Doc1 (01)- Chapter 1

So at my latest novel attempt was started a year ago December. I got to about 14 Chapters + writing off and on until I broke my computer screen and lost the most recent version. I am pretty proud of myself for this one because I weathered a lot to get this far, including the loss of some inspirations. I will release one chapter per week, and hopefully by Friday  I will be writing again. ~Love Da Mouse (P.S. I haven’t figured out a title yet, feel free to comment suggestions)

 

And then the darkness, so long dormant after they had given the first blow… and the darkness struck back.

CHAPTER 1

 

The ferocious wind whipped at my braided hair, further increasing the velocity of the rain droplets that lashed at my brown skin. I huddled closer into my brown trench coat and tried in vain to shield myself from this watery bombardment. I passed a policeman on patrol; he did not give me a second look. To him I was just another figure racing to leave the cold Manhattan air. It was at times like this I wished that I could stop and search for the faint smell of petrichor but I was already late.

Ahead of me was a non-descript two story warehouse like building. Both stories were identical, square, with a few visible windows; the second story was smaller than the first and had a small balcony. If it was not for the large and bright sign reading “The Warren” or the long queue of people, anyone would have assumed this was an abandoned warehouse. I crossed the muddied parking lot with a non-descript van apparently belonging to an electrician company. It looked superbly out of place next to the sports cars and expensive vehicles.

I avoided the line and went straight for the door. A short bouncer stopped me. I scrutinized his 5ft 9 burly stature, and his pale skin wrapped around his bulging muscles. His face had elf-like features that were accented by his almost constant scowl. He wore his black polo well, on the left breast pocket was a picture of a red humanoid crab like creature wearing a pair of shades and holding a beer can. When G chose the logo I suggested a gangster Rabbit but no, we had to go with a crab because he was a Cancer. On the back of the shirt was the club motto “You know it’s a party when G is in charge.”

“Are we going to do this every night Naj?” I asked warily. He cracked one of his rare smiles and followed me in.

Inside The Warren was completely contra descriptive to the outside. Laser lights shone all over the night club. Steps led down from the entrance on to the main floor so from where we stood we had a pretty good view of the club. The DJ stood behind his sound system on an elevated platform in one corner of the room. In front of him, people had begun to dance and mingle. Across from the DJ on the opposite side of the room was the bar, and the bartenders looked busy. Booths were scattered around the rooms mainly near the walls to give dancers plenty of space. Most of the room was occupied by couples.

I eased my way past the crowd to the bar and signaled to one of the bartenders to   come forward. Logan was one of our youngest workers and said he was using this job to pay for college. He was about 20 with honey blond hair that he wore past his ears. He was average height and very lean, his easy-going and trusting nature and soft brown eyes were the reason he worked in both banking and as a bartender.

Naj waited patiently as I pulled him to a corner away from listening ears

“Logan, you need to be more careful with the money. You’re supposed to add the money G gives you to the bills so that no one notices the extra. The sums you’re adding are too big, now I’ve got a surveillance van in the parking lot and a club that is most likely bugged.” He looked down at his feet and ran his fingers through his tangled hair, refusing to meet my eyes. “I want you to check the heat signature of the van. I want to know how many men are in there, then I want you to send Sally out with a pitcher of I don’t know, ice tea and cups. Don’t drug it, this time. Then after the club closes I need the entire place swept for bugs. Ok?”

He just nodded, still not meeting my eyes.

A booth hovered way above the floor, it was encased by a black glass which prevented anyone outside from seeing those inside. Most people assumed that was where the DJ was supposed to be due to its elevated height, but the owner had found better use for it. At the bottom of the stairs leading up to booth stood two beefy guards, neither stopped us on our way up. I pushed the door open and we stepped into the horseshoe shaped booth with a round coffee table in the middle. A collection of fashionably dressed young men and women sat engaged in light conversation. Most of them with alcoholic drinks in their hands.

I shrugged off my trench coat revealing the brown sleeveless blouse I wore with black leggings, my ballet slippers squeaked from the rain. I sat next to Mims, she was petit and dark skinned with short black hair. She was still dressed in her bartender’s uniform. I guess she had not gone to the clinic today and instead opted to keep an eye on things. G sat at the top of the horseshoe with his back towards the dance floor. From there he scowled at me.

G was a little below average height, dark skinned and like most of the other guys there: muscular and fairly handsome. He wore a pair of denim jeans with an open black flannel shirt. On his right hand he wore a Rolex watch and a gold chain around his neck. His intricate “G” tattoo peaked out from his shirt. As a person, he was extremely amiable and amusing; he had an inexplicably infectious humor and a charismatic charm.

“You’re late.”

He said gruffly.

“Even Lex’s here, Rochelle too.”

He rolled his eyes in a joking manner.

Lex sat on the other side of Mimi, she nodded absently as she swirled her drink. Her brown hair with its natural gold highlights covered her shoulders which were left bare by her fitted black sleeveless dress and brushed her shoulder blades. Rochelle sat in a dark corner still wearing her coat and black boots played with her Winnie the Pooh pendant.

“I’m here now aren’t I?” I answered monotonously.

Suddenly, a glass was slammed on to the table. Nobody flinched. Ray leaned into the light; it threw shadows across his caramel face.

“Why do we have to meet here? I prefer Mikki’s place.”

Ray smiled calmly probably remembering the time he finished all my liquor. Not that I drink any anyway.

G began to answer but the waitress entered with a round of drinks. I had seen her around but I was surprised G let her up here. I scrutinized her petit frame; she was slightly darker than Ray.

“Refills anyone?’ she asked politely.

Eight cups simultaneously slid to the center of the table. She quickly changed out the glasses. Seven hands shot out and grabbed the drinks. I did not move.

“One non-alcoholic.” G smiled at her. She really was not my favorite person, but I could deal with that, if only for G.

“Yes sir.” She smiled back.

I wondered if it bothered her how we all melted into the darkness when she entered. Some parts of me hoped it did. I was inexplicably and slightly shamefully bothered by people who intruded on us. I suppose I had grown to develop a possessiveness of my friends that should not be.

“Who was that?” Lex inquired, her hazel eyes narrowed.

G sipped some of his drink “Liz.”

“She needed a job, he gave her one.” Mimi stated, realizing that G would mostly likely not say anything more. Her face was straight.

“Like the good person I am.” He joked

“Yeah I’m sure.” Lex laughed as everyone else snickered.

“Still waiting for my answer.” Ray reminded him after Liz had brought back my drink. “It’s less private.” He sipped his drink.

“Because I have a feeling that we might have some boisterous customers tonight.” It was not G but Seth who had spoken. He sat on the right hand side of G, with Trick on the left. He leaned forward, allowing the light to reflect off his gold ring. He brushed the sleeve of his crepe long sleeved Armani jacket. “And I would like to be here if they do.”

“Tch.” I turned to G “So is there any reason you have me away from my bed?”

“Mikki!” Mimi exclaimed “It’s not even twelve.”

“I need my beauty sleep.” I stuck out my tongue stubbornly at her.

“It’s not helping you at all.” Naj laughed at my sulking face.

G signaled Trick forward with his index and middle finger. The twenty-one year old placed his laptop on the table and further loosened his tie as he had not had a chance to change from his work clothes.

I peered at the man on the screen, his heavy bearded face tugged at my memory.

“Two months ago we performed one of our usual crime scene clean ups,” Trick paused, searching for the right words “avant de police. The victim was a corrupt police chief who died from poisoning.” He swiped his hand over the key pad and the picture changed to a teacup. “However, the cause of death seems to have resurfaced…at the police headquarters.”

“You’re joking right?” Mimi asked in disbelief

“Impossible!” Lex hissed. “I was on that team and we scrubbed the place clean. I clearly remember sterilizing the tea set and selling it off in pieces.”

“Come on. We did not forget anything.” Mimi added

“It was probably too high for you to see it.” Trick teased.

“Trick,” She whined “This is not funny.”

Despite the severity of the situation I could not help but smile, however Lex was not appeased.

“Is it possible that this is a mistake?” Lex persisted

“Very slim. It pinged my network and scans on Rochelle’s computer matched it to the umm killer tea cup. Right down to the little smudge on the petals from where the painter sneezed and moved his hand.” He zoomed in on the odd shaped petal for emphasis.

“Impossible!” Lex repeated insistently.

“Well you missed something.” G pointed at the image “Calm down Lex all you have to do is go with Naj and fix it.”

“I don’t need a chaperone.” She pouted

“But we don’t travel alone on business so bring some muscle.” I pointed out his arm.

G nodded and closed Trick’s computer. Effectively dissolving the tension. The stubborn pout still remained on Lex’s face. It annoyed her because she led the cleanup team and she did not like her work to be questioned. She was not the only disgruntled one; Mimi, Rochelle and Ray were also on her team.

G reached over and pulled on her lip, but quickly drew back when she attempted to bite him. We all snickered.  But behind the laughter something about this entire thing bothered me, an unnerving sense of déjà vu. Before I could voice my concerns, Naj pointed to the bar.

We watched through the one way glass that surrounded the closed booth; my stomach turned cold, the way it did before a fight. Three men were crossing the floor; the one in the front was tall and thin. He had a long face and beady eyes so he reminded me of a rat. From the blank stares of the two big gorillas behind him, I assumed that they were dumb muscle escorting a lackey.

“The gorillas are most likely packing heat,” I mused “But telling from their stance and walk they are new recruits not as quick on the draw as the experienced bunch. Rat face is probably carrying a gun; his hand keeps twitching to his side.”

“I guess they can’t read the sign saying no firearms.” Ray shrugged

“I guess not.” Mimi agreed

“Naj, Seth, Mikki go handle this.” G smiled calmly

“Don’t involve me unless it is absolutely necessary.” I chastised him “Send Trick instead.”

“You know what, for a violent person you don’t like to get your hands dirty.” G sighed as he signaled to Trick to go with them.

“It’s the laziness.” I shrugged. That, and I was not in the mood for violence. “You better handle it quickly before the cops outside decide to try something.

“Stupes, Mikki.”

We turned our attention back to the buffoons downstairs. Rat face had stopped the music and climbed on a table.

Rochelle turned up the volume of the mike Seth had hidden in his gold ring. The one he had activated shortly after he left the booth.

Trick cleared his throat. “You need to get own. Now” Naj signaled to the DJ to start the music again.

“Well maybe you can direct me to the proprietor of this establishment.” Please. This man spent too much time watching mob movies. He even attempted to copy the accent not too much avail.

“The boss is busy, but you can always speak to us.” Trick informed him; his tone indicated he was quickly growing tired of this man.

Rat face got off the table and sat down on a nearby chair. “As you may or may not, businesses in this area of town occasionally need some extra protection.” He paused melodramatically. “My boss has decided out of the kindness of his heart, to provide such protection. Lest this reputable club be damaged.”

This was comic. This must be a new set, no one tried to “shake down” The Warren and to do so blatantly in public view within the hearing range of others? Amateurs.

I was not the only one who found this situation funny; Naj had begun to laugh “Yo! You want us to pay you off so you don’t “damage” our place?”

“I think you will find The Warren is sufficiently protected.” Seth added irritably.

Rat faced narrowed his beady black eyes. “You’d be surprised how out of control some customers can become.”

Right on cue, the first gorilla grabbed the table with the obvious intention to flip it over, but Seth was faster. He grabbed the gorilla’s shoulder and pressed down, in the same moment with quick fluid movements he lifted the brute’s gun from his jacket. Naj flicked the second gorilla’s forehead with enough force to leave a red mark for a couple of weeks. I would know, I could still feel the sting from the last time. While the second Sasquatch was fazed Naj lifted his gun.

They were back at Trick’s side right as the dumb muscle had begun to register the immense force that had been inflicted on their pressure points and the resulting pain.

“I never got your name.” Trick mused as if nothing had happened.

“Frank Bates.” The rat replied still amazed at what had just happened.

“Mr. Bates I think any business you have with us is done and I advise you to stay away from The Warren.”

“My boss does not like people to refuse his generosity.”

“He’ll have to make an exception this time.”

“You know, I am tired of this conversation.” He stood and pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Trick “I’d like to speak to the owner.”

I cursed. They had five seconds to get this under control before people started to panic.

One. Trick twisted Bates arm, forcing the gun upwards and loosening his grip. A woman had noticed. Two. Trick grabbed the gun from Bates with one hand, and with the other he pulled him over the table while simultaneously kicking the table forward. Somebody screamed. Three. Rat face fell on the floor; Trick stepped over him and pressed his knee on Bates back as he twisted his arm behind him. People who had begun to run started to calm down.

In the meantime Seth and Naj had subdued gorilla one and two and one of the bartenders were calling the police. Soon other bouncers came to restrain them. Trick stood up, dusted his clothes off, and made his way back to the booth.

“Ghos’” Trick muttered, directing his next words to G. “mister point a gun at me.” he sucked his teeth.