Pc Perk

Cotton peeked around the corner.  The alley was dark, and the smell of uncertainty filled his nostrils.  He saw the shadows to the side of him.  There were three.  “I can take three of them.” 

He reached for Goldy.  Goldy wasn’t there.  He quickly looked down, all he saw was the concrete with dying weeds nestled in the cracks.  He quickly turned around.  He heard the voice. 

“You are not at the Downs.  Your family isn’t here.  Give it up Cotton.”

Cotton saw the shadow.  “How do you know about the Downs?”  Cotton said as he was still patting himself down.  Looking for Goldy.  Cotton could handle himself in a fight, but the size of that shadow, Cotton felt a little un-easy about his odds.

  “Who are you?”  Cotton said as the dark  alley closed in on him.  He quickly looked side to side.  The shadows were gone. 

“Come out!  Fuck it, let’s fight!”  Cotton yelled out.

“Hehehehe.  I am not going to kill you.”   The shadow said as he walked up. 

It was Lincoln.  He towered over Cotton. 

Confused; Cotton stepped back.  He didn’t remember Lincoln being this big. 

“What do you want?”  Cotton asked.

Lincoln looked down.  Cotton couldn’t see his eyes, just the top of his stupid hat.

Lincoln looked back up.  “Like I said, I am not going to kill you.”

Cotton thought.  “What the hell?  How did I get here?  I don’t remember.”  Cotton stared at Lincoln.  His mind was racing.

 “Quit playing Lincoln.  What do you want?”

“Nothing, but he wants something.”

Cotton felt the wave of pressure; he felt quickness move around him. 

The eyes shot up first.  He saw the cold, reptile eyes, staring into his soul.  Then the face, this thing was face to face with him. 

The mouth, the pink mouth snapped before Cotton.  Cotton felt the chill on his neck.  The chameleon held Cotton by the neck. 

He snapped at Cotton’s face.  He nipped his nose.  He stared at Cotton with that odd Reptilian stare.  The stare when they were about to attack, but the prey was unaware of the moment it would.  Cotton was frozen.  The chameleon waved its head back and forth, and before Cotton  reacted the chameleon struck.

Cotton jumped as he awoke.  He almost fell out of bed.  His heart was pounding.  His mouth was dry, and his body was cold, but hot.  Cotton set up in bed.  He took a few breaths.  he shook his head.  “What the hell?”  The dreams confused Cotton.  “Who was this chameleon?  Why did he haunt me in my dreams?” 

Cotton was interrupted by his favorite neighbor, Emilio crowing.  “Shit.”  Cotton said as he stepped out of his bed.  He opened the window and let the cool breeze in.  He stood for a second, then decided to start his morning rituals.      

Cotton and Lawrence arrived at the Fairmont Hotel.  It was Sunday, so, the streets were not as busy as they usually were during the week.  The construction crew was preparing the area for the event on Wednesday.  Cotton walked to the front of the hotel.  He looked at the stage from across the street.  He imagined the people filling the park, the press, the spectators, and of course the security.  Lawrence was up in the air above Cotton, “Hey, walk over to the billboard.”

Cotton turned around.  He walked towards the billboard; he would walk a few feet and stop an turn around to keep his alignment with the stage. He watched one of the contractors work on the podium Rodrigo would be speaking at.  Cotton got to the billboard, he stopped.  He stood in front of it.  He walked underneath it then he walked down the alley.  He looked at the two buildings that the ran in between. The graffiti that stained the alley walls, reminded him of where he was; Porte City, the capitol city of graffiti.  He felt at home here, the graffiti, the crime, the animals.  He loved this city, what it stood for, the animal rights movement that was beginning, he loved the crime, the ruthlessness of his surroundings.  He felt it in his bones.  Standing in that alley, just mad him feel comfortable.

“What do you think?”  Lawrence said over the earpiece.

Cotton looked around, this position was the most accessible and the easiest escape route.  Cotton climbed up the back of the billboard.  He stood on the walkway.  He looked for any security cameras in the alley, he didn’t see any.  He looked at the billboard, he would have to cut a spot where the gun and the scope could fit through.  “Hey Lawrence.  Come here.”  Cotton said over the earpiece.

Lawrence flew down and as he landed he looked at Cotton.  “I think it is a good place.  It is far enough away from the stage; people won’t be watching from there.” 

Cotton shook his head in agreement.  “Yah you guys did good.  I think it is a good spot; I can escape easily also.”  Cotton investigated the alley behind them, it led to Pecan Street, a less busy street that led out of downtown.  “You have a knife?” Cotton asked, as Lawrence lit a cigarette.

“Always.”  Lawrence handed Cotton a big knife.

Cotton took the knife, he kneeled-down.  He started cutting into the billboard, he didn’t make a big hole, but enough so his barrel and scope could fit through easily.  Cotton looked through it. He could see the stage clearly.  Cotton stuck his arm through he had enough room where he could move the gun in a different direction to the left or right if he needed.  Cotton stood up, he handed Lawrence the knife.  “Cool.  Now we will have to do a pre-run, probably Monday night, after they stop working.  So fly, take a video.  I will stay here, fly from the stage to the billboard, then fly past me down the alley, we can send the video to Samuel, and Wilmen.”  Cotton paused deep in thought.  He looked down the alley again, then through the hole.  He looked at Lawrence.  “Hey, give me a cigarette.”

Lawrence took a cigarette out of his pack, and gave it to Cotton, then handed him the lighter.  Cotton lit it, then Lawrence started the recorder, and flew to the stage.

Cotton watched as Lawrence flew to the stage, then flew back past him, and down the alley, and as Lawrence flew back to Cotton, Cotton waived at the camera jokingly. 

Lawrence hit stop on the recorder. 

“Cool man, we will hook up Monday night.  “Hey make sure and send the video to all of us. 

“Will do right now.”  Lawrence fiddled with his phone, then looked up.  “Done.”

“Cool, I will call you Monday, but keep your phone on, in-case anything comes up.”

“Alright brother.” 

They nodded and Lawrence flew away.

Cotton jumped off the billboard, he walked up back to the front of The Fairmont Hotel.  He looked around, he needed to buy some clothes.  He took one last drag of his cigarette and threw it on the ground.  He walked down Fairmont Parkway, the first store he saw he walked into.

Samuel’s had already set his mind on stopping when his phone went off.  He felt the vibration from his bag and decided he had better stop now.  He started his descent, and the other birds followed.  He scanned the ground, they had been flying in the country for about an hour, and passed many fields with trees, and farms.  Samuel noticed a farmhouse that looked abandoned, that had some trees and bushes that looked as if they were dying and dropping their last seeds, and berries for the year.  There was a nice chill in the air, and the sun was hiding behind a never-ending grey sky.  The birds landed. 

Samuel looked around, he did a quick count, every bird was there.  Samuel looked at his second in charge; Natty.  “Thirty-minute stop.  Let everyone know.”  Samuel looked at his phone.  “I have to make a call, so keep lookout.  Make sure nothing sneaks up on us.”

Natty nodded his head.  He made the announcement, then perched himself on the highest branch, and kept watch. 

Samuel dialed Cotton.  Cotton answered.

“Hey Samuel, what’s up?”

“Hey Cotton, nothing, just stopped for a break.  So, what did you think?”

“I liked it, you guys found the perfect spot, you always do bro.”

Samuel laughed. “That’s why you guys pay me the big bucks.”

  “Yeah, we are going to do the final run-through on Monday night.”

“Cool.  Lawrence acting right?”

Cotton giggled.  “Yeah, he is being cool, nothing crazy.”

“He is a good one.”  Samuel said as he looked around, then looked at Natty, to see what he was doing.

Natty was sitting on his branch, watching the area. 

“You watch the video?  Our escape route is on there.”  Cotton asked.

“About to- want to grab some food, then watch while I eat.”  Samuel said as he turned around, and looked at the lifeless ground.

“Cool man, let me know if you like it, or if you think there is something better.” 

“Yeah definitely, I think the best way is through the alley, and escape on Pecan St.”

“Yeah I was thinking the same.”  Cotton replied.

“Alright brother, got to go, I will let you know.  Talk to ya later.”  Samuel said as he hung up the phone. 

Samuel, looked around, there wasn’t much for food, but he saw a berry bush, he decided to see what was still alive, and he flew over.  He found a few berries, that had fallen on the ground and a handful that were still in the bush, he pecked the ones on the ground, and he kept them in his beak, and then hit play on his phone to watch the video.  He saw the stage, and watched as Lawrence flew back to the billboard, and showed the view from the billboard to the stage.  Samuel swallowed his berries and turned to fly to the bush.

POP, POP !

Samuel quickly turned around, he saw Natty on the ground, eating.  “Natty!  What the fuck?”  Natty stopped his watch and decided to eat, leaving the birds vulnerable. 

Samuel heard two more shots; he looked in the direction.  He saw two of his birds down.

He quickly put his cell phone in his bag, and flew towards the two men, that were standing outside the farmhouse.  Samuel quickly let out a quick chirp, and all the birds flew towards him. 

            “FUCKING BIRDS!  LAST TIME YOU DESTROY OUR CROPS!”  One man said as he reloaded his rifle.

Samuel landed in a tree. His flock landed next to him in the branches, covering the whole tree.  Samuel quickly scanned the branches.  “Who got hit?” 

One bird quickly responded, “Marcus and Travis!” 

Natty was sitting next to Samuel.  Samuel looked at him.  “What the fuck Natty?  You were supposed to be watching!”

Natty knew it was on him, he didn’t respond, he stayed looking down. 

“Watch out!  Their shooting again!”  One bird yelled out. 

Samuel quickly looked at the two humans.  One was fat and big; the other was a skinny bearded man. 

Samuel looked down, he checked his feet, the knives were securely tight.  He looked at the birds.  “On my signal.”

            Samuel let out a low chirp.  The birds looked as if they were a swarm of bees protecting their hive, as they left the tree.  Samuel was leading the charge, he was aiming for the fat man on the left, he let out another chirp, and half of the birds split, and went straight for the skinny bearded man on the right. 

            Samuel went straight at the fat man.  He lowered his knives, the man pointed his gun at Samuel, and just as he was about to hit the trigger, Samuel struck.  His feet pushed forward, and the knives penetrated the man’s eyes.  Samuel could feel the knives enter the man’s head.  He felt the knives hit bones, as his feet curled up upon entering the man’s eyes.  Samuel quickly moved his head forward and struck the man with the blade that was around his head.  He saw his comrades attack the man with fierce accuracy.  Samuel pulled his legs out and pecked at the man’s forehead.  Samuel pecked with all his might.  He was able to see the bird’s around him, covering the man.  Blood was shooting everywhere, Samuel’s beak, his feathers were covered in the thick blood.  Samuel stopped.  He hovered above the man; he looked to his right.  The skinny man was down.  He couldn’t see the man’s skin; the birds covered him like ants on a caterpillar.  Samuel let out a low chirp.  The birds stopped.  He flew to the side of both men and landed on the ground.  The other birds followed suit.  Samuel caught his breath.  Blood dripped from his beak.  He looked around at his flock.  They were all bloody and had death in their eyes.  Samuel looked at Natty.  He shook his head.  “Alright.  Let’s dig a grave for our members.  We need to respect them one last time, then move along with our mission.        

Samuel lit a cigarette.  He heard the birds bickering.  He looked over, Natty was standing alone, facing the two dead men.  Two of the birds digging, looked over at Natty.  One stopped.  “Hey Natty.  You should be digging this.  This is your fault!”

Samuel took another drag.  “We should all have been watching.”  Samuel said as he walked towards the group. 

Jerry, the bird that was talking to Natty, turned his attention towards Samuel.  “Then we should ALL be digging.”  Jerry said as he faced Samuel, challenging him.

The other birds backed up.  Jerry was challenging Samuel, something you didn’t do in a flock, unless you wanted to fight.

Samuel knew tensions were high, he knew emotions were up.  He took another drag, then threw his cigarette to the ground.  Samuel looked at his crew.  “Look, let’s just finish this and get on with our job.  We will discuss this when we get back to Porte City.”  Samuel said trying to calm everyone down. 

“Yeah.  Let’s just chill.  Everyone calm down.”  One bird yelled out from the flock.  Other birds agreed, there were a lot of, “yeahs”, that came from the crowd.

Jerry looked at the crowd then back at Saumel.  “Why are you protecting him.  Everyone knows you put him at watch.”  Jerry said, wanting to continue the argument.

Samuel sighed.  “Look, we will deal with it later.  We have a job to do.”

Jerry laughed and looked at the birds.  “Deal with it later?  Shit: Clyde is going to deal with you two, after he finds out his cousin was killed on your watch.”

Samuel was angry now.  He knew Clyde has been moving up, and a lot of the birds followed Clyde, because he is big and a killer like Cesar.  Samuel was a thinker, and what a lot of the birds didn’t know, Samuel was more dangerous, than both of the big birds.  Samuel was a methodical killer.  He had a nice soul, and he didn’t kill for fun, but he killed because killing had to be done, so killing didn’t bother him.  Samuel walked up to Jerry.  He could hear the (uh-ohs, and sighs from the crowd.)  Samuel got into Jerry’s space.  “One, you need to shut the fuck up, now.”  Samuel moved closer to him.  “Two.”  Samuel headbutt Jerry, with his knife.  Their eyes locked as Jerry, took his last breath.  The knife, still fresh with human blood, now had blood from one of his own. Samuel stepped back, his knife came out of Jerry’s head, and blood followed.  Samuel then looked at Natty, and gave him a stare, letting Natty know, “You messed up.”

The flock was silent.  They knew that Samuel had to do that, to stay respected.  They knew it had to be done. 

“Now please, bury these bodies, and let us leave, and get back on track.”  The flock stood there for a second, then slowly went back to work.

Samuel walked away, he pulled out his phone, he now had to call Cesar, let him know the bad news.        

Cesar answered. 

“Hey Cesar.”  Samuel said, not nervous, but not wanting to share the bad news.

“What’s going on Samuel?”  Cesar said as he looked over his flock.  They had stopped to rest, near a small pond.

“Hey so straight up, we lost three birds.”

There was silence over the phone.  Samuel paused.  He wasn’t sure if Cesar heard him.

“Did you hear me?”  Samuel asked, with the phone away from his ear, expecting a backlash. 

“I heard you.”  Cesar said, followed by a long pause.

Samuel wasn’t sure what to do.  They had lost birds before, quite frequently under Cesar’s control.   Cesar loses more birds than that on a monthly basis. 

“How Samuel?” 

“We got hit by some farmers, we lost Travis, and Marcus.  Then I had to take care of Jerry.  He challenged me in front of everyone.” 

“What the farmers snuck up on you?”

“Yeah, they were not seen.  They shot off two shots and hit them.”

Cesar paused again. 

“Marcus was a real up and comer, and he was Clyde’s cousin.  This isn’t going to go over well.”

“I know.”

“Did you have a bird watching?”

Samuel didn’t want to answer, but he wasn’t a snitch, and he wasn’t one to throw his problems on somebody else.  “It was my fault.”

“I see, and Jerry.  That shit couldn’t have waited until we got back to Porte City?”

“Nah.  He was challenging, and it wasn’t going to end well. I had to keep control of the flock.”

“Ha.  Doesn’t sound like you have control of anything.”  Cesar said as if his voice sounded colder.

“What is that supposed to mean?  We lose birds all the time.  I have control of my birds.”

“We don’t lose two high ranking birds all the time.  Jerry and Marcus were birds we depended on.”  Cesar stopped talking. He got quiet.  Samuel wanted to say something, but he knew arguing wasn’t going to make anything better. 

“Look.  Finish the trip up, and we will talk when we get there.  I wanted to have some words with you anyway, some of your actions lately have led me to believe you have other things that require your time. “

“What?  I have always had other things, but I have always put the flock first, you know that shit Cesar.” 

“Did you today?”

Samuel’s mind stopped.  Somebody already told Cesar.  They must have said he was on the phone when it happened.  “So, what you have somebody watching me, and reporting stuff back to you?”  Samuel was mad now.  He looked up from his phone.  He scanned his flock.  One bird was watching Samuel.  Samuel looked at Domino, a younger slender bird.  Domino winked at Samuel.  Samuel calmed himself quick.  He should have known better, he used to watch other birds for Cesar, but he fooled himself, thinking he and Cesar were closer than Cesar and the old Second.  Cesar never liked his seconds and always got rid of them before they got too much power and too much of a following.  Samuel shook his head, “Damn Cesar it is like that?”

Cesar laughed.  “No Samuel, I always have another bird watching.  Just in case.  Us birds are a shady, shady bunch, me and you go way back.  You’re my second, I trust you.”

Samuel could hear the bullshit in his voice.  “Alright, we will talk.”  Samuel said he wanted to end the call.   

“Anything else?”  Cesar asked, condescending.

“Yeah.  We killed the farmers.”

Cesar hung up the phone without a reply.

Samuel stood there for a second, he kept the phone where it was.  He took a deep breath.  He knew he was safe for the time being, but he knew his time was coming.  If Cesar made it that bluntly, letting Samuel know he had a watcher, then Cesar was either going to move on him, or ask him to leave.  It was time for Samuel to start his own protection and start putting moves in place.  Cesar wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize this run, so Samuel knew he had time.  He looked at his phone, he then dialed Lawrence.

Lawrence answered.  “Hey Uncle, what’s up.  How is the run?”

  “Not too good.”  Samuel paused, he knew what he was about to do, couldn’t be un-done.  “Hey, I need you to start making some calls.  Find out who is on our side, who, if something were to happen, would follow us.”

Lawrence wasn’t confused; this was bird culture.  Birds were greedy, and Lawrence knew how Cesar was, the greediest.  “No problem, Uncle.  I know of eight, right off the bat.”

“Okay cool.  I think Cesar has plans for me after the trip.”

“No doubt Uncle, I will make some calls.  I know there will be more, but the ones I know, will keep it a secret, and only talk to the ones they know will change to our side.     

“Okay brother.  Be careful Lawence.”

“Want me to let Cotton and Wilmen know?”

Samuel paused, he knew if Wilmen and Cotton knew, they might kill Cesar on sight when the flock gets back, but any protection is good, and he wanted to kill or die alone, if him and Cesar fought.  “Let them know but tell them don’t do anything.  They only kill if it is on my word, or my death.”

“Gotcha.  Be careful Unc.”  Lawrence said as he hung up the phone.

Lawrence stood there for a second.  He knew Clyde must have already known about his cousin, Marcus and might be thinking of killing someone in Samuels family for revenge   Birds were gossipers, they talked all the time.  Lawrence flew towards Silverback’s.  He knew that he would have protection there, even if it wasn’t inside.    He would start making his calls once he got there. This situation wasn’t good, he knew Clyde and Marcus were close, and Clyde would want revenge.  He just wasn’t sure how Clyde was going to react, would he take it out on Lawrence, or would he go after Samuel.  The blowback could be on both, especially since Cesar was already watching Samuel.  “Shit!”  Lawrence said out loud as he headed North, towards the bar.

Cotton was trying on some pants when his phone rang.  He looked at it and it was Martin, from the bank.  Cotton took one more look in the mirror then answered the call.  “Hey Martin, what’s up?”

“Hey, Mr. Slim.” Martin replied.

“Yeah Martin?” Cotton said as he watched himself in the mirror, on his phone, with his pants on. Almost posing.

“I wanted to call you.  Johnny wants me to invite you to have dinner on Thursday night, at the Three Harps.”

“Three Harps.  That Irish place?”  Cotton asked, confused.

“Yes, that would be the place.”  Martin replied.

“Isn’t that run by that Irish Gang, he had problems with a couple years back?”

“Yes sir.  I think their problem is resolved.”

“Yeah sure.  What time?”

“The reservation is set for eight.”

“Okay yeah, tell him I will be there.”  Cotton said, almost hanging up the phone, but Martin spoke again.

“And, uh, Cotton.  There is a dress code.”

“No worries Martin.  I am trying on clothes as we speak.”

“Very good sir.  Will you be bringing a date?”

“Nah.  I will be solo.”

“Okay sir, I will be in touch on Thursday to confirm.”

“Alright.”  Cotton said as he hung up the phone.

Cotton liked the way the pants felt, he felt nice.  The pants were made for Rabbits.  Cotton took them off.  He walked out of the dressing room, and told the employee, he needed a dress shirt and sports jacket, and that he also wanted to look for shoes, and casual clothes.  The employee grabbed the pants, and started to show Cotton his new obsession.

                        Wilmen took the trash out to the dumpster, outside his bar.  The sun was going down and the night was creeping in.  Wilmen opened the lid to the dumpster, he threw the trash in, then he heard a voice talking above him.  Wilmen looked up and saw Lawrence, on top of a fire escape, on the building behind the bar.  Wilmen watched him for a minute, he waited for him to hang up, then spoke.  “Hey, we have a meeting?”

            Lawrence looked at Wilmen, then flew down to the dumpster, so he was eye to eye with Wilmen. “Nah man, but I need to talk to you and Cotton, about some other shit.”

            “What’s up?”  Wilmen said as he moved closer to Lawrence.

            My uncle had some problems today on his run.  Two of his birds were killed, and he had to kill one that challenged him.  On top of that, they killed two human farmers.”

            Wilmen shook his head.  “Damn.  That is some problems.  Samuel does surprise sometimes.”

            “Well, he found out that Cesar had been watching him, and Samuel thinks Cesar is going to make a move on him after the run.”

            “Fucking birds…”  Wilmen, tilted his head.  “No offense.”

            “You’re right.  But one of the dead birds, was Marcus, Clyde’s cousin.”

            “Don’t know Clyde.”  Wilmen replied.

            “Up and comer, big bird.  Not a joke, he is a killer.”

            “Want me to kill him?”  WIlmen asked nonchalantly.

            “Nah, we must wait.  Uncle thinks there is something going on, so I am getting a hold of some of the birds who might want a change in leadership and scenery.”

            “You guys starting your own flock?”  Wilmen asked excited.

            “Too soon, but I know we will have to deal with Cesar, and maybe Clyde.  So, who knows, I am just preparing for the worst.  You mind if I stay here for a few days?”

            “Not at all.  Make yourself at home.  Call Cotton though, when you get inside.”  Wilmen said as he started to walk back in.

            “Yeah, I will.  Lawrence followed Wilmen, and as they went inside, Lawrence went to the back room.  He lit a cigarette and scrolled through his phone to find Cotton’s number.

             Loose was sitting on his porch.  Loose could tell it was around eight because all the girls started to make their way out to sell their prized possession.  Loose heard gunshots, sounded like a couple blocks away so he didn’t feel too concerned.  His phone rang.  He looked down and saw that it was Eddy.

            “Hello?”

            “Loose.  So where are we at?”

            Loose, knew he was supposed to go watch Cotton and move on him if he there was an opportunity to do so.  Loose quickly came up with a reply.  “Just waiting on my crew to show up to pick me up.”  Loose paused.  “Why we in so much of a rush anyway?”

            Eddy sighed.  “I am waiting on you, so I can get the guns for you.”

            “Just get them.  We will handle it.”

            Eddy quickly replied.  “No!  I am not worried about us getting the guns.  I am worried about you killing the fucking Rabbit!”  Eddy realized he said it loud, he quickly looked up from his phone, looked around the park he was at and checked to see if anyone heard him.  Nobody was near, so he concentrated his thoughts back on the wolf.

            “Okay.  Shit man, relax.  I will try and clip him tonight, if not tonight-next couple of days.  I will put my whole crew on it.  We will drive down tonight and start watching.”

Eddy was frustrated.  He was an impatient racoon.  He wanted planning, he wanted execution.  That is how the racoons did it, every step was calculated, to be a good thief, that is what it took.   “Don’t worry about the Northside.  Once you get your guns, The Northside will be yours.”

Loose knew that was right.  He shook his head.  “Okay.  I will let you know what is up.”

“Go to the gorilla’s bar, he will show up there, I am sure.   Call me, let me know what happens!”  Eddy said as he hung up the phone.

Loose looked at his phone, he dialed eight members of his pack, and told them to come over and pick him up, and he told them to bring their guns.  They got a job to do.  Loose hung up the phone and walked inside.  He grabbed his handgun, he loaded it, then walked back outside and waited for his pack to pick him up.

Cotton got to his house.  He had gone on a shopping spree.  He bought a whole bunch of outfits, but he was only wearing his old jacket.  He placed the bags of clothes on his bed.  He placed Goldy on his dresser, and before he could slide off his jacket, his phone rang.  He looked down at the I.D. and saw it was Lawrence.  He answered the phone and Lawrence told him what was going on.  Cotton agreed to meet him at the bar.  Cotton picked up Goldy, made sure the clip was full, then stuffed it into his holster, and zipped his jacket up.  He walked out, locked his door and headed to the bar.

Cotton walked into the bar.  The place was crowded.  He walked towards the bar and Wilmen saw him, he nodded his head to the backroom, and Cotton walked back to the office.

Cotton opened the door, and cigarette smoke leaked out and formed a wall that Cotton had to walk through.  Cotton waived his hands, trying to make a passage through the dense smoke.  “Damn Lawrence.  Open a window.  Wilmen is going slap the shit out of you, if he comes back here and see’s this smoke.”

Lawrence looked at him.  “Sorry.  Just thinking bro.”

Cotton walked over to the window and opened it.  Lawrence flew over to the window seal, and lit another butt, as he exhaled out the window.

Cotton sat down in Wilmen’s chair.

“So, when is all this going to go down?”

 “Don’t know Cotton.  I know that Cesar won’t do anything on the trip.  He needs Samuel’s leadership, plus, he will lose respect if he does it now.  The other birds will look at it as betrayal.”

Cotton looked confused.  “Why betrayal?”

“Because Samuel is his second, and to kill him on something like this, an accident with the farmers, and then  killing Jerry, when Jerry challenged him.  Cesar would have an uprising against him and it would jeopardize the run.  He will wait until they get back.  He has to.”

Cotton shook his head.  “What about you and Clyde?  Marcus was Clyde’s cousin, right?”

“Yeah.  We are just preparing for the worst.  They were close, and Clyde, isn’t a real bright thinker.  He is on the respect bullshit, an eye for an eye type shit.”

“So, no telling how he is going to react huh?”  Cotton said scooting up in his chair.

“Nah.  I haven’t heard from him, and I know the news has hit him.”

“Any chance that he will know it was Jerry’s fault and Samuel did what he had to do?”

“Maybe, but he is coming up, he is a lot like Cesar, and anything Clyde could do, to show his toughness, he is going to do it.”

“Okay.”  Cotton stopped.  He looked at the papers on Wilmen’s desk.  He looked back at Lawrence.  “Well, you have to kill him first.”

“Yeah.  Or I am going to get it.”  Lawrence said as he threw his cigarette out the window.

“Okay well chill here.  If he calls you, talk to him.  Or shit even call him.  Tell him you’re sorry for his cousin.  See where his head is at.  He maybe not want you at all, maybe he wants to go after Samuel, we will get him before that.  Let’s just wait see how it plays out, then after this hit, we will worry about that.  I will even kill him if you want.”

Lawrence laughed.  “Nah bro.  I do my own dirt.  If he kills me, then get him.”

Cotton smiled.  “No problem.”

Cotton walked out of the bar.  He was anxious to get home, he wanted to hang up his clothes and relax.  His mind was tired, and his body was following suit.  Cotton walked down the street.  He stopped, walked to the curb, and looked for a cab.  He looked left, then he looked right.  Not a cab in the street.  Something wasn’t right.  He could feel it.

“Damn.  This time of night cabs should be everywhere.”  Cotton looked back left down the street.  He saw a head move in an old model car.  He looked a little closer.  He saw four wolves sitting inside watching him.  His senses went higher.  He felt uneasy.  He turned right, he was going to head back into Silverback’s and let Wilmen know what’s up.  He looked around one more time, there was another vehicle, a black van, that was on the opposite side of the street, Cotton looked hard at the van, and saw Loose was in the front seat.

“Damn.  Wilmen was right.” 

            Loose loaded his pistol.  He looked at his crew in the van.  “Tell the others it’s time, They hit from the back, we will get him from the front.  If we don’t do it now, he will kill us one by one.”

            The group from the car opened the doors and stepped out. 

Cotton heard the doors open from behind.

 He kept his eyes on the van.  He gripped Goldy.  He was about twenty yards from the bar’s entrance.  He heard the doors from the car behind him close.  He knew he had a second or two before they started firing.  His nerves were in knots, he was, unprepared for this.  He took a deep breath.  He saw the van doors were not open yet.  He quickly turned around, and saw the four wolves, guns already aimed at Cotton.  Cotton knew that height was an advantage in any fight, making the enemy change levels, was advantage to him.  He let out three shots at the wolves behind him, and as the last shot left the chamber, he was airborne. 

One wolf dropped, all three shots entered his body and stopped his heartbeat instantly.  He fell to the cold concrete.  The other three wolves were surprised, but their animal instinct took over and they kept moving forward.  Loose and his crew stepped out of the van. 

            Cotton landed closer to the bar’s entrance, but with gunfire already starting, he didn’t want to go into the bar and make this a mess.  He ducked into the alley, next to Silverback’s.  He pulled out his phone.  He called Lawrence. 

            Lawrence answered.  Cotton could hear the wolves communicating and they pinpointed his whereabouts, in the alley.

            “Quick.  Lawrence!  The wolves are trying to get me.  Tell Wilmen, I am right outside!”

Cotton was about to hang up the phone, when automatic gunfire rang out.  He heard return fire.  He quickly jumped to the entrance of the alley.  He saw the Wolves retreating, He looked left, he saw the three wolves trying to get back to their car, but they were gunned down. And they dropped to the ground like a piece of firewood.

            Cotton turned to his right and saw that Loose was on the passenger side of the van ducking down, and his van was getting sprayed with bullets.  Loose and Cotton’s eyes connected.  Loose stared at Cotton for a second, he then ducked towards the back of the van and was gone.  Cotton stepped out and what he saw surprised him, he saw Lincoln and his panthers holding and firing the automatic weapons.  Cotton looked at the van, and saw three more wolves, dead on the ground.   Wilmen almost broke the bar door, as he slammed it open, with Lawrence following, they stormed out with guns in hand.  Lincoln’s panthers quickly turned around, and pointed their gun’s at Wilmen, and Lawrence.

            “HEY! HEY! HEY!”  Cotton quickly yelled out as he jumped in between the two groups. 

            “IT’ S COOL! IT’S COOL!”  Cotton held his hands up and stopped anything from happening.

            “What the hell?”  Wilmen asked as he looked up and down the street and saw all the dead wolves.

            “You were right.  They were after us.”  Cotton said as he placed his gun in his holster.

            “Who?”  Lincoln asked as he walked up. 

            “Some wolf named Loose.”  Cotton replied not wanting to give more information.

            “Well, he got away.  We will find him.”  Lincoln said as he placed his gun beneath his trench coat.  He signaled to his guys to get back into the car. 

            Lincoln nodded at Wilmen, then at Lawrence.  He looked at Cotton.  “Let me talk to you in private.”  He said in his deep, intimidating voice.

            Cotton looked at Wilmen.  He shook his head, and then Cotton walked with Lincoln.

            “I will make this quick, we need to get out of here before the cops show up.”

            Cotton looked up at Lincoln. 

            “You did a job for Loose, right?  Snaggle it was, right?”

            Cotton was dumbfounded.  He didn’t reply.

              “Well keep in mind, we protect our investment.  I don’t want you to worry about nothing while you are preparing for this job.  You are always watched.  Also keep in mind, if you work for us full-time, you will always be protected, and shit like this wouldn’t happen.”

“I thank you for the offer.  Butwe will finish this job and continue to run our own operation.  We like a small crew.”  Cotton said as he looked at the panther’s demeanor change.   “We can handle our own.”

“I see that, Rabbit.  You would have taken all those wolves out no doubt, but stray bullets are like stray dogs, sometimes; they find a home.”  Lincoln said as he started to walk away.  He turned around.  “Hey, we will find Loose.”

Cotton smiled.  “Not if we find him first.”

Lincoln looked back at Cotton, he tilted his hat, and gave him a quick smirk, then as his car pulled up to him, he got in the back, and the car disappeared into the maze of Mid-Town Porte City.

Cotton looked at Wilmen, they heard the sirens coming from a distance. 

“We will talk tomorrow!  Hey Wilmen, carve one more in the bar for me.”

Wilmen held his hand in the air, and they slid back into the bar, and Cotton vanished into the darkness.