Pc Perk

Episode 7

Cotton woke up before the roosters started crowing.  He washed up, had his hot carrot juice, and brushed his teeth, then was out the door with Raquel, his newly named sniper rifle in hand. 

The weather was cool.  Cotton had his rain jacket on for extra warmth as he waited for his taxi.   Cotton was on his phone when the taxi arrived.  He was looking at pictures of Rodrigo, studying his target.  He looked at his eyes, he looked at his perfect horns.  He was a put together individual.  Cotton could respect that.

The drive to the West Woods was about a thirty-minute drive and he intended to watch videos of Rodrigo’s previous speeches the whole way.  He watched Rodrigo’s head movement as he talked.  It was the same in every video, when he would stop and pause, his head would move to his right.  Whenever he had a thought, his head would go down.  Cotton watched four speeches, and they were all the same.  He even saw Raquel in one of the videos from Europe.  His mind wandered for a second, then he shook his head to get back to get his mind back on track. 

The taxi arrived at a gas station, across from the West Woods.  Cotton paid him, then walked across the street into the woods.  He had all the ammo he had bought from Smiley and planned on using it all.  Cotton walked into an opening to the woods.  He stopped, looked at his cell phone.  He decided he better call Smiley, to request more ammunition, and make sure Smiley had it.  Cotton dialed the mongoose’s number.

“Hello?”  Smiley said quickly.

“Hey this is Cotton.”

“You on a secure phone?”  Smiley asked.

Cotton laughed on the inside.  “Yeah, sure.” 

“Okay.  Hold on.”  Smiley said as he put the phone down.

Cotton could imagine what the mongoose was doing.  “He probably has the phone against his chest, looking in both directions, bringing the phone back to his mouth, about to speak.  Then putting the phone back down.”

“What do you need?” Smiley quickly asked.

“More ammo for the rifle.”

“Okay.  Yeah.  I have all you need.  Where?”

“I am not in the city right now.  Can you drop it off to Wilmen at Silverbacks?”  Cotton asked.

“Yeah.  What time?”

“Eleven.”

“Eleven at night, or eleven in the morning?”

Cotton sighed.  “In like four hours.”

“Okay.  Will do.”

“Wilmen will pay you.  Don’t try to overcharge him, he is a gorilla.  He will kill you.”  Cotton said half-joking.

“Okay.  I know.  They are big.  No overcharge.  I promise.”

“Eleven; okay.”  Cotton reiterated.

“Eleven.”  Smiley said as he hung up the phone. 

Cotton slid his phone back into his jacket pocket.  He continued to walk to find a good spot to try out Raquel.

Samuel and Lawrence were sitting on the highest part of the Fairmont Hotel.  They were looking down at the park.  Construction had already begun on the stage where the speech and the fashion show would take place.  Samuel already had the mini camera strapped to the top of his head.  They both had cigarettes in their mouths.  They looked down on the usually busy Fairmont Parkway.  “Different on the weekend huh?”  Samuel said as he took a drag of his cigarette.

“Yeah.  So much calmer.”  Lawrence looked around.  “So, the speech will take place in the middle I presume?”

“Looks that way.”  Samuel bent his head forward.  “Hit start on the red button for me.”

Lawrence hit the button with his beak.  “Follow me.”  Samuel said as he took off.

They flew around the park and landed on a tree that was behind the stage.  Samuel made it a point, to get a shot of the stage from behind, and show the vantage points in front.  Samuel leaned into Lawrence.  “See that parking garage straight ahead?” 

Lawrence looked to the Hotel’s parking garage.  There were eight stories, all of them with perfect views of the stage.  Lawrence then added.  “Yeah, but that isn’t secure.  We need a spot where he is covered from behind.”  They both kept looking.  The area was covered with buildings.  Samuel took one last shot for the video before moving.  “Okay.  An idea.   Follow me.”  Samuel led the way.  He flew to a billboard, that was about nine stories high, next to the Express Hotel, that was a cheaper version of The Fairmont.  The billboard was in between the Express and an office building.  The billboard base column was in an alley and the billboard itself was in between the two buildings.  They flew over there.  They landed on the billboard.  They faced the stage.  The stage was a little to the right but still had a clear shot.  They turned around.  The backside of the billboard had a walkway that could be utilized.  There was a ladder that connected the back walkway to the ground.  There was also a ladder that connected the front of the billboard to the ground also.  Samuel got the video.  “Hey.  Let’s fly around, and shoot other spots, and just get a view of the area from the sky.” 

“Okay.  This place looks good though.”  Lawrence said as they took off.

“Yeah let’s see what Cotton says.  He is good with this shit.”

The two birds flew around for about an hour, then headed home. 

Wilmen was on his computer. His phone rang.  “Hello?’

“Wilmen.   This is Webster.”  Webster was a bartender at The Fairmont. 

“Hey Webster.”  Wilmen said as he backed away from his desk and grabbed a piece of paper. 

“You left a message for me last night?”

“Yeah.  Can you get me and my bartender in for the Fashion Show?”

There was a pause at the other end of the line.  “I don’t know, why what’s up?  You need work?”  The human asked.

“Yeah, thought it would be a nice event to work.”  Wilmen replied.

“I don’t have any openings, but I can get you guys in through our hotel, if you want to watch.”

“Sure.  It is just me and another guy.”

“Yeah, no problem.  As long as it is just you two.”

“Yeah, just us.”  

“Events like this, they are tight on who we hire.  I have access to the employee passes.  Some of our guys are not concerned with it, so they never picked them up.”

“Okay.  When can I pick them up?”  Wilmen asked.

“Come down today.  Met be at the back entrance.  One hundred each.”

“One hundred each?”  Aw bruh, you do me like that?”

“Wilmen, I could get five easy for one pass.  I owe you big, so that is why I will do it for a hundred.”

Wilmen shook his head.  The money wasn’t a problem.  Wilmen and Cotton did this man a big favor, when he found out his wife was cheating on him.  That was two notches on the bar for Cotton.  “Okay Webster.  What time?”

“Any time before five.”

“Okay.  I will call you.”

Webster hung up the phone.  

Wilmen looked at his phone “Bombaclot!”

Cotton was in the middle of lining up his shot when his phone rang.  He was high up in a tree, balancing between two branches.  His scope was fixed on a tree branch about 50 yards away.   He let off the shot, and within a second, the tree branch snapped off.  The rifle was strapped and hanging around his neck.  He softly let the gun fall to his chest and answered the phone.  “What’s up Wilmen?”

“Hey.  I got us in.  I just have to pay Webster.”

“Pay Webster?  Shit, with what we did for him, he should still be paying us.”  Cotton said disgusted.

“I know.  Whatever.  I am heading over there in a few.  How is the rifle?”  Wilmen asked.

“Good.   Hey.  Smiley will be coming by.  I told him you would pay him.  He is bringing some ammo for me.” 

Wilmen looked at the clock in his back office.  “What time?  Shit I need to leave” 

“I told him eleven. But It’s Smiley.  Who knows?  Call him.” 

Wilmen sighed.  “I don’t want to deal with him.” 

“Just tell him, to drop it off, and have one of your workers give him the money.”  Cotton said looking at his phone, also watching the time.

“Nah.  I don’t like them wrapped up in my shit.  I will wait for him.  If he isn’t here by 4:30.  I will call him, tell him to meet me somewhere.  “I have to go to The Fairmont, then go by the house pick up my woman, and head to the Jazz spot.”  Wilmen looked at the floor, and when he looked up.  He saw a fuzzy head and big eyes peeking around the corner.  “Oh shit, Smiley is here.  Call me when you get back.”  Wilmen said as he hung up the phone.

“Smiley!”  Wilmen called out. 

Smiley stuck his head out cautiously again, from around the corner.

“Come in!”  Wilmen said as he walked over to the mongoose. 

Smiley came from around the corner.  He turned around, looked behind, and quickly turned to face Wilmen again.  “Hey Wilmen.”

“Hey how much?”  Wilmen said as reached into his desk to grab his wallet. 

Smiley watched him closely, then he realized Wilmen was getting his wallet.  “Oh, uh, two hundred.”

“You sure?”  Wilmen asked.

“One fifty.  One hundred.”  Smiley said remembering what Cotton had told him earlier. 

“How much ammo you bring?”  Wilmen asked.

“Uh- three…Three cases.” Smiley said, still nervous.

“Okay.  Two Hundred it is.”  Wilmen knew his own reputation.  He knew Smiley feared him, but Wilmen wasn’t greedy.  He always paid what he owed. 

Smiley smiled.  “Thank…Thank you.”  Smiley said as he quickly grabbed the money and stuffed it into his jacket pocket.  “Follow me.  It is out in my van.” 

They walked outside, Smiley quickly jumped into his van, he left the back-door open and Wilmen stood there waiting.  Wilmen was lost in his thoughts when Smiley handed him the three cases.  Wilmen carried them back to his Bar, and before he could even open the door, Smiley, took off.  The Van was nowhere to be seen.  Wilmen walked back inside.  He took the cases to his back office.  He looked at his bar.  He hated leaving it when it was open.  He looked at the customers, there were only a few patrons there, but there were only three in the afternoon and it would get busy later.  One of his bar-hands, Mary, a feisty female cougar could handle her own, and she wouldn’t take shit from anyone, or anything was there and would run the bar and his bouncer, Noy, an Asian Orangutan would be there.  The bar was pretty-safe.  Wilmen walked out to the bar. He nodded at Mary.

“Wilmen.  Leave.  We got this.  Take one night off.”  Mary said as she walked over to Wilmen. 

Noy also walked to Wilmen.  “Yeah Wilmen.  Don’t worry about counting the money tonight.  Stay away one night.  Enjoy yourself.” 

Wilmen smiled.  “I know, but I have a meeting later tonight.”

The two employees knew that Wilmen always had been involved in something, but they were never sure of what.  They saw Cotton, and heard rumors about a Rabbit throughout the bar, but they knew it wasn’t their business, so they just did their job, and went home.  They knew enough to never try and steal, ask questions, or bring problems to the bar.

            Wilmen walked out of the bar, he signaled for a taxi.  Then headed to The Fairmont Hotel.

Cotton arrived at his apartment.  He was tired.  He had been jumping around the woods all day with his rifle.  He walked into his apartment.  He showered.  He brushed his teeth.  Then he sat down, made some hot carrot juice and turned on the T.V.  He sipped his juice and got lost in his thoughts.  He thought about Raquel, not his gun, but the real Raquel.  He thought about the hit.  He thought about a lot of things as he sat and relaxed.  He looked at his phone.  It was 9:30 P.M.  He knew he still had four hours before he had to be at the Bar. He set his alarm for 1:00 A.M.  He laid down and dozed off.

Samuel and Lawrence were with the flock.  They watched Cesar lead the first crew off for their flight to the Northeast.  Samuel and his crew are leaving at 6:00 A.M. tomorrow.   The first crew took half of the money with them, and Samuel and his crew would take the rest.  They never wanted to be altogether with all the cash or the drugs.  Samuel was ready for the trip.  He was excited about getting out of Porte City for a week.  He loved the city, but the stress of all his endeavors, he sometimes just wanted to fly.  He loved the open air, seeing different cities.  He always said once he was done with all this, he was just going to fly until he couldn’t fly anymore.  He looked at Lawrence and Clyde as Cesar flew away with his flock.  “You guys will be good. Just do what you do every day.  Nothing crazy, nothing surprising.” 

            They looked at him.  They both nodded.   “No worries Samuel.  We got this.”  Clyde said as he lit a cigarette. 

“Yeah uncle.  No worries.  Clyde has this!”  Lawrence said as he grabbed Clyde’s cigarette from his mouth and took off. 

Clyde looked at Samuel.  “Your nephew looks up to you.”

“Yeah, I know.  I just hope I live up to what he thinks I am.”  Samuel said as he watched Lawrence from across the old factory floor, talking with some other birds.

“Man Samuel.  You’re a boss.  You are second in charge.  Only one step better than that.”  Clyde said as he lit another smoke and gave one to Samuel.

Samuel lit his cigarette.  “Yeah.  I know.  Cesar Is here for the long haul though; he isn’t going anywhere.”  Samuel took a drag.  “I like it though.  Cesar and I came up together, the same way you and Lawrence have.  We started young at this and have had each other’s back for a long time.  I don’t mind being second to my friend, my brother.  If my time comes first, or his time comes first, I will know that both of us earned everything we have together.”  Samuel took another pull from his cigarette and exhaled.  “That is what it is about.  You, Lawrence, stick together.  If you need to correct his actions, you do it away from the flock.  Do it together.  Not in front of people.  Always protect each other.  I promise.  You two will be successful.”

Clyde looked at Samuel.  “I got you.”  Clyde said as he threw his cigarette down and flew over to Lawrence.  Samuel looked at his phone, two more hours until the meeting, with the other two important people in Samuel’s life.  Samuel looked away from his phone.  He looked into the sky.  He couldn’t wait to get up there and fly to the Northeast.

Wilmen looked at his wife.  He loved her, he cherished her.  Her dark eyes, her delicate fingers and hands. She was beautiful to him.  He held up his wine glass.  “To you, my love.  I will love you forever.”

She looked at him.  She loved him too.  They were perfect together.  They had met ten years ago and have spent every night together since.  “I love you too, my handsome man.”  Their glasses touched, as the Slow Jazz music set the ambiance for a romantic night.  The lights were low, and the club was full.  Wilmen was happy he took his wife Bianca with him.  He needed more nights like this.  They never really got to go out and enjoy each other, unless she came to Silverback’s after her shift at the hospital.  She was a nurse.  She worked in the maternity ward and worked long hours.  They stared at each other until the song ended.  The performers were taking a break, and Bianca had to go to the restroom.  Wilmen stood up as she stood up.  He took off his pork-pie hat as she left the table.  He watched her walk away.  It was the first time all night, his eyes left her as she turned the corner.  Wilmen, looked for the waiter, so he could refill their glasses while she was away, and as he looked across the room, he saw a familiar face.   Loose and another wolf were at a table directly across from where Wilmen and his wife were sitting.  Wilmen caught their glaze. 

Loose tried to act as if he wasn’t looking at Wilmen, and he looked at the Wolf across from him at the table, trying to act as if he wasn’t there, watching Wilmen. 

“He looking?”  Loose said as he sipped his drink.

“Yeah bro.  He is looking serious too.”  Case said as he grabbed his drink and took a sip.

“Damn.  I can feel it.  He knows us.  He doesn’t like that we are here.”  Loose said as he felt the stress in the air.  He felt the protective nature of Wilmen.  He knew they had gotten too close, and it scared him.  It frightened Loose.  His nerves were shaking his stomach.

“Should we just pop on him.  Fuck it.  I don’t want that big mother fucker after us.  Let’s get him now.”  Case said as he felt his jacket, to feel for his gun.

“Hell nah.  Too many people.  Plus, his wife is here bro.”  Loose put his drink down.  “One thing, I will not do that shit in front of family, unless they are in on their shit.  Won’t do it.”  Loose said as he stared at Case in the eyes.

“Hell!  I will do it.”  Case replied. 

“That is why you are not a boss.  No respect.  Sit you ass right here, and act like nothing is going on.  You don’t kill civilians.  First fucking rule.”  Loose said as a growl came from his soul.  He looked at Case.   Case stood down.

Wilmen continued his glare.  His eyes didn’t leave Loose and Case.  His mind raced.  He knew that Loose didn’t know him.  They had never talked.  Something was weird though.  Wilmen could feel it.  His wife interrupted his thoughts.  “Hey baby.  I am tired, plus I want a night cap.”

Wilmen smiled.  “Anything you want darling.”  Wilmen laid the money on the table and signaled for the waiter.   Wilmen and his wife started to leave, and as they did, Wilmen stared at the two wolves, daring them to glance his way, as the two Gorillas walked out the door. 

Cotton walked into the bar as the last customers were leaving.  He looked at Mary, she motioned her head to the back office, to where Wilmen was.

Cotton walked into the office, he saw Wilmen counting the receipts for the night, with a stack of money on the desk next to him.  Cotton pulled out the money he had for the ammo, and laid it on the desk. 

“What’s this?”  Wilmen said as he looked up. 

“For the rifle bullets.”

Wilmen nodded his head.

“You didn’t take Bianca out?”

“Yeah we went out.  My sweet girl can’t handle wine, so by the time we got home, she was asleep”.

Cotton looked at Wilmen.  He knew something wasn’t right.  “You and Bianca good?”

Wilmen stopped what he was doing.  He looked up at Cotton.  The glasses he wore when doing paperwork reflected the lamplight that was shining on his desk.  Wilmen took the glasses off.  “Yeah, we are good.  Why?”

Cotton a bit confused.  “Nah you look like something bad happened.”

“No, we had a great night.”  Wilmen ex-haled a deep breath.  “Something though.  I was about to leave, and I saw two wolves watching me and my wife.  “One was Loose, the other must have been a wolf from his pack.”

Cotton stood silent for a second.  He didn’t think much of it.  “They were probably just there.”

“They were watching me.  I could feel it.”

“Shit Wilmen, you are a Silverback Gorilla.  Everyone watches you.  You’re a scary looking dude.”

“Nah, believe me Cotton.  Something was up.  They got nervous when I stared at them.”

“Hell, I get nervous when you stare at me.”  Cotton said half-joking.

Wilmen stood up quickly.  “I am serious Cotton.”

Cotton quit his joking.  Wilmen had ever been a paranoid animal.  “Okay.  Let’s just keep our eyes open.  Maybe I will visit him.  See what’s up.  Stay packing.  Keep a pistol on you all the time, until we figure it out.”

Wilmen shook his head.  “What would he want with us?”

“Shit who knows.  Seriously, maybe he was at the club, and knows you are cool with me.  Just got him nervous.  Maybe you didn’t want to talk to him.  Maybe he didn’t tell all the wolves in his pack, that I killed Rider, and he didn’t want you to bring it up.”    Cotton walked over to Wilmen.  He placed his hand on Wilmens huge shoulder.  “We will figure it out.  If it is something bad, then we handle it.”

“Okay.”  Wilmen looked at the clock on the wall.  “Samuel and Lawrence should be here.  I will tell Mary and Noy to go home.”

They walked out of the office and as they did, Wilmen saw Mary, with her hands in the air.  Then he looked at the door, and saw Noy, with his face against the wall, next to the door.  Wilmen looked at Cotton, Cotton wasn’t there.  He was already in mid-air with Goldy out drawn on the three animals that was standing in front of the bar. 

“Good evening gentleman.”  The panther said as he watched Cotton lightly land on the bar top, with his gun pointed at the panther.  “No need for that.  This is a social call.  A check-up.” The panther held his paws in the air.  The panther by the door released Noy.  The panther that stood behind the leader put his automatic rifle back into his trench coat. 

Cotton kept his gun drawn on the talker. 

“I am Lincoln.  Some call me L. I prefer Lincoln though.  These two gentlemen work for me.” 

Cotton looked at Lincoln.  He wore a black fedora, with a black trench coat.  He had black dress pants and black shoes.  The other two panthers wore the same.  Cotton looked at the other two panthers.  They looked serious.  Their yellow eyes did not leave Cotton’s.  Their teeth looked sharp and dangerous.  Cotton looked at Wilmen.  Wilmen was in beast mode.  He looked ready to get after them. 

“Please Cotton.  Lower your weapon.  I don’t like guns drawn on me.  It makes me feel as if I have to do something.  This isn’t about that.  I just want to talk.”

Cotton looked at Wilmen.  Wilmen nodded his head.  Cotton placed Goldy in his holster.

Wilmen looked at Mary.  Then at Noy.  “You guys go home.  I will see you tomorrow.”  Mary grabbed her purse from underneath the bar.  As she walked by Lincoln she growled.  Noy walked out the door and as he did, he held it for Mary.  They both went home.

Lincoln waited for the door to shut.  Then he started to talk.  “Cotton.  Please get off the bar.  Let us sit at the table.” 

Cotton jumped off the bar.  Wilmen walked towards Cotton, and they sat down at the first-round table next to the bar. 

Lincoln looked at the other two.  They followed him and stood behind him as he sat down.  He removed his hat and laid it on the table.  His jet-black fur looked groomed nicely.  His yellow eyes looked intense.  Lincoln was big.  He was almost the same size as Wilmen.  He looked like he could handle himself in any situation. 

The two panthers stood behind their boss.  They looked disciplined, and tough.  This crew was something that Cotton or Wilmen had never seen.  These guys seemed as if they had come from a bigger city and seemed if they had ran that city.  The scary part for Cotton was, he had never seen or heard about them. 

Lincoln interrupted his thoughts.

“So, Cotton.  We hired you because you are one of the best, and that is what we expect. 

“Who do you work for?”  Wilmen interrupted.

Lincoln stopped and stared at Wilmen.  Wilmen stared back.

The room became more-tense than it already was.  Wilmen shrugged his shoulders.  “Who?”

Lincoln wasn’t intimidated, he turned and looked back at Cotton, as if he didn’t hear Wilmen.  “As I was saying.  I have followed your “Career.”  You have stacked up a lot of bodies, without many issues.  I expect the same with this job.” 

Cotton shook his head.  “I will do the job.  Don’t worry.”

“Oh, I am not worried.  My ass isn’t on the line.  Yours is.”

Cotton looked at Wilmen.  Wilmen had enough.  He stood up.  He let out a growl.  “YOU DO NOT COME IN MY BAR AND THREATEN US!”  Wilmen reached and grabbed Lincoln.  He pulled Lincoln towards him; the trench coat ripped as Wilmen pulled Lincoln out of his chair.  Lincoln grabbed Wilmen’s arm and quickly countered Wilmen’s attempted throw, they stood deadlocked, holding each other, and pushing to get the upper hand.  Lincoln then stepped back and as he did, he pulled Wilmen with him, then threw Wilmen into the table they were just sitting at.  Cotton jumped in the air and pulled Goldy back out.  He landed on the bar.  Wilmen was on the floor, next to the broken chairs and knocked over table.  Lincoln pulled out a sawed-off shotgun, and pointed it at Wilmen.  The other two panthers had their automatic weapons drawn on Cotton. 

Cotton looked down on the group.  “I don’t give a fuck.  We can all die today!”

Lincoln looked at Cotton.  “No.  I will have to deal with my boss; I can’t kill you.  Let us sit back down.”

“Nah.  I am done sitting.  Say what you have to say, then get the fuck out of here, before Wilmen loses his temper.”  Cotton said as he stared at Lincoln.

“I am not worried about Wilmen, but before I end up having to kill him, and my guys kill you Cotton, I will tell you why I am here.” 

Cotton kept his gun drawn, and so did the panthers. 

“What do you have to say?”  Cotton said getting irritated.

“I am just letting you know.  If you back out, if you do not succeed with this job.  You, Samuel, and Wilmen will die a slow painful death.  Lincoln paused.  “If you succeed, we will use you for other jobs, and you will be paid handsomely.”

Cotton stood atop the bar un-impressed.  “That’s what you had to say.”  Cotton pointed the gun like an extension of his fingers.  “All this shit for that?  Man, we hear that all the time.”  Cotton paused.  He looked down at Wilmen.  “Get up brother.”  Cotton jumped off the bar.  He put his gun in his holster. 

Wilmen stood up.  He stared at Lincoln the whole time.

“Okay.  Now listen to me, you feline fuck’s.  If I see you come into this bar again, without our money, because that is going to be the only reason you come back to this bar.  I will shoot you in the knees and then let Wilmen rip limb after limb from your fucking bodies.”  Cotton walked over by Wilmen, he bent down and grabbed Lincoln’s hat that fell during the scuffle.  He handed the hat to Lincoln.  He looked at him dead in the eyes.  “Don’t worry about the job.  It will get done, and another thing.  We work with who the fuck we want to work with, so none of this bullshit about using us for other jobs.  We will decide who we work for.  Now get the fuck out!”

Lincoln slowly put his hat back on.  He put his gun back into his trench coat.  He nodded his head at the other two panthers.  They put their guns back into their jackets, then walked to the door.  Lincoln walked behind them to the door, one of the panthers opened it and Lincoln started to walk out.  He turned and looked at Wilmen.  “Didn’t mean to hurt you sweetheart.”  He winked at Wilmen, then looked back at Cotton.  Then he turned and walked out the door, followed by the other two panthers. 

Cotton and Wilmen were standing next to the knocked over table when Samuel and Lawrence walked in.  Samuel looked around.  “Everything all right?”  He said as Lawrence shut the door.

“Yeah.  Just had a visit, from our employer.”  Cotton said as he bent down and lifted the table and set it back in its place.

“Who?  A human.”

Wilmen looked at Cotton. “Nah a group of Panthers.”

“Damn.”  Samuel walked over to Cotton and Wilmen.  “What happened?”

Cotton set the chairs back in place.  “Nothing really, Wilmen and the lead panther, his name was Lincoln, had a tussle, but nothing more than guns drawn, and them threatening us.”

“You said Lincoln?”  Lawrence said as he walked up.

“Yeah.  You know him?”  Wilmen asked as he sat down.

“I don’t know him, but I heard the name, guess he is making moves in Town of The Bay.  Roughing up shit, even punkin’ humans down there.”

Cotton shook his head.  “Who does he work for?”

Lawrence shook his head.  “Don’t know?  From what I heard, he just showed up one day, started to run shit.  Seems like he is solo.”

“Nah.  When I saw the panther.  Big boy; he was with the humans that night they made the offer.  He is working for someone.”  Samuel replied as he lit a cigarette.

Wilmen scratched his head.  “We will figure it out.  Cotton set them straight.  I don’t think we will see them again until they pay us”

“I hope not.  I think if we do, it’s going to be a fight.  But he said his boss won’t let them kill us, so I think we are good.”  Cotton sat down.  “He is doing what his boss said, so, he will leave us alone.  They just wanted us to know, if we don’t do what we said, then there will be problems.”  

Samuel and Lawrence jumped onto the table. 

“Okay.  So, what did you guys see?”

Samuel showed the video they took, and they discussed the options on where to set up. 

            Cotton liked the billboard idea.  He thought that would be a good spot.  They discussed the exit, Wilmen, Cotton and Lawrence decided that in the morning, they would walk the area, as Lawrence flew above them and come up with three options, on the spot where Cotton would do the hit. 

Samuel looked at the clock.  “Alright fellas.  I have to get going.  So, send me the video of everything tomorrow, I will watch it and put my two cents in.”   

“Cool.  Be safe man.”  Cotton said as he tapped Samuel on the back. 

“Be safe my friend.”  Wilmen said as he looked at Samuel in the eye.

“Piece of cake fellas.  I am ready to fly.”  Samuel said as he winked at his friends.

“C’mon, I will fly back with ya.”  Lawrence said as he prepared to take off.

“Okay Lawrence, meetup here at ten.  We will go to Fairmont Park together.”  Cotton said as he walked over to the door and opened it.

“Will do.”  Lawrence said as he and Samuel flew out the door.

Cotton shut the door.  He walked over back to Wilmen.

Cotton stood there for a moment.  He had never seen anything match Wilmen’s strength before.  “You good bro?”  Cotton said, concerned about his friend.

“Yeah.  Why?”

Cotton was un-sure on how to respond, but Cotton always spoke the truth, “Just never seen any species as strong as you and throw you around.”

“Aw man.  I don’t care about that.  You know how we are, animals don’t care, we roll with the punches, he was strong, it surprised me.  Nothing I can’t handle,  I know for next time what to expect.”  Wilmen sat down again.  “It is like lifting something heavy, at first, you’re not sure how much effort to put into it, but the next time.  The next time you are prepared.”

Cotton shook his head, agreeing with him.

“The one thing.  The one thing that bothers me.  I looked up that eleven thing, we talked about.  You know the 11-11, at 3:11.”

Cotton leaned forward, with interest.  “Yeah?”

“Number eleven, in human secret societies, is a death number.  It represents, death, and who did it.”

Cotton squinted his eyes, and turned his head, trying to understand.  “So, what does that mean?”

Wilmen shook his head.  “From what I understand, when it is broadcasted in the news, or newspaper, online, it shows people in the know, that this murder or death was done by a certain group.  A way of secretly broadcasting it.”

“So that is why, they want it done at exactly 3:11.”

Wilmen shook his head and stared at Cotton.

“Damn.  So, are the panthers with one of these groups?  The human politician, Samuel talked about.”  Cotton leaned back in his chair.  “Damn.  Well, I guess we better not mess this up, huh?”

Wilmen laughed.  “Yeah, guess not brother.”