin always wrote him off, calling him crazy. His desire to leave this life behind motivated him to take the job in the first place. A chance to start over is what he wanted; a fresh start. Somewhere new.
“I can’t do this anymore,” Cameron said. “This lifestyle isn’t for me, Kevin. I’m done after this score. I got an aunt in Louisiana; I’ll be heading her way tomorrow.”
“Unbelievable. What about you, Jason? You chickening out too?” Kevin said.
“Nah, I’m taking my early retirement to Hawaii,” Jason said. The three friends broke out into laughter; a lighthearted moment for them, and one they hadn’t shared in a long time.
“Let’s get paid,” Kevin said, smacking the two playfully.
He opened the sliding door on the van, and the three hopped out.
The three friends were jubilant, smiling and rubbing their hands as they went, until they reached the door.
Cameron was genuinely excited but his happiness was slowly being poisoned by the thought of doing business with a man he knew nothing about and had only met once.
Though, nothing seemed amiss so far. The warehouse they picked for the deal had been closed for some time and was under construction; the only way in was through the back loading dock or its emergency door near the parking lot.
The building was an ugly matte white color; recently painted and then graffitied, its exterior was at war.
All the other entrances had been sealed.
Cameron looked around, but couldn’t see anyone in the parking lot.
Not a single car nor a person. It was quiet. Eerily so.
“Are you sure this is the place?” Jason said.
“This is the address the guy texted me,” Cameron said.
“Maybe they have someone inside?” Kevin said.
Cameron nodded and approached the door. He gave it a forceful knock and waited. Then, seconds later, he banged on it three times. No answer. Kevin, impatient and angered by the wait, lunged forward. He turned around and gave it a forceful kick that echoed through the parking lot.
“Yo! Open the door!” Kevin shouted.
“Relax!” Jason said, holding Kevin back.
“I’ll call the guy —” Cameron said, when the door lock clicked.
Turned out someone was inside all along.
The door creaked open slowly and with great difficulty, groaning as it did.
And inside, an odd group awaited the men.
Armed and with greater numbers, in a room devoid of anything save for two black SUVs and an abandoned oak table standing oddly at its center.
The door closed soon after they had entered. There was no going back now.