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Tears in Hell (UPDATED OCTOBER 11th)
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<blockquote data-quote="Puppy Kicker" data-source="post: 2095335" data-attributes="member: 20284"><p><strong>Lies and Crappy Hideouts</strong></p><p></p><p><em>9:00 AM Sunday, July 18th</em></p><p><em>Newport News, Virginia</em></p><p></p><p>The Grand Am bounced across a stream of potholes on Interstate 64. “I wish they’d fix this dang road,” Rebecca scowled. She was trying to avoid the issue.</p><p></p><p>“I know!” Meadow exclaimed. “They’ve been working on this section since I first moved here and they’ve made NO progress.” She was also trying to avoid the issue.</p><p></p><p>The issue wouldn’t be ignored. The issue said, “You’ve known where this goddamn thing is ever since the first night and you haven’t told anyone!”</p><p></p><p>“We told you.” Rebecca said. Meadow nodded.</p><p></p><p>“They totally did, dude.” Quin said. “They told you and now you know and we’re just going to go get the problem fixed.”</p><p></p><p>Devin wasn’t sure whether to strike out or scream or laugh or cry, so he punched the roof of the Grand Am. The newly created dent matched perfectly the four others he’d created since the conversation began. “Just… take me to Sammy and we’ll make a deal. I’ll get my sister back…” He trailed off, holding his head in his hands. Ugly bruises were starting to spread across his knuckles and the bandages on his head were bloody again. </p><p></p><p>“Take this exit. I can get us to Sammy’s place.”</p><p></p><p>Half an hour later the Grand Am pulled off into a side alley in the nasty part of Newport News. Somehow the shiny wax job and Mary Kay sticker didn’t seem to match the décor of the surrounding street – trash and advertisements for various not-quite-illegal products.</p><p></p><p>“That’s it over there,” Devin pointed at a decrepit looking bar. A neon sign advertised Coors Lite, but the rest of the scene implied that the place was not open for business. </p><p></p><p>“This is his hide-out. I should be able to find him and get a trade arranged.”</p><p></p><p>"So this is what a secret hide-out looks like? We need to find some better enemies." Quin complained. </p><p></p><p>Rebecca reached into her purse and rummaged around a bit. "Here. Take a pepper spray." Devin took it and slid it into his jeans pocket. The Desert Eagle he’d stolen from Rough Eddy rested uncomfortably in his inner jacket pocket. “If I’m not back in an hour…”</p><p></p><p>“We’ll go for coffee,” Quin finished. “Don’t worry, we’ll bring you some.”</p><p></p><p>“I feel so much support here.” Devin slammed the door and strode towards the hide-out. The Desert Eagle banged conspicuously against his side.</p><p></p><p>Twenty minutes later he was engrossed in conversation with Rough Eddy and Sammy Nickels.</p><p></p><p>“Let’s recap, Mister Cole. You know where the bear is.”</p><p></p><p>Devin nodded. “Yes. I just need to go recover it.” </p><p></p><p>“Then you will recover it tonight. I will have the bear in my possession tomorrow morning. In return, Lisa will be returned to you this evening.” Devin nodded. Sammy Nickels sipped his Bloody Mary before continuing. “And if I do not have the bear tomorrow morning?”</p><p></p><p>“You’ll have it, Mister Nickels. I promise you that.”</p><p></p><p>“If I don’t have it tomorrow, then you won’t be the one I take it out on. Do you understand?”</p><p></p><p>Devin nodded. “I understand.”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t think you understand clearly enough, Mister Cole.” Another sip. “You return the bear to me tomorrow morning or Lisa suffers. Lisa suffers in ways you cannot imagine.”</p><p></p><p>Devin clenched his teeth and fists. “That’s the deal.”</p><p></p><p>Rough Eddy chimed in. “And you’ll give me my baby back now, esse.” He was looking at the pistol jutting from Devin’s jacket. “Tha’s part of the deal too.”</p><p></p><p>"Rough Eddy here lost his gun to a Mary Kay lady and her troupe." Devin said as he slid the pistol across the table to its original owner. “I just thought you ought to know that, Mister Nickels.” Rough Eddy looked abashed as he grabbed his pistol and rushed from the table. Devin stood slowly. He still had dizzy spells from his head wound and fast vertical movement was something he avoided. “I’ll get my truck running and be back with the bear tomorrow morning. I expect to see Lisa tonight before I leave.”</p><p></p><p>“You have my professional word, Mister Cole. She will be returned this evening.”</p><p></p><p>Devin walked out into the July heat and leaned against the outside wall, heart beating furiously. The stress of maintaining the charade and his own cool had exhausted him. He slowly made his way back to the Grand Am.</p><p></p><p>“It’s done. Take me home.”</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">●</p><p></p><p><em>11:00 PM Sunday, July 18th</em></p><p><em>Newport News, Virginia</em></p><p></p><p>Devin dragged himself out from under his pickup when he heard the SUV pull into the driveway. It was getting too dark to work anyway, and the truck was running as well as it was ever likely to. He wiped his greasy hands off and approached the black Escalade. Familiar – a license plate he recognized from the trip to North Carolina. He peered at the tinted windows but could see nothing. The passenger side door opened and his heart leapt. </p><p></p><p>“Devin!” Lisa hopped out of the truck and rushed towards him. He hugged her tightly and glared at the driver of the SUV – Rough Eddy. </p><p></p><p>“Hi sweetie. How was your trip?” Lisa was a little unsteady and pale, but other than that seemed uninjured.</p><p></p><p>Eddy leaned over and slammed the passenger door shut. The SUV hurled gravel into the air as it sped off. Lisa squeezed Devin and buried her face in his chest. “It was alright Devin. I missed you though. And I’m tired.”</p><p></p><p>“That’s alright sweetie. We’re going to go see some friends. You can sleep there.”</p><p></p><p>An hour later Devin had dropped Lisa off at the hotel and he and Armani were on the road towards North Carolina. </p><p></p><p>“So I get it that Sammy wants the <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />in’ bear. But where do you plan to get it?” Armani slammed another mouthful of Mountain Dew. “I mean, we driving down to that resort again for nothing if you ask me.”</p><p></p><p>“You’re right ,” Devin said. “I already have the bear - it’s in the glove compartment. Rebecca had it all this time.”</p><p></p><p>“You shittin’ me!”</p><p></p><p>“Nope.”</p><p></p><p>“So we have the bear.”</p><p></p><p>“Yup.”</p><p></p><p>“And why we driving all this way tonight?”</p><p></p><p>“Just keeping up appearances. Sammy’s probably going to be keeping tabs on us.” </p><p></p><p>“Right.” Armani looked a bit confused. “Hmmm… still lost.”</p><p></p><p>“I told Sammy I know where the bear is, I said it’s in North Carolina. So in order to maintain the façade that that’s where it was, I’m going to drive there, pretend to pick something up, then drive back. In case I’m being followed.”</p><p></p><p>“Sounds stupid to me.”</p><p></p><p>“You’re not wrong.”</p><p></p><p>They didn’t talk much for the next six hours.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Puppy Kicker, post: 2095335, member: 20284"] [b]Lies and Crappy Hideouts[/b] [I]9:00 AM Sunday, July 18th Newport News, Virginia[/I] The Grand Am bounced across a stream of potholes on Interstate 64. “I wish they’d fix this dang road,” Rebecca scowled. She was trying to avoid the issue. “I know!” Meadow exclaimed. “They’ve been working on this section since I first moved here and they’ve made NO progress.” She was also trying to avoid the issue. The issue wouldn’t be ignored. The issue said, “You’ve known where this goddamn thing is ever since the first night and you haven’t told anyone!” “We told you.” Rebecca said. Meadow nodded. “They totally did, dude.” Quin said. “They told you and now you know and we’re just going to go get the problem fixed.” Devin wasn’t sure whether to strike out or scream or laugh or cry, so he punched the roof of the Grand Am. The newly created dent matched perfectly the four others he’d created since the conversation began. “Just… take me to Sammy and we’ll make a deal. I’ll get my sister back…” He trailed off, holding his head in his hands. Ugly bruises were starting to spread across his knuckles and the bandages on his head were bloody again. “Take this exit. I can get us to Sammy’s place.” Half an hour later the Grand Am pulled off into a side alley in the nasty part of Newport News. Somehow the shiny wax job and Mary Kay sticker didn’t seem to match the décor of the surrounding street – trash and advertisements for various not-quite-illegal products. “That’s it over there,” Devin pointed at a decrepit looking bar. A neon sign advertised Coors Lite, but the rest of the scene implied that the place was not open for business. “This is his hide-out. I should be able to find him and get a trade arranged.” "So this is what a secret hide-out looks like? We need to find some better enemies." Quin complained. Rebecca reached into her purse and rummaged around a bit. "Here. Take a pepper spray." Devin took it and slid it into his jeans pocket. The Desert Eagle he’d stolen from Rough Eddy rested uncomfortably in his inner jacket pocket. “If I’m not back in an hour…” “We’ll go for coffee,” Quin finished. “Don’t worry, we’ll bring you some.” “I feel so much support here.” Devin slammed the door and strode towards the hide-out. The Desert Eagle banged conspicuously against his side. Twenty minutes later he was engrossed in conversation with Rough Eddy and Sammy Nickels. “Let’s recap, Mister Cole. You know where the bear is.” Devin nodded. “Yes. I just need to go recover it.” “Then you will recover it tonight. I will have the bear in my possession tomorrow morning. In return, Lisa will be returned to you this evening.” Devin nodded. Sammy Nickels sipped his Bloody Mary before continuing. “And if I do not have the bear tomorrow morning?” “You’ll have it, Mister Nickels. I promise you that.” “If I don’t have it tomorrow, then you won’t be the one I take it out on. Do you understand?” Devin nodded. “I understand.” “I don’t think you understand clearly enough, Mister Cole.” Another sip. “You return the bear to me tomorrow morning or Lisa suffers. Lisa suffers in ways you cannot imagine.” Devin clenched his teeth and fists. “That’s the deal.” Rough Eddy chimed in. “And you’ll give me my baby back now, esse.” He was looking at the pistol jutting from Devin’s jacket. “Tha’s part of the deal too.” "Rough Eddy here lost his gun to a Mary Kay lady and her troupe." Devin said as he slid the pistol across the table to its original owner. “I just thought you ought to know that, Mister Nickels.” Rough Eddy looked abashed as he grabbed his pistol and rushed from the table. Devin stood slowly. He still had dizzy spells from his head wound and fast vertical movement was something he avoided. “I’ll get my truck running and be back with the bear tomorrow morning. I expect to see Lisa tonight before I leave.” “You have my professional word, Mister Cole. She will be returned this evening.” Devin walked out into the July heat and leaned against the outside wall, heart beating furiously. The stress of maintaining the charade and his own cool had exhausted him. He slowly made his way back to the Grand Am. “It’s done. Take me home.” [CENTER]●[/CENTER] [I]11:00 PM Sunday, July 18th Newport News, Virginia[/I] Devin dragged himself out from under his pickup when he heard the SUV pull into the driveway. It was getting too dark to work anyway, and the truck was running as well as it was ever likely to. He wiped his greasy hands off and approached the black Escalade. Familiar – a license plate he recognized from the trip to North Carolina. He peered at the tinted windows but could see nothing. The passenger side door opened and his heart leapt. “Devin!” Lisa hopped out of the truck and rushed towards him. He hugged her tightly and glared at the driver of the SUV – Rough Eddy. “Hi sweetie. How was your trip?” Lisa was a little unsteady and pale, but other than that seemed uninjured. Eddy leaned over and slammed the passenger door shut. The SUV hurled gravel into the air as it sped off. Lisa squeezed Devin and buried her face in his chest. “It was alright Devin. I missed you though. And I’m tired.” “That’s alright sweetie. We’re going to go see some friends. You can sleep there.” An hour later Devin had dropped Lisa off at the hotel and he and Armani were on the road towards North Carolina. “So I get it that Sammy wants the :):):):)in’ bear. But where do you plan to get it?” Armani slammed another mouthful of Mountain Dew. “I mean, we driving down to that resort again for nothing if you ask me.” “You’re right ,” Devin said. “I already have the bear - it’s in the glove compartment. Rebecca had it all this time.” “You shittin’ me!” “Nope.” “So we have the bear.” “Yup.” “And why we driving all this way tonight?” “Just keeping up appearances. Sammy’s probably going to be keeping tabs on us.” “Right.” Armani looked a bit confused. “Hmmm… still lost.” “I told Sammy I know where the bear is, I said it’s in North Carolina. So in order to maintain the façade that that’s where it was, I’m going to drive there, pretend to pick something up, then drive back. In case I’m being followed.” “Sounds stupid to me.” “You’re not wrong.” They didn’t talk much for the next six hours. [/QUOTE]
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