Page 22 of The Associate
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I leave the mansion around ten pm, only to now be sitting in the parking lot at the bar. The word on the street is that Carlos will be coming here tonight with a few others from his group. I will wait here until he shows up. Tonight, everything he does will give me an insight into his outer gang activities.
The parking lot has three or four cars scattering the area, which means there aren’t a lot of people in here yet, but the night is still young. I need to get inside and slide into my usual booth towards the back of the bar, the one booth that has a very dim light above the table and nothing else. People never sit on that side of the bar, which is perfect for me to sit and just watch.
Walking into the bar, I nearly bump into Viv’s regular, Gary. He stumbles over a rock and begins to fall toward me. Holding out my arms, I catch him just before he face-plants the ground. “Whoa, easy there, bud.” I help him stand. “Do you have a cab coming?”
He is slurring his words as he looks up at me. His eyes are glassy. “Yeth, one isss” — he hiccoughs — “coming.”
“Ok.” I watch as he stumbles his way to the taxi rank before I walk inside the bar.
Sitting down in the booth, I smile at Amber, the waitress from the other night, as she brings me my drink: the cheapest whiskey, neat. She is too sweet to be working in a place like this, but I nod my thanks and, as she walks away, a group of loud, obnoxious college students come in again.Why am I always the lucky one to be stuck in the bar with the rowdy asshole?
Taking a sip of my whiskey, I stare in the direction of the group that just came in. They are laughing and talking amongst themselves as they sit down near one of the pool tables. One of them walks up to the bar to get a round of drinks for everyone as two others set up the table to play a round of pool. One of them makes his way over to the dartboard for a game.
Watching them go about whatever it is they are doing, I realise something. These aren’t just any group of rowdy frat boys, they are Blackmere boys. More specifically, Carlos and his cronies.
Well, well, well, looks like Christmas came early for me.I take another sip of my whiskey, my eyes staying trained on Carlos.
I got so goddamn lucky tonight. From this vantage point, I can see everything that is going on in this place, from the bartender pouring drinks, Carlos eyeing the women in the bar, and the occasional person as they walk through the door and find their way to the bar or a booth.
I keep telling myself that tonight is just surveillance, I am watching his movements. That’s all. Just because Viv is the target in all of this doesn’t mean I can get sloppy and fuck it all up.
He glances over in my direction, but the booth is too much in the shadows for him to notice me.
A few hours go by and all they seem to be doing is drink and play pool.Fucking do something interesting already,I think to myself,I’m falling asleep just sitting here. They need to get out and live a little. I am getting close to calling it a night until I see one of them wave his hand in the air towards Amber, getting her attention.
I just watch and wait.What are they planning?I place a hand on my lower back. Glock still in place. Amber takes out her notepad, scribbles something down and then makes her way towards the bar again. This time I notice Carlos watching her with a little more curiosity.What is this fucker up to?
My head tilts slightly to the right as I watch him. Where I am sitting I can see Amber whilst still watching Carlos. The notepad is still in her hands as she makes her way back over to the bar. The paper is handed over to who I can only assume is the owner and he sets about making the drinks on the page. He points to the trash bags that are near the doorway leading to the bathrooms and back door fire exit.
Picking the bags up, she makes her way to the back area where the dumpsters are located. Carlos stands, stretching his arms over his head. He turns to face his friends before walking towards the direction of the bathroom.
I hear the back door open and then a clunk as it hits a hard object. Carlos walks out to the bathrooms but instead of hearing that door open, the back door opens and closes again, this time clicking shut.Motherfucker!I’m not waiting for him to fuck shit up.
He is going down tonight.
As I get closer to the door I hear a scream. It’s Amber. “Not on my watch, cocksucker,” I whisper as I slowly open the door.
“Shut the fuck up bitch!” he yells, and the sound of his hand slapping her face rings out through the deserted area.
From my vantage point, I see Amber’s head whip to the side and her body follow as she falls to the ground. Carlos grabs a fistful of her hair, yanking her off the ground. “Turn around and face the garbage like the trash you are,” he demands.
Tears are falling down her cheeks. I’m not going to let anything more happen to her. Her body is shaking as she begins to cry harder. His hands move to the zipper on his pants, slowly lowering it.
That’s the first part I will cut off. It is almost time to strike, I just have to get the timing right.
The hand that he still somehow manages to keep the fistful of her hair in releases its hold as he brings both his hands to the button on his pants, with a few mumbledfucksas he struggles with the button. But, drunk or not, this shit is not on. Now is my time to strike.
Stepping out from the shadows, I move behind him in one swift movement. Removing my gun from my back, I bring the grip of it down, hitting him across the back of the head. He goes down like a sack of shit.
Amber freezes and turns to look at me. Her eyes are wide with shock. I am focusing on Carlos and trying not to kill him where he stands. “It’s ok.” I place my gun back in the waistband of my pants. “You are safe now. Now go inside and finish your shift. Don’t tell anyone I was here. By the time you close, I will be gone. I will call a friend to come and help you with closing. His name is Atlas. He will be here in fifteen.”
She nods at me and runs back to the door. I pull my phone out of my pocket and call Atlas. I can feel a darkness clouding my vision as I turn my back to Amber. I close my eyes. I take a deep breath in to calm myself down before opening them again.
“Viper, what’s up?” he answers.
“Situation down at Gravel and Grit. Need you to help the woman lock up. I have work I need to finish. Are you nearby?” I look down at the unconscious body at my feet.
